The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-11-08
Commercial Congress of the
Southern States Becomes
Assured Fact.
MUCH WILL BE GAINED,
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT HAS AS
suRED PROMOTERS OF HEARTY
COOPERATION TO HELP PRO-
POSED AFFAIR.

Washington, Nov. THE Southern
Commercial congresses is an assured
fact. President Roosevelt has given it
his approval. Forty commercial bodies
Of the southern states have already
enthusiastically adopted the idea
President Roosevelt has promised that
every influence that he can command
will be enlisted with view of seeing
that the congress proves to be a sue
cess and serves completely the end
which it's projectors have in mind.
Mr.. G. Grosvenor Dave, secretary Of
the Commercial Club of Montgomery,
Ala, suggested that a Southern Com
mercial congress be held at the ma
tional capital. He suggested that it
be held early in December, when the
congress Of the United States would be
in session, and as near the date for the
holding of the National Rivers and
Harbors Congress as would be possible
without conflicting with that meeting.
Since that time Mr.. Dave has been
working in every state south of Mason
and Dixon's line to arouse interest in
the congress, and see that If attempted
it would prove useful for the purposes
intended. Last Monday, Mr.. Dave,
heading a committee of leading repre-
sentatives from the southern states
reached Washington. The way had
been paved for them, and before the
day was over they had seen President
Roosevelt and secured from him most
hearty cooperation in the cause. He
not only said he would cooperate with
the southern gentlemen in the move
ment, but that he saw in the proposed
congress the working out of a plan
which he had often considered. The
president was glad to have a movement
of this sort originate in his admins
tration, and he believed it argued we'll
for the future development of the south
and a proper understanding of that
section by the whole country.
Before Mr.. Dawes and his commit
tee left Washington it was definitely
settled that the southern commercial
congress shall be held here in the
auditorium of the New Willard hotel,
December and 8. The president him
self will appear at the congress and
deliver an address. From Washing
ton Mr.. Dave and his associates went
to New York city where they secured
the cooperation Of leading men there.
Before he left here Mr.. Dave was able
to outline with some degree of defin-
iteness the program of addresses.
In addition to enlisting the interests
of President Roosevelt, Mr.. Strauss Of
the department of commerce and labor
the head Of the bureau of forestry,
and many others of the Washington
officials agreed to do everything they
could to put forward the interests of
the commercial congress.
Mr.. Dave has only been at Mont
gomery, Ala, for a few years, as he
was connected with one of the largest
publishing concerns in New York city.
He was only induced to leave his en-
ployment by most generous salary
offer and being ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
offer and through being shown what
possibilities the work of the Mont
gomery Commercial club offered. He
talks entertainingly of his interviews
with President Roosevelt and how ear
nestly and enthusiastically the pres
ident entered into all of their plans.
Mr.. Dave said:
when one of us remarked, The
south do not understand itself on all
that it possesses, and the north does
not understand the SOUTH the presi-
dent nodded and said. That's So
Then we were easily able to show him
that though the words, southern COM
mercial congress sounded sectional
they were really anti-sectional: for
movements would lead to fuller I'M
Outstanding on both sides and fuller
comprehension of one another's ideas.
when we told the president that
we wished his advice as to a speaker
on the Panama canal and it's influence
he leaned back in his chair, hesitated
a moment or two, ran over, half audi
bly,, a few names of men associated
with the work. then frightened up,
saying, I have it, just the man. He
can make you corking fine talk
Luke Wright Now you gentlemen go
over and tell him what I said
"Of course we went, and Of course
Gen. Wright complied withshrdltshr
Gen. Wright complied and accompan-
led us back to the White House. When
we entered the presidents Office he
said at once, Gen. Wright I want you
to represent the present official family
of the administration in this great
movement. / know you can say just
what ought to be said Gen. Wright
not only complied, but expressed his
pleasure in participating. Thus our
interview with the president was most
satisfactory, for in less than five min
utes we had his promise to secure the
support and cooperation of every de-
partment of the government"
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