The San Francisco call., 1895-11-26
An Equal Hearing TO Be Given
Twenty-Four States and Ter
ritorieS Represented.
VERY INTERESTING ADDRESSES.
Ex-Governor Prince of New Mexico
Speaks of the Resources OF the
Trans.MissiSsippi Region.

4,
ISM is the burden of the speeches OF the
eighth annual convention OF the trans
Mississippi Congress which assembled at
Creighton Hall at noon to-day
The audience was composed OF the dele
yates to the congress from the twenty-tour
States and Territories west Of the Missls-
sippi, prominent business men OF Omaha
and members and delegates from the
Woman's Club. President George z. Can
non of Utah called the convention to order
and introduced Chairman l. W. Carpenter
of the Commercial Club committee, who
greeted the delegates. Mayor Bemis toll
lowed in a characteristic welcome, touch
ing number of matters of interest to the
city and the West, closing with the address
with which he welcomed the PopuIist Ma
tional Convention in 1892, in which he de-
cIared himself for free coinage of silver.
Governor Holcomb welcomed the dele
gates to Nebraska, and spoke briefly of the
difference between the many congresses
which have recently been held. They
were congresses of farmers, bankers, or
some particular class, but the TRANSMITS
sissippi Congress was made up of men
from all walks of life and engaged in many
different calIings and acquainted with the
needs of all sections of the great West. But
still the congress was not sectional; it was
broad and would not advocate legislation
detrimental to any part of the country.
Governor Holcomb then branched out
into discussion of the development of
the West, suggesting what action the..con-
gress should take on it and on irrigation
l. II
vigorous and emphatic in his advocacy of
the recognition of Cuba, backed up by
force of arms if necessary. This senti-
ment was greeted by most enthusiastic
outburst of applause. And when the band
played America" the enthusiasm was re-
newed.
Ex-Governor L. Bradford Prince of New
Mexico made the address in reply to the
welcoming speeches. His speech was a
very able and enthusiastic one. He said
reply to gracious words of welcome was
always pleasant task, and to speak for
constituency such as the congress repre-
sented was high honor. He emphasized
The fact that the congress was not in any
way a sectional one. If there was any sec
tlonalism it was ION the other side of the
river
Mr.. Prince briefly and eloquently
sketched the settlement and the great va
riety of resources and climate found in the
ans-Mississippi region, but the variety OF
interests, when understood, were not an
tagonistic. Speaking of the great extent
of territory represented in the congress,
Governor Prince emphasized it by stating
that two of the delegates to the congress
present in the hall never before in their
lives had seen snow Until they saw it in
Omaha now. Speaking further of the
variety of interests and resources of the
trans Mississippi region Governor Prince
referred to a number Of them silver,
wheat, wool and others-and argued
briefly that the antagonism to the inter
ests of it was foreign and not of or in
itself.
To the Governor, Mayor and business
men of the city Governor Prince returned
thanks for the welcome rendered the con-
vention, and he also gracefully thanked
and complimented the ladies who had
decorated the hall and shown such an in
terest in the congress.
President Cannon then made a short ad-
dress in which he reiterated tho demand
for .non-sectionalism made by the Gov
ernor and Mr.. Prince.
Adjournment was then had until
O'Clock, when Professor Waterhouse of
Washington University, st. Louis, was in
troduced and spoke on the cultivation and
use of ramle, otherwise known as "Ch;na
grass" ''grass plant" and "rhea." He
claimed that it was the strongest fiber
known, that the garments made from it
were waterproof and could not be worn
out for years in China, the same being
handed down to three generations. The
ramie requires clayey sandy, alluyial
soil. found in the Southern States. He
predicted that the invention of a new ma
chine for separating the gum from the
fabric of ramie would revolutionize the
textile industries as die the invention of
the cotton-gin.
Hon. Hugh Craig of San Francisco spoke
on the Hawaiian question, American mer-
chant marine rehabilitation, and the cable
to the Sandwich Islands.
Resolutions were presented in favor of
Government control of the Nicaragua
canal, Endorsement of ramie, appointment
OF United States irrigation commission,
admission of New Mexico to statehood,
Tree coinage of silver, improvement of the
mississippi and Missouri rivers, enactment
OF National bankruptcy law, annexation
OF Hawaii and Cuba, construction of a rail-
way from Southern California to Salt Lake,
speedy completion of the Hennepin canal
and fayoring the deepening of Duluth
harbor.
A reception was given to the delegates
at the City Hall at o'clock this evening.
The evening sea pn was given over to an
address by exc Fernor Prince on Estate
hood OF New Mexico and by Professor
John R. Park of Salt Lake City on "For-
estry in the Rocky Mountain Region"
Ex-Governor Princes paper abounded in
facts and figures as TO New Mexico's re-
sources and fitness for statehood. He
showed that his Territory had many min
eral and agricultural advantages and was