Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-10-25
Representative Men Of the Country Consider
Questions Of National Significance.
ABLE ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT R. C. KERENS
Alexander H. Revel Makes Strong Plea for Single
Six Year Presidential Term.

ST. LOUIS, Mon, Oct. 25.-Two
thousand eminent representatives OF
the progressive spirit Of the great
West filled Festival Hall this morn
ing at the opening of the fifteenth an
nual session of the Trans Missippi
Commercial Congress. Among those
present were leading mine owners.
lumbermen, merchants, agriculturists-
railroad magnates and other represen-
tatives of the great industries of the
region beyond the Mississippi. There
were also in attendance from Wash
ington city a number of representa-
tives of the forestry, commerce and
labor and other departments of the
national government.
The opening proceedings today
were largely of formal nature, The
visitors were formally welcomed by
President Francis and by chiefs Of
the agricultural, forestry and other
departments of the Worlds Fair
There we're greetings also on behalf
of the state Of Missouri and the city
of St Louis. The usual responses
and appointments of committees took
up the remainder of the initial ses-
sion At the subsequent sessions Of
the congress, which are to continue
until the end of the week, there will
be papers and discussions dealing
with irrigation, rivers waterways and
harbors, isthmian canal, merchant
marine, trade with the Orient, consul
lar service, trade with Mexico, pre-
servation Of forests, exports and i'm
ports through Gulf and Pacific ports,
encouragement OF home manufac-
lures, department of minis and min.
ing trade with Canada and Alaska,
good roads and drainage, sugar indus.
try, etc. The congress will be ad-
dressed by a number of persons of
wide public prominence.
The opening session was called to
order at 10 o'clock this morning by
the chairman of the executive com
mittee, Hon. Thomas Richardson of
Portland, Oregon, who introduced the
president, r. G. Kerens.
In his opening address Mr.. Kerens
spoke as follows:
Address Of President kerens.
In declaring the Fifth Annual Ses-
sion of the Trans-Mississippi CONNER,
cial Congress open for this session
it should be stated that this organi
zation was created in 1889, there be-
ing demand upon the part of the
states west of the Mi: ssissippi for
a fair and equitable distribution by
the government for international
river and other improvements. Prior
to the organization of this Congress
appropriations by the National Con
gress contemplated improvements
almost wholly upon rivers and har
bors in states east of the Mississippi
through the wide discussion by the
Trans Mississippi Congress in all the
years of its existence. there has beer
a perceptible change, and now states
and territories of the West are rece
living their full share of national i'm
provement.
Year after year this Congress Is
made up from the business masses
highly representative in its character
whose delegates are appointed by tbs
governors of states and territories
Mayors of Cities, Boards of Trade
Chambers of Commerce, and kindred
associations. These Congresses re
present the Commercial and public
wants af the greater geographical
portion of the United States. Thi'
present congress represents upwards
of 30,00O,000 people The improve
ments essential to the sections re
pesented here are annually brough
conspicuously forward by resolution
and recommendation to the congress
of the United States; bills are formu
lated at Washington and systematic
work is done to the end that meas
ures emanating from the Transmits
sissippi Commercial Congress receiy'
proper and equitable governmental
support. Senators and representa-
tives from the Trans-Mississippi Tel
ritory are frequently delegates 90 tn
Trans Mississippi Congress. who als'