The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-12-08
GIVES SOUTH A GOOD BOOST Dawes Meeting a Great
 Success.
 sss-s-,- THE COUNTRY IS ATTRACTED Many Alabama Delegates at the Meeting. Earnest werk of Developing Resources Goes On and Inauentisi Msn Are shown Value Of This
 Section.
TIE COUNTRY IS ATTRACTED

Washington, D. C., Dec. 7-(Special) The Southern Commercial Congress is aysuccess--a decided success.
 Mohtgomery's Commercial Club and its brilliant secretary. Mir. Dave. in particular, are to be congratulated upon the admirable conception and the efficient execution of a convention that has attracted national attention and will bring about the greatest ad- vertising the South has had.
 The sessions today have been we'll attended. Fully 300 delegates from twenty-four states were present at the opening session. and the attsndanee increased as the day went on.
 The addresses from two cabinet members. Secretaries straus and Wright. both Southern men. were the features of the morning session. The afternoon and evening sessions pre- scented a number of strong papers and addresses.
 The hall and adjoining rooms are full of the most interesting charts, maps and pictures, illustrating most graphically and exhaustively the tre- mendCus resources, marvellous develop ment. and extraordinary opportunities of the South.
 | It is safe to say that nothing in the way of advertising of the section has executed 50 perfectly.
 Alabama has shown up with fine delegatfon. and Montgomery leads with fhrn largest renreHentafiOn
 KmferewGaMg Lot 0e Men.
 The Congress is attended by an in- .faresting lot of men. and the addresses to-day were replete with information Eegarding the development of the sputhsru states and ths possibilities 6E even greater industrial and agricul- knrnl development.
 AiaBama, Georgia and Tennessee were, perhaps. more ntmerOusly repre- pgnted than any of the other states; Nir. Dave of Montgomery, by virtue lof his position ~Gs chairman of the Committee of Arrangements, has been xnost energetic in his position and came on ln advance of the assembling of the Congress.
 The sessions today attracted hun dreis of veil known people who were not delegates, but who attended to show the interest they feel in the movement.
 The Alabama Senators and most Of the members of the House from the state dropped In upon the sessions and mingled with the delegates.
 The speeches today and tonight were inspiring. Among those who spoke were Secretaries Straus and Wright, Surgeon General Wyman, John F.. Wallace, the famous engineer; Gif- ford Pinchot, the National Forester, and men of equal distinction.
 The vast possibilities that yet await development were referred to in glow ing terms by the various speakers. The South was pictured as land where nature had been lavish with her gifts, which thus far hardly had been touch ed The prediction was made that great commercial awakening soon would come over the entire section.'
 Hostility to Railroads.
 Some of the reasons advanced by the speakers as to why the South has not made greater progress Tn the ae- tural resources were that that section tural resources were that hat section had suffered to a marked degree be- cause of the lack of adequate trans portation facilities.
 factor which had prevented better railroad transportation facilities, 1t was pointed out. had been the alleged hos tility or some or tne LeBiSiAtuiSS oA the Southern States to the railroads. But a changed sentiment had come over the legislators, 1t was stated, and the railroads were planning for in- creasinR facilities. With this import ant factor of alleged hostility eltmin- ated. with improved waterways and harbors, nothing stood in the way of greater progress in the South.
 Governor Hoke Smith headed the Georgia delegation. Several hundred delegates. among whom are the lead ing business men of the South. were in attendance today and It Is said that many more will arrive tomorrow.
 Added interest to the afternoons proceedings was lent by the presence of John Nj. Parker of New Orleans. the noted huntsman and an intimate friends of President Roosevelt.
 Other speakers in the afternoon were