The Washington herald., 1909-03-16

II 10 reap the harycsts u her immense wealth CO
operation and concert of action be essential the
Southern Commercial Congress was born al an aus
pcious hour.
But three months old yet in its sEaddling clothes
ITS travel from infancy mans estate Is irresistible
and inevitable II has come into our midst % do
a duty and 20 perform a mission and u Is here 20
stay. carpng critics and false prophets q evil 20
the contrary Notwithstanding.
! have chance that the watchwoEd of the con
cress Is Systematically and intelligrutly directed
efUr- ffat viii make for the deTel0pmcut Ct the
South. both within and With0It-withIn BY bringing
our own people 20 A thorough realization of what
Is In oyu midst and az doors. without b. cdu-
eating the world without. az home and abroad. of
what We have and Of the mutual advantages 20 re-
suit from closer and more permanent business rela-
tons n every Kind and character.
Capital Common Meeting Ground.
/ This cannot but mean the binding together into
closer and more indissoluble ties the South ard
the North and the East and the West into a unit
OF national growth ard national greatness
! The selection of W shington as the headquarters
and permanent home of tn organization with such
a mission and cnerVized With such Aspirations Is
/ peculiarly it The National Capital itself is on
Southern soil. but IL IS nevertheless the common
meeting ground q our 50 90 COO u people In select
ing Washington for its base of operations the con
sress rot only makes no favorite ~ any of the
southern States but il places the congress and its
/ work in reach Of everybody and everything. and
everything and ve1body IN reach Of the cJngTcss
| and its work.
That IL viii be AZ erocb IN the history a Wash
/ ineton 7 have no doubt 1 say an eroch. hecauss
| II viii he the beginning Of a new and closer rela-
tiouship between the South and the National Capt
! tai with all that such eb0w-touch viii mean
/ for both.
! feel entirely justified in saying therefore. that
Washington viii welcome With open AIMS the c0ming
| here Of the Southern Commercial Congress sud its
friends and supporters throughout the south and
| the nation
Mr. FinIey's Address.
Following Mr.. Parker, ". ". Finley,
president Of the Southern Railway, spoke
upon the development Of transportation
in the South. showing its intimate rela-
ton 10 the commercial development ot
that section and the importance which
railroads have in the economy Of modern
life. Mr.. Finley's address was full OF
facts. statistics and suggestive thoughts
for the study OF the fireside the counting
room. and the editorial sanctum Mr.
Finley's plea was for a fair show for the
railroads IN the race for commercial vel
fare. in the legislature, and in public
thought. He declared II was TO the rail-
road people must look for the outlet Il
market. and the hope for profit and sue
cess in every kind Of business
/ Joseph r. Johnston. Of Alabama, say.
ing that he was a son OF that State, and
glorifying in the title. spoke about the
industries Of his Commonwealth and their
relation TO the development of the regior
south Of the Mason and Dixon Line. and
OF the nation at large. Senator Johnston
/ could not help bringing in a little politics
which was keenly relished by his hearers
His boast that Alabama could not only
support herself. but the rest OF the natior
/ from its resources, was allowed 70 pass
/ without challenge
tt was reserved to Charles Hall Davis
member Of the executive committee o
the congress. 10 lay before the assembly
the real purposes OF the congress.
History of Movement.
\ Mr.. Davis spoke with great force. and
gave a history OF the movement from Il:
incipiency to the present He showed
that IN the development OF the Soutf
there had hitherto been a lack Of tn,
vital forces. which could be depended
upon 10 work out the problem, and which
the present movement was intended Il
supply.
Mr. Davis also spoke OF the scattere,
effort OF various organizations in tn
! South. and how they had failed He sai'
the first idea Of the congress had beer
i concentration OF effort in a big way q
/ develop the South as a whole and no
the plantation. the mine. and the fores
Of any particular State. county. or city.
1 The next idea which had fixed itsel
upon the leaders Of the congress had beer
permanence. and 70 that end It hat