The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-10-13
COMMERCIAL CONGRESS.
Representatives Of Twenty Nations
Gather at Philadelphia.
OVER FOUR HUNDRED DELEGATES

The First Session Of the Congress,
Which viii Continue For Nearly
Three Weeks, Presided Ovor by Ex-
Speaker Thomas B. Reed.
Philadelphia, Oct. 13.-With the mos:
Impressive ceremonies, which partook
of both an official and public character,
the international Commercial Con-
gress was formally opened yesterday
In the large auditorium Of the main
building at the National Export ex-
position. Fully 5000 persons assembled
in the spacious auditorium and added
their enthusiastic applause to the well
come extended to the delegates by
representatives Of the nation, of the
municipality of Philadelphia and of the
Philadelphia Commercial Museums,
which organization conceived, organ
lied and carried out the detail Of ar
rangements for the great trade con-
gress. The Marine band also did its
| share in enlivening the greeting Of
the foreign representatives.
Fully 20 nations of the world were
officially represented by delegates and
over 400 delegates were present repre-
senting various chambers of COM
merce or trade boards in all parts of
the world. The object of the congress
is development Of the commerce of
the world and the harmonizing of the
varied trade interests. The discus
sions to follow In the sessions of the
congress, which will continue until
Nov. 1. will be participated in by the
delegates representing the different
governmental and business interests,
each presenting the position and policy.
of his own country or commercial Or
ganization. Yesterdays meeting was
devoted wholly to the formal welcom-
ing and the bringing together of the
delegates and acquainting them with
each other. The deliberations Of the
congress will be in the English Ian
guage, which Is the official language
of the congress, although delegates
who prefer to speak their own Ian
guage will be permitted to do so.
In yesterdays exercises President
Mckinley was represented in the per-
son of Assistant Secretary Of State
Hill, while the foreign nations were
officially represented by their lega-
tons, who came to the city from Wash
ington on special train. These Dip
lomats occupied seats on the stage,
while the delegates to the congress and
their ladies occupied seats reserved for
them in the forward body of the audi
torium.
After the diplomats and others had
| cen seated ex-United States Senator
George F. Edmunds. the temporary
called the meeting to order
and introduced David J. Hill. assistant
secretary of state, who welcomed the
delegates to the congress in the name
of the United States.
Upon the conclusion of his address
Mr.. Hill. who had succeeded Senator
Edmunds as chairman, introduced
Mayor Ashbridge, who extended well
come on behalf of the city of Philadel-
phia.
Senator Edmunds followed in a brief
speech, in which he extolled the work
If the Commercial Museums. Its pur-
pose, he said, has been the diffusion
md increase of knowledge of the
Utility of commerce in all parts of
he world. 1t is showing our manu-
acturers where they could develop the
Industries of the United States; how
hey could best promote its commercial |
md financial interests, and has sought
o teach, and is teaching, the artificial
PRODUCERS of labor of men Of all de-
criptions what they should best learn
md how they should best learn it;
rom what points Of the universe they
ould obtain the readiest, the quickest
nd the most useful information.
W. P. Wilson, director general of the
Commercial Museums,
nd Of the National Export exposition,
ext spoke. and in concluding announc-
d that ex-Speaker Thomas B. Reed
would preside over the first session.