Birmingham state herald., 1896-10-08
Board of Commissioners Meet.

Board of Commissioners Meet
 Prior to the meeting of the association a conference was held in the office of Mai. F. Y. Anderson by the board of com missioners to the Tennessee centennial, recently appointed by the governor in compliance with the request of MT. Nich- ols of Nashville, president of the Centen- nial association
 On motion, Maj I. F. Culver was elect ed temporary president and MT, H. G. Mccall temporary secretary,
 Maj. r. V Anderson offered the follow ing resolution, which was adopted:
 Resolved, That the commissioner of az riculture at the next meeting will be kind enough to report to this board what amount he will feel disposed to expend towards an exhibition of the resources of the state at the Nashville Centennial exposition.
 On motion the following were elected permanent officers of the board:
 Mai. I. F. Culver, president; Maj. F. Y. Anderson. vice president, and Mr. H. G. Mccall secretary.
 On motion of MT H. G. Mccall the pres ident was requested to discharge the du- ties of treasurer of the boaro
 On motion of MT. John McCartin II WIS resolved that MT H. G. Mccall be re- ouested to call the attention Of the Ala bama Press association, at us annual meeting at Huntsville, to the importance of advocating the use by the commlssloho or of agriculture of a proper amount or tha fnn1s at his disposal in securing an exhibit of the resources of Alapama al the Tennessee Centennial exposition.
 On motion the board adjourned, subject to the call of the president.
 Proceedings of the Regular Body
 Tho Alabama Commercial association was called to order at i:5o CLOCK py
 A1aIyn nf
 After the reading of the call Tor the meeting by the secretary, heretofore pup l;shed. Mayor Van Hoose was introduced and welcomed the visitors to Birmins nam in his usual happy manner. .,a
 The reply for the Commerclal assocIao Ia t;on was made by President Mckee. lie was glad the meeting was for practlcal not political discussion. Birmlngnam has always done big things She does nothing by halves. I believe we are wei come to this great town.
 Mir Mckee then read from manuscript the following:
 The Presidents Address.
 Gentlemen:-The occasion of this meet ing has been stated to you in the call read h,s inc secretary. and suggests 10 us the possibility Of great things in connection with the work of advertising the state of Alabama This is pre-emlnentiy tne dav of associated effort, and the good to any community growing out or such CT, fort depends upon the intelligence ana bonesty with which 1t is put forth. l as- eun,e that none will deny the prcposltlon that no one man, or single community, should assay the task of showing to the world what Alabama offers 10 the lh- vestor. whether of labor or capital. Ine testimonv we hear in unity is ire sistible. If we are to make our undeveloped re- sources known to the world and bid the world come in and share with us In us utility, then 1t becomes us to do u IS with such energy as to make 1t believe as we do.
 May suggest that up to this date the commercial class of our citizens have had no organization through which they make th mselves felt, either m protecting their rights or extending their ln1iuence for the good of the state. Nearly 1T not nuite all other classes of business men are federated, and 1t seems fitting that this large class should be united in re- ciprocal interests and exercise the power they hold for the improvement of this state. It seems that they should not be so absorbed in daily duties as to forget the fact that new obligations are contin- ually arising out of the growing demands of the times. I am persuaded that 1t lies within the power of the commercial and industrial interests of this state t. seize and control any and all opportunities for the betterment of our conditions. How ever, this may be viewed l am certain that 1t can not be accomplished except by a union of forces. trust that the com mittee upon constitution and bylaws will submit to this meeting plan for perma- nent organization that will give the greatest success to the idea of fedora tion of the commercial bodies. The mat ters left over from the last meeting are to be discussed. together with the special call for the consideration of the Nashville CentenniaL Inasmuch as we have not yet a committee on programme l nave nrepared and submit for your considera- tion the one published.
 Messrs. Erwin Craighead of Mobile and S. D. Weakly of Birmingham will address you on the question of the rsport of the committee on a constitutional conven- tion. MT. M V. Richards of Washington D. C.. and MT. Sid Jones of this city, gen. tlemen. who have large experience in the