Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-12-08
FOR DEVELOPMENT OF
SOUTHERN RESOURCES
Commercial Congress Holds First
Meeting al National Capital
and Discusses Problems.
2 MEMBERS Of CABINET PRESENT
Vast Possibilities Of Southern States
Vet Awaiting Development. Touch
ed Upon-Straus Says South Has
Emcraed from Sectionaiism-Na-
ture Lavish to the Southland.
(By Associated Press.)

WASHINGTON, u. G.. Dec. 1. -
Wi h pruphesies of an almost Unpara'
lelrd economical and commercial adj
vancrnent near at hand for the South
the initial movement for stu
greater development OF the natural re
sources OF that section OF the c~'c
try formally was inauguralCd at tn
fist meeting here today of the Sou
thrrn Commerce al Congress. The
vast possibilities that yet await de
,, veiopmcnt were referred to in glow
ing terms by the various speakers.
Tho South was pictured as land
. where nature had been l:vish with her
gif which thus far hardly had been
touched The prediction was made
that a great commercial awakening
soon would come over the entire sec
ton.
: Alleged Reasons Advanced.
| Some of the reasons advanced by
the speakers as to why the South had
not made greater progress in the de
, velopment of its almost unbounded ma
tural resources. were that the section
had suffered TO marked degree be
cause of the lack of adequate trans
portation facilities. A factor whicr
had prevented better railroads trans
porta,ion facilities. 1t was pointed out
had been the alleged hos ility OF some
of the legislatures of the Southern
states to the railroads. But chang
ed sent mcnt had come over the lesis
lators. i. was stated. and the railroads
were planning for increased facilities
With this important factor OF alleged
hostility eliminated. with improved
waterways and harbors. nothing stoo,
in the way of greater progress In Ahe
South.
| Cabinet Officers Present.
| The opening session was marked d,
the presence and participation in I'M
proceedings Of two members OF the
icabinet, General Luke f. Wright, sec
rotary of war and Oscar S. Strans
secretary OF the department OF com
merce and labor. who were the nota
BILE speakers Of the day.
indicating by Their presence thei1
interest in the movement for
,"sreater South Southern senators
land representatives were participants
in the meeting.
Governor Hoke Smith headed tn
Georgia delegation. Several hundred
delegates. among whom are the lead
ing business men of the South. wer
in attendance today and 1t Is salt
tnn,nrrOW
The question OF the sOcalled sec
tionalism CT the South was featur'
of nc DAYS session. II was referr''
to first by Secretary Stratus, who de
cIarcd in his address:
South Important Nationally.
we are at tho crest of GT"a
commercial era and the South ccono
micalIr and commercially has com
ont from it's sectionalism and !: is
part. an important and growing par
of The whole country"
Tho secretary said he believed tina
the time is near a, hand when cve'
7oiiticaIlv Il will bo a misnomer u
speak Of the solid South
Il Ills remarks furnished the cue 10
thr speakers who followed. who mad
especial reference to the fact 'ha
srctionaiism practically had disaT
pcarcd and that the only matcria
rivalry tina: now survived was 70
crmu"rcial supremacy.
\. tho morning session IN" prime
nal addresses wer" made by SccrF
.arv ~ War Wright and Surgro
General Walter Wyman Of tho puh'i
hearth and marine hosp: al service
Many Speakers.
Mi 4 interest 10 the sftrrnoo
proccc, rEs was l"H' by tho prcscnc
VI John Pa =. Of New OTlcan:
,'Tc roird man and an intima'
f-icud Of President Roosevelt Tn
I"ading SPEAKERS. az this session
wCrc JOAN T. Fox. of Arkansas a"
John = Wallace. Of New York
Othsr speakers wore J. r. Kane. 2
Savannah. Ga: Charles r Goodyear
Represents i've Richmond p. Ho5sor
of Alabama and Duncan T. Fletcher
q, Florida. each OF shom dwcit upo
the wonderful possibilities In Tn