Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-23
Parliament of Southern Bust
ness Men in Session.
GREAT ENTHUSIASM
GOV. GLENN OF NORTH CAROLINA
PRESIDING.
Strictly a Business Body Devoted to
the Material Interests of
the South.

unusual enthusiasm marked the opening
or the southern Industrial parliament this
morning. There have been but few times
since the civil war that such a representa-
tive body of southern business men have
gathered in Washington for the purpose of
discussing fully and freely the needs of the
section in which they live. 1t was the hope
of the promoters of the congress that the
men of the south would take up the idea
and push 1t forward to successful ac-
complishment; that they would either come
or send representatives to take part in the
discussions. and that a real live interest
would be awakened in movement which
would have for its object fair presenta-
ton of the business situation in the south
to the people for whom such situation
holds golden opportunities.
But even In their dreams the people be-
hind the movement did not believe the par
lament would have such an suspicious be-
ginning as was witnessed today at the
opening. One of the features that was
lacking In the makeup of the parliament
was politics. So far politics have not been
discussed In his opening address to the
delegates Gov. Robert b. Glenn of North
Carolina. the president of the body, made
very plain statement as to the attitude
OF the people of his state toward the negro.
but the assertion was not of political
nature nor did 1t have reference to politics
in any form.
Strictly a Business Body.
The dominant idea of the gathering is
business. The men who registered as
delegates are business men, and they
demonstrated very clearly today, at the
very beginning of their conference, that
they have no patience with any but the
most direct methods for the transaction of
the business of the gathering. They were
all anxious to come here, and are all glad
V,
just as anxious to get through with their
work and get back to their homes, be-
cause they have business there and they
are not the type of men who care to neg
lect that business unless for some cause
that will revert to their benefit and the
benefit of the community in which they
live.
1t was therefore a most representative
body that Commissioner Henry l.. West,
as chairman of the executive committee,
called to order in the main lecture haIl or
the Georgetown University Law School this
morning a few minutes before IL o'clock.
Commissioner West has been hard at work
perfecting the arrangements for the meet
ing, and he felt a little disappointed TINS
morning when he went to the hall at the
hour set for the beginning of the bus ness
and found but few of the delegates pres
emit The committee in charge of the ar
rangements had failed to take into account
the fact that a majority of the southern
trains do not arrive until late in the fore
noon, and the hour of 1880 is little early
for such gathering.
There We're between fifty and a hundred
delegates in the hall when the meeting was
called to order, but before its close the hall
was packed. Every train from the south
this morning brought in large delegations.
Toward the end of the morning session,
when the roll of the states was called. 1t
was found that all but two OF the southern
states were represented, and at the conclu-
sion of the morning meeting the represen-
tatives OF one of these states came in and
registered. having just arrived in the city.
Hall Decorations.
The hall In which the meetings will be
held was very simply decorated with flags
and palms. The platform was banked with
tall palms, suggestive of the bamy climate
of the south. over the stage two large
American flags were draped
Commissioner West called the assem-
blage to order and briefly explained its
purpose. The parliament. he said. had
been called for the purpose of bringing to-
gether the men who made the business of
the south and who had charge of its indus
tries. in order that they might confer as to
the best means of improving the present
industrial situation. Rev. A. w. PitZer
pronounced an invocation, and Mr.. West
introduced Commissioner mcfarland to
welcome the delegates to the District.
MI. Macfarland's Address.
You are very welcome to the national
capital. your capital" said Mr.. Mcfarland
life of the old south. Progress, such ma
teral progress as has not been made any
where else in the short space of a genera
tion-progress which, like all the other
gains of our country. enhances the value of
the national capital, is your great constitu-
ent and in It's name you have an unlimited
warrant upon our hospitality. Here we re-
joice with equal fervor in the progress of
every state and territory and the success of
our fellow-citizens throughout the world.
a nj mil 1fsa-
unparalleled achievements you report, be-
cause we know that you have wrought them
through unparalleled difficulties. No ro-
nance Is more remarkable than the plain
story of what you have done since the civil
war left all your industries PROSTATE. An
industrial revolution, unprecedented in char
acter and rapidly, has taken place in your
states. Only a quarter of a century ago
IT began. And now the Secretary of Com
merce and Labor is able to announce that
for the past decade your percentage of in
crease In commerce and manufactures is
greater than that of any other part of the
United States. From poverty to afIiuence
from weakness to power. from defeat to
victory, you have come with the courage
skill and enterprise of the best American
type Nothing in the consequences of the
civil war. not even the new loyalty to the
old Union, nor the new fraternity greater
than the old. is more striking than your
material development.
Unusual Advantages.
II 10 AHdt besides the American
spirit, which has given to peace victories
more renowned than wars, you had I'M.
usual natural advantages. Henry W.
Grady In the last OF those eloquent
speeches which two decades ago revealed
10 the north the new patriotism and the
new progress of the south, and all the pos
sioIlltles which you now fulfilling said.
There are mountains stored with ex-
haustless treasures; forests vast and I,rin-
eval, and rivers that, tumbling or lettering
run wanton to the sea. OF the three essen
tial items of all industries iron and
wuod-that region has easy control. In
cotton. a fixed monopoly: in iron proven
supremacy; iq timber, the reserve supply
of the republic
Since that day you have been nakina
the most of your opportunities, hampered
by lack of capital, not by lack of ability
Factories and mines, banks and railroads.
old cities revived and new cities established
agriculture taking new methods and show
ing new results-these mark The Increasing
stages OF your mighty march. All signs in
dictate a steady increase in your Industrial
wealth and power. Most significant of all
IS SDread technical pd