Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-23
CHANGES IN THE SOUTH
PREDICTIONS THAT THREE STATES
WILL VOTE FOR MCKINLEY.
Growing Sentiment for Commercial
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES of Manu-
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS in Exports.

A. d. Macpherson of the Chicago Finan-
cial Review is in Washington after a long
business trip through the south. lie found
many things to surprise him during his
visit to various southern states, but the
nest surprising was the change in political
sentiment among bankers, business and
pl OCCASIONAL men. He has come in daily
contact with banks and other fiscal institu-
tons, and has had excellent opportunities
for seeing for himself the exact condition of
the south, politically and commercially. He
says that the south has made wonderful
progress, especially during the past few
years.
To Star reporter Mr. Macpherson said
Not long ago | had a conversation with a
prominent cotton planter in Arkansas who
has been a lifelong democrat. He told me
that at the last election he voted for Bryan
but this fall the republicans would get his
vote, and ever afterward, as long as the
present policy of the party Is continued.
Taken as a whole. the planters in the south
have never been prosperous since the
civil war as at the present time, and they
know what has brought about that pros
perity. Another prominent planter in
Louisiana also a democrat, said that the
south was just waking up, commercially
and politically. With the open door in
China and in our new colonial possessions
the south is finding a ready market, not
alone for its raw materials. but for its
manufacturing products, and the people de-
sire that the government push the Mica
raguan canal to completion, as il will be
a powerful factor in developing southern
industries.
Development pf Manufactures.
Take South Carolina and Alabama, for
instance Both of these states are becom-
ing dotted with cotton mills from one end
to the other, giving employment to thou
sends of people. One town in Alabama
Huntsville-has had an expenditure of over
So 100000 in buildings and machinery alone
during the past year by wealthy New
England corporation that wanted to be
right where the cotton is grown. This cor
poration is taking the majority of its ex-
pert employees with it from New England
to It's new home. Almost the same thing is
true of South Carolina and other southern
states. While cotton is a great factor in
the commercial life of Alabama, iron cuts
big figure. l found iron plants there that
iron center
Increase in Savings.
But what to my mind, tells the story
of the wonderful progress in the southern
states, is the phenomenal increase in the
deposits of the banks and savings institu-
tions. I found, in getting reports for my
company. that the average increase in de-
posits for the past year was over GOO.
These banks cater to all classes, the capt.
taist as well the laborer.
while do not mix politics and business
together still l could not help asking ques-
tons. and | gathered from talks have had
with men of all shades of opinion and poll
tics that there is big surprise in store for
somebody this fall. The south is waking
up. Protection and expansion find no
warmer advocates than in the sunny land
We have long been taught was hopelessly
given over to democracy. In my humble
opinion Mckinley and Roosevelt will carry
at least three of the states"