The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-19

Il
| facturers or any other class of business
men. But If such a corporation were
/ operated on the same plan that the specu-
lators and gamblers pursue, If 1t should
/ buy and sell cotton on the principle of
guessing at how much cotton will be pro-
| duced and how much will be needed. II in
| the operation of Its business 1t should
| ignore, as spectators and gamblers do,
the necessities of the cotton planter and
| the cotton mills and attempt to extort
unreasonable prices, its failure and ruin
| would be as certain as that which sooner
or later overtakes every manipulation of
| tine markets."
Afternoon Session.
At the opening of the afternoon session
| C. r. McCreary of Opelika, Ala, offer
| ed a resolution that President Roosevelt
be endorsed by the Southern Cotton asso-
| citation for his action in reference to the
Brownsville matter. The resolution was
| adopted by a rising vote of almost the
entire assembage, and the secretary of
the association was instructed to notify
the President of the action.
Governor Hayward introduced.
Governor Hayward was then introduced.
| He said in part:
| In his opening remarks former Cover
nor Heysrd expressed his appreciation of
| the invitation extended him by the South
ern Cotton association to make an address
| at this convention.
My subject, he said, THE Best Method
of Obtaining Necessary and Desirable I'M
| migration for the South" Is one that
| should have the most thoughtful con-
sideration of every one interested In the
broader development of the south. By
| this means alone, continued the speaker,
| can we solve to any appreciate degree
the serious problems which are now con-
| fronting u.s. While these problems con-
| Germ our nation owing to their nature,
| they concern more particularly our sec
| ton of the United States. He stated that
! in the short time allowed him he could
not enter upon discussion of the great
| development recently made by the south
and which is now in progress In his
| opinion Also the south Is Just beginning
a most wonderful era of industrial and
| commercial development. and the extent
to which this development Is carried will
| depend in a large measure upon the man.
ner in which our people make use of the
opportunities which are theirs. The
| speaker laid special emphasis upon the
fact that upon immigration alone could
, we hope to achieve the results which we
lhad a right to expect, and which belong
exclusively to this section. The crying
need of the hour in the south Is the max
| ing of our agricultural industry keep
other lines that must produce not only
the raw material for the operation of our
| our own enterprises, but we represent
that section of the world from which by
nature many of the countries of the
world get their raw material. Therefore
what we need in the south today. above
everything else, may be expressed In the
one word people reproducing and labor
ire people
Even in our industrial development tho
governor said the south had simply out
grown its labor possibilities. and by its
own development had shut the door to
further possibilities, unless more labor
could be supplied from some source, and
the only source from which we can now
have a right to expect this labor is from
foreign immigration
The speaker dwelt upon the fact that in
this movement for immigration 1t must
BE- understood that the people of the south
do not desire to displace the negro, but
felt that white immigration would be the
best means of making the negroes realize
that they must make better use of their
opportunities and the only way of slim
uating the black labor we have in the
south now is by means of white immigra-
ton.
Movement for immigration.
Speaking to the cotton planters directly.
he state dthat there could be no question
of the fact that the cotton planter. and
all planners in the south, would have to
realize that as the negro labor grew more
scarce, which 1t was now rapidly doing,
that they must expect to pay more for
this labor, and it was a well known fact
that the quality of the work performed
by the negro was, unfortunately, not de-
termined by the amount of wages paid
him. He believed thoroughly in the propo-
siton that the Introduction of white la
a.. n. 4
inevitably lead to different standard of
work, which standard would have to be
recognized by the negro.
Real Development of Agriculture.
He further stated that the introduction
OF white labor in the south would mean
the real development of diversified agr-
culture throughout the south, leaving the
negro free to be used in the cotton field,
where he belongs.
Governor Hayward then discussed at
some length the objects and purposes
of the Southern immigration and Indus
trial association, of which he is pres-
dent, giving the objects and purposes of
the association. He stated that tine first
purpose of the society would be to try
to induce the states of the south to es-
tablish state departments of commerce
and immigration in every southern state.
1t was not the purpose of the society to
recommend what kind of immigrants
should be brought to this county, ex-
cept to dwell upon the fact that only
those should come who would make de-
sirable citizens. He believed that 1t would
be the best for each state to determine
for itself from which countries they felt
that the people would be best suited to
their needs.
Addressing himself more directly to the
Enlistment Of departments of immi-
grafton i'm the various southern states,
Governor Hayward called particular
tenton to the necessity of following as
nearly as possible the wording of the prn-
cipal provisions of the act creating the
department In South Carolina, and con-
tinuing, he said
This is absolutely necessary from the
fact that the decision of Secretary Strauss
had been based upon the South Carolina
act II is also necessary in establishing
these departments that each southern
state should conform as nearly as pos
sible to the wording of the act adopted
by the South Carolina Legislature. In that
act there is a clause which has enabled
the commissioner to proceed in such man
ner as TO obtain results, and yet be alb
solutely within the requirements of Uni
ted States statutes. This clause Is very
brief but vital In section the commits
sioner is given power-a power which can
be conferred only by the general assem-
bly-to accept contributions from individ-
uals and corporations. placing the same
into the general fund of the department
and applying these funds as In his judg-
ment seems best. This provision is the es-
sential thing upon which has depended
the entire procedure made by the South
Carolina state department, which pro-
vision has been sustained so thoroughly
by the United States government.