The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-03-16
A DINNER TO
 COL. PARKER ~ Many Distirs aished Men
 P, Sent. MANY : 0DREssEs MADE Natural Resources of the South Are
 Reviewed. The Occasion Reelected in Marked Degree the Rapid Strides Which the Southern Commercial
 Congress Has Made.

Washington. March 15.-Distinguish- ed men from every part of the country, jurists, Senators. Representatives and leaders of the business world. attend ed dinner tonight in honor of Col |. John M. Parker, of New Orleans, La. President of the Southern Commercial Congress.
 The occasion reflected in a marked degree the rapid strides which the Con- gress has made since 1t was launched In this city three months ago as a potent and vigorous agency for "a greater nation throughout Q greater South."
 This slogan was the keynote of a notable speech. prophetic of the achievements. to follow the vigorous campaign of the Congress in its mis- sion of revealing to the whole coun- try the South's wonderful resources.
 Addresses were delivered by W. w. Finlay. President of the Southern Rail- way; Senator Joseph F. Johnston of Alabama. former Senator Henry Cas- saway Davis of West Virginia. Repre- sentative Joseph Ransdell of Louis lana. Representative Robert l.. Henry of Texas and others. Thomas c. Boggs, of Baltimore, Md, secretary oi the Merchants and Manufacturers' As. socaition. was toastmaster.
 "Our Southern section is a land rich in natural resources and abounding In opportunity" declared MT. Finley "The splendid record of acomplish- agricultural, industrial and commer- cial empire upon the ruins left by wal Is an assurance of greater progress vel to come. What has already been ac- complished may be regarded as little more than a demonstration of the ex- tent of the Southern soil. mines and forests, and of the possibilities of a di- versified country. While doing theii full part for the development of theil section. the Southern people welcome the efficient and industrious from oth- CT sections and from other lands. The man with money to invest, and the mar seeking profitable employment will eacf find abundance of Southern opportun. ities. In fact, I do not believe tha' in any other section of the country car a man who is not afraid to work flnt conditions more favorable for his ad. vancement than in the Southern States
 "It is the mission of the Southern Commercial Congress to voice the call of the South for men of capital and enterprise to aid in the most advant- ageous utilization of it's manifold re- sources. Tn my opinion. the success of the organization will depend in very large measure upon the plan adopted for It's work. It will. of course. aim to supply the most complete and de- tailed information that can be obtain ed as to the advantages and resources of each locality. In addition to this 1t can properly aid in the development of a sound and constructive public opinion, on purely economic problems I believe that the most important eco homie problems that concern our sec tion at this time Is that of adequacy of transportation facilities. It Is in the field of discriminating information as to the South and its resources, and of forming public opinion. as to those economic policies which are essential to the highest degree of prosperity that Southern Commercial Congress may work most efficiently."
 President Parker said:
 feel honored at being here tonight not because of the praise that has beer bestowed upon me, but because of tho honor paid the cause l stand for, tho development of the South. No ont man cause has ever succeeded. nor will it ever succeed This Is not a one-mar cause It Is a national cause.
 We who have undertaken the de velopment of our section. need the as. sistance of Northern men. Eastern mer and the Western men. We propose tc study carefully the immigration into our section and to select the class oi citizenship which Is to help make oui laws and rule our land"
 Senator Johnson, in his speech de- clared that a wall might be built around the State of Alabama and Its inhabitants would never suffer for the want of a single necessity of life, The other day paid my respects to Pres!. dent Taft" he said, and l told him would like to cooperate with his ad- ministratIon. and if he gives me the chance, I will cooperate. The South Is fin the union and it Is there to stay We will play our part in the affairs of the nation"