The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-06-14
...+.+4+.+++..+..%..++-+~.

N ton,
 An effort to obtain immigrants in large number for Alabama, took definite shape yesterday. when at meeting in the Com mercial club rooms, attended by men representing various interests and various sections of the state, the whole subject of immigration was thoroughly discuss ed and steps were taken to invite and obtain for Alabama immigrants from the more desirable classes in Europe.
 A feature of the conference was that the chairman of the meeting, T. H. Mol ton, who is president of the Commercial club was authorized to appoint com mittee of fifteen members to devise ways and means, including a large amount of money. by which immigrants may be induced to settle in Alabama.
 Another feature was the appointment of a committee consisting of John B. Knox of Anniston, Wilson Brown of Bir- mingham, and Mr. Thornton of Talladega whose duty it will be to call upon Cover nor Jelks and request him to appropriate from the states contingency fund an
  representatives of the conference to make a trip to New York and there to prepare for getting immigrants to come to Ala bama.
 An interesting development took place when the conference almost unanimously adopted a resolution requesting the Ala bama delegation in Congress to vote to exclude from the United States immi- grants who are criminals. paupers or H. literates.
 Lberality of Railroads. The immigration movement is made possible by the energy, industry and 1ib- erality of the railways of Alabama, who are, as J. S. B. Thompson of the Southern explained, backing the immigration movement enthusiastically and persist ently
 The conference was given up almost wholly to the statement and discussion of existing unsatisfactory conditions in the state and to suggestions regarding remedy. The need of immigration was enforced in all speeches that were made. Alabama" said one of the delegates, needs today 250O0 white men to develop farm lands in the state that are now un- cultivated. The state needs 5000 white men to carry forward work in indus tries already established and many times that number to do development work that ! is in contemplation"
 To the solution of the problem com pressed into those two sentences the con- ference directed its attention. More than a hundred men representing all kinds of industries and pursuits and all sections of the state discussed the subject from every point of view.
 Prominent Delegates. | Among those present was MT. Knox of | Anniston, president of the late Alabama constitutional convention and one of the most virie and intelligent forces In the educational social and industrial devel- 1 opment of the state. Accompanying MT. | Knox were his townsmen, Congressman & l. Bowie E. Linthicomb J. T. Gardner, Thomas A. Kilby. John B. LeGorde and NJ. Henderson, all of whom represented the Commercial club of Anniston. From Decatur came w. J. Matthews, I. H. Edwards and N B. Lampkin. Gads- den sent J. R. McMuilen, T. S. Kyle and | IS. by A. s. Ericsson; Talladega by J. A. Edwards; Thorsby by s. c. Norton; Brighton by w. T. Brown; Pratt City by Joseph vegan; Leeds by J. E. Eliiott; l calera by s. A. Thorson; Huntsville by Frank J. Thompson and c. P. Lane; Jas nor hv L, M. Smith, J. H. Bankhead, Jr., and I. H. Cranfeld; Mobile by w. r. Henderson. and New Decatur by J. D. Penny.
 The Southern railway which is keenly interested in the immigration movement, was represented at the conference by J. s. B. Thompson, general agent in Georgia and Alabama, and ". J. Henderson of the land and immigration department.
 J. G. Cantrell. assistant general freight agent, and w. F. Christian, assistant general passenger agent of the Seaboard Air Line, represented that railway.
 The New York Commercial, which re- gently published an interesting and elab- crate article on industrial Alabama, was represented by its southern agent, F. A. Sawyer.
 Alfred Schutum- Schwensen of Christian, Norway, was there also, and assured the conference he would commend Alabama to 1 his countrymen.
 The Birmingham delegates to the con- | ference were: T. H. Motion, president of tine Commercial club F. H. Lathrop, w. H. Passenger. T. G. Bush, Frank Nell son, T. H. Gardner Don H. Bacon, Wilson Brown. J. w. Mcqueen, c. s. Stickney. George H. Harris. Henry Hiden. W. E.