The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-03-23
RAPID SOUTHERN PROGRESS.
The Southern Industrial Convention
Colonel Thompson's Interview.

Colonel y. F. Thompson, secretary Of
the Huntsville, Ala, chamber OF COM
merce, and formerly secretary Of the
J~ohnstown, Pa, board Of trade, Is in
Philadelphia on business. Mr.. Thomp-l
son is the originator Of the movement
which established the southern indus
trial convention, formed TO promote the,
general advancement OF the industrial
interests Of the south, the first session
being held at Huntsville, in October
last, and was a most marked success
The next session Will be held in Chat
tanooga May Sth TO 18th, and il is part
ly in the interest Of that meeting that
he is here at this time. He was seen
by a representative of The Times n
asked regarding the objects OF this
convention and in what respect 1t
should wax interest on the part OF
Philadelphians. Answering the first
part of this question he said:
The southern industrial convention
seeks to bring together for consolida-
ton and concentration Of efforts OF all
the forces that enter into the industrial
life of the south. The governors Of
the southern states are eX-officio mem
bers, n have the appointment OF ten
delegates-at-large from each state, Sc
lected with special regard to their
knowledge Of industrial matters in
their respective states. The commits
sioners of agriculture of each state are
members, as we'll as the superintend-
ents of education. The industrial
agents Of every railway in the south
are members, and the publishers of
newspapers and mayors of cities are
likewise connected with the ~organiza-
ton. The matters that will be consid-
cred are educational, agricultural, i'm
migration, commercial expansion and
the race problem.
''The latter question will be given
one day., and this is the only effort that
has ever been made in the south to
bring together prominent members of
both races and consider this question
entirely free from political bias and
solely at it bears on the industrial fu-
ture of the south. This was done at
the Huntsville session n great good
| resulted from it. The Chattanooga
meeting will go into it on a more ex-
tended scale and seek practical re-
suits.
THE leading men of the south are
becoming more n more impressed
with the fact that this is a question
which the south alone can solve, and
they are taking hold Of it with a de-
gree of earnestness that presages good
to both races. No spirit Of enmity or
hatred enters into it, but the fact is
recognized that the negro is in the
south to stay, and the best minds OF
both races are turned to the solution
of how they can work out their higher
destiny on grounds of mutual interest
and safety. 1t is believed that the
Chattanooga meeting will go farther
towards bringing this about than any
thing ever before attempted. In this
respect this meeting should possess
deep interest to the entire north, but
in another and more practical way it
should specially interest Philadelphia.
When it is known that over one-third
of the exports of this country last year
came from the south it will be seen
how valuable, from a trade point of
view, will be the further industrial
growth Of the south, which is really
only in it's infancy.
THE Commercial Museums of this
city have been invited to send a rep
resentative to this convention, and
they will do so, to show the facilities
of that institution to aid the export
trade of the south, n your trades
league could not do a greater service
to your city than to send a representa-
tive there also. If this done an op-
| portunity will be given to show how
the interests of Philadelphia are iden-
titled with those of the south. AS there
will be a number Of practical matters
directly bearing on closer transporta-
ton facilities between the southern
and gulf ports with eastern cities, and
in this respect, at least, Philadelphia
Is interested"
Looked at from the light in which
Mr.. Thompson views 1t this convention
should have almost as much interest
to Philadelphians as to the people OF
the south themselves, n we have nc
doubt but that many of our leading
men will attend it.-Philadslphia Times
Nrd,