Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-09-02
TRANSMISSISSIPPI
COR'L CONGRESS
History Of Organization Of An
Institution That Has Done
Much for the West.
IT is IN REALITY A MERGER.
Formed Sixteen Years Ago. Of Deep
Water Convention. Transmlsslssippi
Congress and Western Convention.

Muskogeo. Okla. Sept 2.-The cero-
monies incident 70 the dedication OF the
convention hall. erected for the cigh-
teenth annual session Of the Transmits
eissippi Commercial congress, which
convenes In this city Nov 1922, were
made the occasion Of a great demon
stratlon by organized labor in the new
state. Those participating came from
all portions OF oklahoma. The cere-
mon 'es were preceded by an lndusuy u
display in which business men and
manufacturers generally participated
The feature OF the occagion was the
placing OF a stone TO be opened 90
years hence. The contents Of tho stone
included the records Of tho Trans
mississippi Commercial congress,
record Of the contemporancous events
In the new state OF oklahoma together
with the records OF this city. Arthur
+. Francis OF Colorado. general score
tary OF the Transmlssissippi Commerce
ial congress, spoke Of the history and
achievements OF the congress as fol-
lows:
ORGANIZATION OF THE CON
GRESS.
The Transmississippi Commercial con-
gross was organized IN 1891. Il was
tho merger Of three associations, each
distinct IN its character but organized
for the purpose Of obtaining federal
recognition. These associations were
the Deep Water convention, the Trans
mississippi congress and the First
Western States congress. The first was
a movement for gulf ports, the second
and third devoted attention 20 the ma
tional Congress In the hope that agita-
ton would force recognition on the part
OF the eastern states. Prior to 1881
the western country was formative iu
its conditions. II was growing rapidly
ana there was therefore an absence Of
intelligent cooperation. some Of the
large cities had boards OF trade, cham
boris Of commerce and commercial clubs,
but the most influential organizations
represented the stock interests. There
were range associations for sheep and
cattle and the good that was accom-
plished for that industry pointed the
way for the commercial interests OF the
western states.
Each year millions Of dollars were
appropriated from the national treasury
and the eastern states by reason OF
their predominatinE influence Ia both
senate and house absorbed practically
all the funds for the improvements
OF their rivers and harbors and for
other public betterments. So far az
national appropriations were concerned
the western states were not upon the
map. For years the great inland COM
munities had suffered in silence. AS
the people multiplied. however, and
the delegations from western states In
creased In number very general pro-
test became prevalent IN the national
Congress. These protests were IN vain
smarting under this long continued
unjust discrimination the disanected
states sought other means OF educating
the country upon the needs % the west.
Although expanding at an enormous
rate her commerce was inactive because
her streams We're useless on account
Of her inability 20 obtain assistance
from the government. Railroad con
struction, although comparatively rapid
could not keep pace with the public de-
mand. The crying need OF the hour
was improved water facilities This de-
mand finally became 50 urgent that the
Legislature Of Kansas took drastic
measures in a resolution directing the
governor Of that state TO call western
states congress 10 be held IN Kansas
City Mo. The date OF this meeting
was April i4-17. 1891. There was a
large gathering. delegates being sent
from all the states west or the Ohio
river. That congress contained many
notable men. Crisp Of Georgia, Breck-
eAtldge Of Kentucky, and other high
ia national councils gave the movement
the influence OF their presence. There
were delegates present who have since
became men Of world wide renown.
Gov. -. r. Francis the executive Of
Missouri. was president Of this congress
and presided as he did Il years later in
the same city over this same CONNER
clal congress. The deliberations Of the
congress were not dispassionate al all
times Tho emergency was such that Il
could not be otherwise. The states had
come together 20 have corrected an
abuse which n continued would tend 10
dwarf the growth and prosperity Of a
vast area OF country containing over
10000, 900 Of people There was much
criticism upon the part Of eastern pub
lic men and newspapers and the Oft
repeated charge was made that the
movement was not economic but trea-
sonable an It's nature, that the pro-
iectOrs under cover Of an alleged grlev-
ance were simply fostering sectional
feeling The western states congress.
Notwithstanding. succeeded in one thing
and that was quite effectively shown In
the contest FOR the new harbor OF san
Pedro on the Pacific coast. That gath