Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-24
Southern Industries.

Those who conceived and have managed
the meeting of representatives of the south
in this city to discuss the industrial needs
of that section entitled to the heartiest
congratulations upon their enterprise and
their conspicuous success. Yesterdays
initial meeting was an effective demonstra-
tion that the leaders of the south, the men
who are in the front rank of the great in
dustrial army that is conquering all OBJ
stacles. are alive to the Importance of such
a convention The delegate roll when
finally signed last evening. showed the at
tendance of delegates from every southern
state, not only thus numerically covering
the entire region but. in point of character
and earnestness of purpose, assuring the
complete success of the meeting
y close reading of the discussions of this
body discloses the fact that the south is
very wide awake to her opportunities and
her requirements. Politics aside, there is
no part of the country which appeals more
powerfully to the sympathies and the in
terest of the other states The history of
the past forty years in that region has been
filled with examples of personal herosm
sacrifice, struggle and success For indus
trially. the south nf today dates from the
closing of the war. 1t was a ruined land
when the struggle ceased. Its jewellers had
lost more than their physical possessions
Many of them had lost their hope. their
strength. But they attacked their new
problems manfully. bravely and finally sue
cessfully.
1t is encouraging to find scores of bust
ness men from all parts of the south as
sembling for serious debate of their con-
ditions and requirements. ignoring politi-
cal subjects and proceeding as business
specialists to consider the ways and means
of improving the condition of the people by
developing the agriculture and the manu-
featuring of the region. For years the best
friends of the south have adjured her lead
crs to eschew politics, to discard the old
prejudices. to pitch in and fight for the
industrial prizes that her soil holds only
lightly from them. There was once lack
of capital for this development Then it
came down from the north Now it is be-
Ing supplied by the south itself. That Is
the most encouraging feature of the situa-
ton 1t makes for a wholesome pride of
achievement. for progress
Closely allied with the industrial probIen
indeed an integral part. is the matter of
education. To succeed in the full measure
of which the south is capable the unedu-
Gated among her people must be brought
to higher standard of enlightenment. The
best work In the south Is to be done by her
own people, white and black Industrially
there can be no rigid color line Those who
are to succeed in the greatest measure in
the years to come in bringing the region
10 its full fruition must work with the ma
terlals that circumstances have laid to
hand, work wisely, progressively, without
prejudice and rancor. seeking only the gen
eral uplift of all the people, not the selfish
ends Of class And the best education
Will result from such program, the edu-
cation that Will become vtalizing factor
in the Industrial regeneration in the name
Of which this parliament is today in ses-
sion.