Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-12-09
SOUTHERN
COMMERCIAL
CONGRESS
SOUTH'S GREAT PROGRESS TOLD
BY THE SPEAKERS - con-
GRESS MADE A PERMANENT
ORGANIZATION.

session here became permanent
organ zation. A const tuition and
bylaws were adopted and officers
wer. CHOSEN as foil ws:
John NJ Parker. OF New Orleans
president.
First vice president, John c.
Ruve. Appalachiacola. Fla. manaG-
ing director. G. Grosvenor Dave.
Montgomery. Ala; secretary. Ed
win l.. Quarles. Petersburg. Va;
treasurer, Joan A. Betjenan. Alba
ny, Ga. ana state vice presidents ss
follows: II. u. G'ass. Alabama; G..
II. Breckenr dge. Arkansas; John G.
Christopher, Florida; T. g. Rmworjh
Georgia; j. B. Atkinson, Kentucky;
Philip Weloin. louisiana Charles
Scott. Mississippi A. Il. Tat. North
Carolina; John w. olson, Tennes-
see; Mr.. Locker, Texas; w Ham
Anderson. Virginia; A. x. Thorn
West Virginia. ana George w. SIM
mons, Missouri
John NJ. Parker. the new presi-
dent, took the chair immedlat Ely
after his elect on
The constitution provides for an
active and an honorary membership
the president of tho Uni ed States
the vice president the speaker OF
the house OF representatives and
the state vice presidents of the or
ganizat ons be ng in the latter class
ON RAILROAD EXTENSION.
Among the resolutions presented
by the resolutions committee and
adopted, one OF the most important
was that in regard 20 needed oil
road extension in the south. The
resolution was as follows:
Railway extension has been ex-
tensive, but the RAPID commerc al
grow TIA OF the south requires an
enormous increase in It's railroad
facilities 10 transport to market It's
many and varied prod cts. The
construction OF such adequate facil.
es can be accomplished only by
assuring the holders OF capital tina:
such enterprises vi be safeguard
I'd by conservative and constructive
legislation, and we urge upon oar
southern legislators the wisdom o.
such policy and condemn any agi-
tat on lead ng to the contrary.
I'VE favor a spirit of co-opera-
ton between the people and rail.
roads and other corporate interests,
TO the end that the required conf
lence of investors n be estab-
lished in the securities OF the corpO.
rations Of the south"
Another rcsolut on adopted urged
upon congress Immediate action
.or fhe practical development and
Improvement OF oar inland watcr-
ways and harbors UPON broad and
comprehensive pan"
The establishment the proros-
"a Appalachian and White Noun
tain national forest reserve was de-
cared in another resolut on to be
o. paramount Importance 20 the
nation" wee President Ruge was
instructed to head a delegation to
call upon congress to urge the i'm
mediate passage OF such legislation.
other resolutions favored good
roads, a larger merchant marine
and comprehens ve revision OF the
Obsolete resu'ations and laws gov
ern ng our merchant marine" con
servation OF our national resources.
adequate development OF southern
waterways and harbors," further
ex' nsion OF indus rial training in
the public schools and IN establish
ment OF Industrial and agricultural
schools and the systematic study Of
public affairs Of commercial bodies
as wo as BY individual citizens.
a rising vote or thanks was ex-
tended 20 the prime mover OF the
new organ zat on, G. Groyenor
Dave, OF Montgomery. Ala.
The principal address OF the eve
ming was delivered by Dr. Edwin A.
Alderman, president Of the Unlvcr-
sity Of Virginia, who spoke on
'FT15cnt and Prospective Educa-
Q onal Progress"
Express ng the conviction that
great future is about to dawn upon
The south. James Bryce, the British
ambassador. received a notable re-
ception following a speech in which
he declared that ne is a we'll wisher
Of the south
DR. J A Bonstel, OF tho Unit
Cd S ates bureau OF soils, reviewed
the work which has been done by
the bureau Of soi's in the way Of
Investigations in tho south. The
speaker declared that the south IS
region OF almost boundless agrl-
cultural opportunity. and expressed