Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-03-26
THE LATEST ALABAMA NEWS
f
Senator Pat Walsh Addressed
the immigration Convention.
OPENED BY GOV. OATES
The Mineral, Agricultural Timber andManu-
featuring interests We're Well Repre-
sented-0rganization Permanent.

Montgomery March 25.-(Special)-
| A convention was held in this city today,
the object of which is of material in
terest to almost every man in Alabama.
AT IL o'clock Governor Oates called to
order in convention about 100 of the fore-'
most men in Alabama-men represent
ing almost every profession and bust
ness-for the purpose of determining
whether Alabama should be represented
at the Cotton States exposition in Chi
cago next year, and, if So to arrive at the
ways, the means etc.
Governor Oates upon the assembling
of the meeting spoke earnestly in the in
terest of Alabama's being we'll repre-
scented He spoke in the most glowing
terms of Alabamas matchless natural
wealth in agricultural, mineral and for
estry resources. He reminded those as
sembled that there was coal enough in
the bowels of the hills of this state to
supply the entire world for more than
l60 years. He said that Alabama was
the richest state naturally in the. union,
and called attention to the fact that
the people on the outside did not realize
the fact. He said that while he was not
In favor of making Alabama the dump
ing ground for the criminals of all of the
nations of Europe, he was nevertheless
an enthusiastic believer that the best
and surest way to develop the magnifi-
cent resources of the state was by means
of securing a desirable influx of brains,
capital and energy. He suggested to the
meeting that Commissioner of Agricul-
ture H. d. Lane had perhaps been more
instrumental than any one else in caus-
ing the important meeting to be assem-
bled. and he suggested that Mr. Lane be
called upon to preside over it's delibera-
tions. Mr. Lane was forthwith nomi-
| mated and unanimously elected as chair
man. Messrs. r. d. Eckleberger of Mad
| ison and r. p McDavid of Montgomery
were named as secretaries.
Mr.. Lane spoke interestingly of the OBJ
! ject of the meeting. He said that his
| trips through the northwest had con-
| WINGED him of the unrest existing there,
| and that the tendency of the dissatisfied
| In that section was southwark on ac-
| count of the balmy climate and fertile
fields of this section. Mr. Lane said that
| when Alabama acquired the citizenship
| of a good and energetic citizen she made.
| at least $1000-that her revenue would
| be increased by reason of his citizenship
| fully that amount, whether he had a dol
| lar to invest or not. Mr.. Lanes speech
was practical and full of interest and In
| formation.
| At it's conclusion Governor Oates arose
| and, in the most complimentary terms,
| introduced Hon. Patrick Walsh of Geor-
gia, who was the orator of the occasion.
Mr.. Walsh spoke for perhaps half an
hour, and his speech was listened to with
the greatest interest. He said that he
believedthat now was the time of all 9TH
ers to Invade the west for emigrants
| He believed that until recently many in
| the north and west who had had a DIS
| position TO come south had ahesitated
| bout doing So believing that they were
| not wanted-that they would not be well
coined. He said that there was not only
less sectionalism and less prejudice now,
but that more interest was felt in the
south in the northwestern states than
ever before. The speaker said Alabama
was the peer in natural resources of
England or of any state in the American
union, and that all she needed to make
her equal to them in Importance was
capital, muscle and skill. He considered
that immigration was the best and most
effective way of securing all of these,
and he believed that the Chicago expo
Sition offered the most effective and the
cheapest way of advertising these. Mr..
Walsh spoke of the interest that Chicago
had always manifested toward the south,
and called particular attention to the
generous patronage that Chicagoans had
extended the exposition at Atlanta. He
spoke of the, cotton industry. He said
that in the past fifteen years 1t had in
creased over 500 per cent in the south,
and that finally the south would be the
site of all of the mills. He said that
what we needed most now was to adver-
tise our resources and let the world I'M
derstand what good things we have to Of
fer them. When this is known capital
and skill will hasten to help develop
them and the south will take the place OF
Importance in the world which 1t de-
serves.
Mr.. Walsh's speech was very generous
ly applauded
Mr.. Plowman of Talladega was called
on and made short speech, after which
the following committee on resolutions
was appointed and the meeting adjourn
ed until after dinner:
Committee on reSolutions-T. S. Plow-
man, John w. Tullis, M. H. Stillwell, H.
p. Inge, j. B. CASTOR, j. X. Mcdonald
and S. d. Bloch.
The Afternoon Session.
The committee on resolutions reported
the following at the afternoon session:
sition company of Chicago has agreed
sary and pay all the expenses of conduct
ing an exposition of the products and re-
sources of the southern states, the condi-
ton on their part being to furnish and
deliver the same to the exposition COM
pany free of cost at the exposition build
ing in Chicago; and
Whereas, We consider the proposition
made by the enterprising citizens of Chi
cago to be public spirited, unprecedent-
edly liberal and the most advantageous
ever offered for advertising to the people
of the west and northwest the agricul-
tural, mineral, timber and manufacture
ing products and resources of the SOUTH