The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-01-17
CAPITAL STANDS
As KEY TO south
Commercial Congress Reads
Decree Of Destiny.
WILL BUILD ITS HOME HERE
Meeting of Executive Committee In
Atlanta Confirms Purchase Of st.
Matthew'S Church Property and
Starts Endowment Fund-TO Raise
81 ,OOO,OOO-Beneht Washington.

Making Washington tie permanent
home OF the Southern Commercial Con
gress means that the National Capital
already the natural. geographical, and
railway center Of Southern interests. IS
in certain important particulars to be-
come the commercial capital OF the
South.
Il is desirable for the business men OF
Washington 10 understand the fun sig
nifeanee Of this relation. To DO 50 il
viii be necessary 10 refer again TO the
great meetings Of the Southern CONNER
ciai Congress held in this city on De-
cember and s. 1905. Other conventions
Of national and international importance
had been held here. but this one marked
an epoch Here the industrial spirit.
which had been steadily rising in the
South for a decade, found voice. There
had been faithful ones who had earnestly
and strongly advocated the idea Of the
national Importance Of the Southern in
dustrial future. but TO this congress were
brought the masters Of their subjects
not merely 70 establish the facts. but 70
explain the relation OF these great. grow
ing, potential Industries % the commerce
Of this country and 20 the world.
Meaning Of the Congress.
The purpose Of the congress was vel
expressed by the single word placed above
the presiding officers desk, "Interpreta-
ton" The members OF the congress rep
resentative Of a part OF the United states.
itself imperial in extent, and vastly rich
in natural resources. had not come To-
gether 10 boast vainly OF these, but 70 in
terpTet their meaning and in this city or
national conventions for various purposes.
Il is doubtful whether there has been an
other which so completely realized It's
purpose. No man who attended these
meetings with an open mind could leave
Unconvinced. The case made for the
South AT this congress was that the God
OF nature had endowed Il with the choic-
est and best Of His gifts and riches. and
Tor the benefit OF mankind IL was now Cor
man 10 do his part
To the men who had come from the
S0Uth-even those who came fearful OF
the resuIt-the outcome was A triumph.
To them IT meant the elimination Of the
victory OF peace Wei they knew that in
all history 10 such rising Of p people
from q dead past had occurred in 50
brief 4 space And for reasons histOrt-
cal sentimental. and substantial, the sue
cess OF their movement had a deeper
meaning for them than for others
Desired to Make II Lasting.
Ire dominant idea toward the close
OF the congress was that It should be
made permanent institution This was
followed by the suggestion that II should
have a home and a. assured revenue
The decision TO make Washington the
home city was unanimous and plans ars
being rapidly perfected 70 bring this 10
4 successful conclusion. The spirit with
which this is being done may best bs
gagged by the fact that a. a gathering
Of leading spirits OF the congress follow
ing the last session. q call for financial
support for such 4 purpose resulted IN
immediate subscriptions amounting 20
S2fI eco Those who have doubts about
the success OF this matter may as vel
dismiss them. The men behind this move
ment know no such word as fail
From Atlanta comes the account Of the
first meeting OF the executive committee
or the congress held in that city last
Friday. al which were agreed on the
plans by which this Is 70 be accom-
plished. In 4 statement published BY the
committee IS cOncretely expressed its
purpose.
The plan Of the Southern Commercial
Congress involves the practical estah-
Ifshment al Washington Of a Southern
department Of commerce and labor man
aged by practical business men, directed
to the development Of the S0uth's re-
sources rather than the exploitation OF
localities. directing immigration 10 a
whole section rather than 10 a single
community. and bringing To the atten-
ton Of investors from other sections Of
our country and abroad the magnificent
opportunities awaiting them. al 10 be
done by concerted action
VIII Raise Endowment Fund.
The recent purchase Of the old s.. Nat
thew-s Church property IN the name OF
John " Parker. president Of the con-
gress. was confirmed. and the congress
adopted plans 10 raise S1-0CcG10 endoU-
ment for the building and the other uses
Of the body.
The Southern Commercial Congress has
too great a work to do for the South al
Washington not 10 expect the readiest
and amplest support from its business in
terests. In no city OF the United States.
in no city Of the world. can the South
ern Commercial Congress lend so MICH
aid TO Southern industries as in Wash
ington Here in the National Capital are
assembled the largest and most distin-
saished group Of scientific men 10 he
found in one place in the whole world.
And most Of these men are experts. spe-
cially selected for the value OF their
scientific knowledge IN relation to par
ticular industries
The men Of the South realize that one
OF their most urgent needs Is the sppli-
cation of practical science and techni-
cal skill to their various industries That
they do realize this IS proved by the fact
that the movement for better industrial.
education has already assumed great I'M
pOrtance in the South.
south Needs Capital
But practical science and technical skill
are not valuable merely for Increasing
crops and doubling their value. for cheap
ening the cost OF manufacture and I'M
proving the product The South need,
capital from the accumulated wealth OF
the North. East. and West. and that
capital viii only flow Southwark through
the channel OF scientific investigation
Here in Washington this can he greatly
assisted BY men who net only know bet
ter than others. but by Een who are
unbiased by self-interest In the pres
ence OF such men. placed by the gov
eminent at the disposal Of our industries,
Co,ffnued - p~Oe D Cogu,.-, q