The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-26
William & Witham Ta'h Be :
 fore the Association
NO DANGER OF MONEY PANIC
Georgian Electrifes the Meeting at Atlantic City By His Glowing Elo- quence and Tribute to the
 Souths Resources.

Atlantic City N. J., September 25.- With many important questions to be discussed among them. the American Bankers association today opened it's thirty-third annual convention In this city. More than sixteen hundred mem bers have arrived to participate in tho proceedings.
 The chief feature was the discussion of the currency question, and much interest is shown in the reports of the associa tion's currency commission, which will be read at tomorrow's session.
 Governor Swanson of Virginia addressed the convention on The South. He said in part:
 "The freeing of slaves cost the south three billions of dollars and at the close of the war the ballot was given to the vicious and debased. but after years of self-sacrfice we have recovered. By leg islation we have practically eliminated the negro from southern politics. We will stand together on this question as we have never stood on any other. We will treat the negro kindly, but so help us God we will hold him in his place for his own good and for the souths saliva ton"
 The convention was called to order by President Whitson, who in his annual re- port reviewed the work of the associa- ton and showed that 1t had gained large ly in membership during the past year.
 The report of the executive committee was presented by G. M Reynolds of Chl- cago.
 Addresses were delivered by Herr Moritz Leffffman of Dusseldorf and William $. Witham. Georgia banker
 MT. Witham's Address.
 MT. Witham said in part:
 "I come to you from the land beyond the Potomac, the home of the mocklng bird, and where the cape j esamine blooms; land flowing with butter milk and honey. 1 left our flrmers engaged in tearing down old barns and building larger ones to hold the unprecedented crops of 1901. left the number of our banker friends trying to arrange the cost of attending this convention. I left the people happy and prosperous in the prospect of a 15-cent cotton crop. l left the borrower and the lender walking side by side engaged In peaceful conversa- ton. This is not the old south of which l speak. nor is this the new south that furnishes this fascinating story of our condition, but it is the great south which 1 represent: the south which before the civil war stood first in commerce, first in agriculture, and first in the halls of the National Congress, and which comes today marching with the tread of q giant on To it's former supremacy. which, in it's present pace of wealth. Is to become the gold end of our great republic. l am from the land whose people on every street and by-Way go laughing, and come laughing; where peace and plenty sit down together at every board. Yet 1 am scarce across the border of Mason and Dixon line when | am told that great strikes are on up here, that anarchy is in arrogance. stalks mp and down unmo- tested; that the Black Hand and the 'Mafa' societies are here. eludlng justice pnd detection; that the drought has shrunk up your berry crop. and the cod fish are coursing toward foreign shores. and that listed securities (more properly to be called twisted securitlesl are on the shoot-de-chute, and that impending financial distress stares you all in the face with an oncoming panic beside which 8 is but baby Every crowd that have met up here are going around sing ing that old Methodist hymn, Change and decaying all around l see
 No Idea of Panic.
 T come today bringing this company of stall fed financiers words of eh ger and consolation in the announcement that this country shall not have Il financial panic. Be it remembered our country never had, nor can II ever have, a panic at that season of the year when the cotton crop of the south is moving to take it's place of power in the world of commerce. Be il re- membered that II was the early snip ments in the 'neecy staple in '95 which crossed the ocean. and turned the tide of yellow metal toward our American sh ores. thus breaking the greatest panic of all the ages. I am here to tell you that the huge cotton crop now being garnered will produce enough of quick cold cash to quench the flames of fl dozen panics. As in the battle of New Orleans, the breast works of cotton bales placed by the comrades of General Jackson saved that city and our country from the in- rasion of foreign foe, so I tell you that our present crop Of 1907 will save our country from the predicted finan- cial trouble The largest cotton crop ever produced is beginning to move on it's way to Europe, and the balance : trade is coming our way With 1t the fear of panic weakens. confidence is in our right ond or our left. so that be- fore two months have passed this King of Commerce shall drive away all signs of trouble. restore all trade 10 normal conditions. and the people of the north and the people of the south will join us in singing that old Baptist song.
 'Deliverance day is coming,
 Let trouble be forgotten.
 And as we draw our divdened