The San Francisco call., 1908-10-04
Commercial Matters Between
This Country and Orient
Will Be Discussed
All in Readiness for Nineteenth
Annual Session of Trans
Mississippi Association
Men OF National Repute Will
Participate in Work of Big
National Convention

The nineteenth annual session of the
Trans-Mississippi commercial con-
gress convenes at 10 a. m, Tuesday,
October 6, in Dreamland pavilion. For
more than a month Secretary Arthur
F. Francis has been busily engaged in
finishing the work initiated at Kansas
City in conjunction with ]. B. Case,
president of the congress. The re-
suit indicates an attendance of repre-
sentative delegations from all states
and territories west of the Mississippi
river.
The governors of seventeen states
have named delegations. The mayors
of every important city west of the
Mississippi have selected prominent
businessmen to represent those cities
at the congress. Every commercial
body has appointed delegates. Secre-
tary Francis has registered more than
1000 appointments since his arrival in
San Francisco last August.
The men who will participate in
the discussions are of more than ma
tional repute. President Roosevelt will
be personally represented by the assist
ant secretary of the department of COM
merce and labor, William r. Wheeler.
Hon. John Bartlett, director general of
the International Bureau of American
Republics, has had the title of envoy
extraordinary and minister plenipoten-
tiary conferred upon him by the sta te
department Barrett will convey mes
sages to the congress from the embass-
adors and ministers of 20 Latin repub-
lies. e. II. Hartman, governors and
senators from nearly all states west of
the Mississippi will be present.
1t will be remembered that at the
Kansas City session of the congress
the Monroe doctrine was emphat-
ically reaffirmed by Secretary Root at
the instance of President Roosevelt
who selected the congress as the
proper medium through which to re-
fute the statements of Professor Zieg-
ler, who occupied the American chair
at the University of Berlin, that the
Monroe doctrine was obsolete.
TRADE WILL BE KEYNOTE
The keynote of the congress at the
coming session will in all probability
be questions affecting trade relations
between this country and the nations of
the far east, involving Pacific trade
in all of its manifold divisions, includ-
ing some particular attention to ma
tional defenses. Other important topics
to be discussed will be those bearing
upon the reclamation act, internal i'm
provements, harbor improvements; in
fact all matters which the different del
egations desire to bring to the atten-
tion of the ody.
sippi section under the call, may offer
any resolution pertinent to the object
of the. congress. At the opening ses-
eion each day resolution hour will oc-
cur. These resolutions are to be pre-
sented during that time. They are
then sent to the committee on resolu-
tions, which is composed Of two mem
bers from each state and territory.
The report Of that committee will be
read before the congress on the last
day of the session and will be discussed
seriatim. When it is finally passed as
whole ii will be placed in the. hands
Of the congressional committee, which
will take 1t to Washington and have
it presented for the information of the
senators and representatives as we'll as
the chief executive.
The congress in this respect is ini-
tiative, and is unlike other organiza.
tions It's work is not allowed to dis
sipate itself in the mere passage o1
resolutions. The recommendations are
systematically handled, and 1t is the
duty of the congressional committet
to see that bills are formulated, ant
that proper measures are taken before
the various committees of the house
of representatives and the senate fol
consideration. 1t is by this conscien.
tious work that the Trans-M Mississippi
commercial congress has reached it.
present high plane. The gatherings are
encouraged by the members of the ma
tional congress inasmuch as 1t enable.
that Legislative body to form an ac
curate opinion as to the trend of tn,
commercial sentiment in the western
states.
The benefits this congress will brinf
! to San Francisco and the Pacific coas
in general are numerous. A gathering
of this kind in San Francisco at thi
| time will do more toward opening tn,
eyes of the nation as to the work ac
| complished by it's citizens in rehabili
tating the city than any other known
! plan.
At the time of the fire, in April
! 1906 the people east of the Rock,
mountains received reports that Sal
Francisco could not be rebuilt in les
than ten years. 1t is now two year
and five months since our city was
mass of ruins. Persons coming from
the east are astonished at the remark
able amount of building. The peopl
who are astounded are only a few
There will be several thousand in Sal
Francisco at the time the congress
! convenes.
MANY DELEGATES ARRIVE
Delegates are arriving from al
points The hotels are being rapid,
filled. The steamer President arrive,
| from Seattle two days ago, bringin,
200 persons from Washington. Ore
gon will be well represented. Th
delegation from that state is expecte,
| to arrive tomorrow.
Hon. Frank Gooding. governor o
Idaho, will head the delegation from
that state. A portion of Colorados del
| egation has already arrived in a spe
ciaI car to participate in the presenta
| ton of the silver service to the cruise
! Colorado, which has been placed at th