The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-07-26
MADE STRONG ADDRESSES.
BUSINESS MEN SPEAK BEFORE THE
INDUSTRIAL LEAGUE.

f. B. Thurber Had His Paper Read.
Shows the South as others See 1t.
Some OF the Influences at Work
Against Its DeVelopmeDt-Presi-
dent Orr Says Farmers Use Too
Much Credit-MaJ. Hanson FavOrs
Combinations.
Atlanta, July 25.-The first days session
of the Southern Industrial League opened
in the Kimball House ballroom this morn
ing with approximately 200 of the leading
merchants and manufacturers of the South
Atlantic states in attendance, the majority,
however, being from Georgia. Many more
are expected to reach the city tonight and
tomorrow morning to attend the final
days OF the meeting.
| ]. K. Orr of Atlanta called the conven-
| ton to order aud was made president, with
| d. O. Dougherty Of Atlanta, treasurer. and
T. II. Martin secrerery. The first days
| business consisted in a general discussion
Of business conditions and plans for the
betterment of business method in the
South.
Gov. Gambler made a brief address of well
come upon the assembling of the conven-
ton. after which the papers prepared by
well-known members of the body were
read. These addresses are full of inter-
est 10 the business world, as they cmbody
the sentiments Of the South on questions
that are of vital interest to the industrial
development Of the section.
Before the days sitting was adjourned,
upon motion of Maj. J. F. Hanson of Ma
con, a committee, with himself as chair
man, was appointed to prepare an address
TO the public, embodying the views of the
convention, and this address win be pre-
| sented at the meeting tomorrow morn
| ing. The other members of the commit
| tee are Hon. S G. McLeudon of Thomas
vile and r. c. Aston of Atlanta.
Thurber's Able Address.
F. B. Thurber of New York, probably
the most widely known dealer in groceries
in the whole country, was expected to be
the bright particular star of the day but
he was prevented from attending on ac-
count of a death in his family. Mr. Thur
Der, however, sent his address to the sec
retary, and it was read to the convention.
This address provoked quite a ripple, as
il gave the Southern commercial world
what President Orr described asa glimpse
of ourselves as others see us" In the
| language of the street, Mr.. Thurber talk
| ed hot-stuff to the South. Here is what
he said in part:
Instances are not lacking Of repudia-
ton of public obligations WHICH have Civ
en- the Southern states a bad reputation
among the investors the world over, and
this must be counted as one of the OBJ
stacles to the South's progress. Rail-
| roads were needed to develop the resources
of the Southern states Capital was in
| fTq fiR
necessitated high rates, as compared with
| those of other sections where traffic was
greater This was not taken into consid-
Grafton, although railroad rates were but
a fraction of those on common roads, and
| hostile legislation cOnfscated investments
in railroads which had enormously in
! creased land values
The fruit and truck farmers of the
South would do well to realize what has
been done in improvements in transporta-
ton. These inves tments are costly, and
if rates do seem high, they are not high
enough to enable dividends TO be paid upon
many of these railroads.
They Feared Subsidy.
Southern statesmen as rule, are gov
erned largely by local environment and
party traditions. This is illustrated by
their attitude in Congress toward the up
building of an American merchant marine
g
Probably no part of our country would be
more benefited by having American ships
| to distribute American goods than the
South, and yet, in the past, all that was
necessary was to shout Subsidy" and a
| majority of Southern members of Con-
gress would vote against giving American
ships the support which competing nations
were giving their shipping in the effort to
control the commerce of the world. There
are signs, however, that the logic OF
events is changing this.
"And when measures to extend Ameri-
| can commerce again comes before Con-
gress, l hope and believe that Southern
representatives will not let tradition ham
per their intelligence. Another obstacle
TO Southern progress, as il appears to me,
is the impression throughout the country,
and, indeed, other countries, that life and
property are not safe in the South. This
is due to the frequent ARRAYS, at the bot
tom of which are whisky and pistols, or in
other words the habit of carrying arms
and the habit of drinking whisky. Neither
would be so dangerous without the other.
A man gets drunk in a Northern saloon,
but he fights with his fists or a chair, and
the damage is slight; but if he carries a
knife or a pistol or a rife they do in
! come parts of the South, the result is
more serious.
Disorders in the south.
This leads me to the considera ton of
another phase Of disorder, which is more
difficult TO deal with, and that is lynch
ing habit. 1t is not peculiar to the South,
although instances are more frequent
there. owing 10 the chronological conditions
which exist. | do not think that any
Northern man can quite appreciate the
? conditions and what he would do under
similar circumstances TO protect those that
are nearest and dearest 10 him, but / am
clear on one point, and that is that the
collective caution of the best minds in the
community formulated into law, no mat
ter how severe or swift in action is bet
Ter than the impulse of a mob The rep
utation of man, a community or a coun-
try is his or its capital, and II is best
expressed in law and order. Every in
7 stance Of lynch law is an obstacle TO the
progress Of the South.
THE Southern people are warm hearted