Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-16
PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
Many Speeches at Dinner Given t.
President Parker.
WOULD DIVERT IMMIGRATION
Coming of Thrifty, Energetic and
Economical Aliens Welcomed.
Compilation Of Resources.

1
gress dinner at the New Willard-Dixie
in the representation of the south by
congressman and business men and law
yers from every one of the southern
states: Dixie in the dinner which tickled
the palate by progressive stages from
gumbo creole, fish from the Gulf of
Mexico, guinea hen from Virginia and
imitation balls Of cotton--made Of ice
cream. Dixie in the music, IS much as
the bandmaster dared. for a bar or two
of one Of the old-time plantation songs
brought forth a roar Of cheers and APP
plause and Dixie In the more serious
business OF the evening, the exploita-
ton of the plans Of the southern COM
mercia1 congress.
The dinner was given to honor Col.
John NJ. Parker of New Orleans, pres1-
dent of the congress, who has hit the
line hard and square since making MS
forty-two-word speech of acceptance
last August after his election. Al that
time Mr.. Parker said thai the congress
had a lot of work on hand. and that 1t
was time to get at it, and he told the
guests last night that the congress was
making tremendous strides toward max
ing a greater nation through greater
south Three months go the congress
quietly entered Neutrality-suspicious.
the Capital city as its home, as the place
pre-eminently fitted from when TO as
tribute authentic information about the
south, and since then has made Itself
felt in the business of the city. 1t was
to tell what had been done and what
could be done for the south and by the
south that the dinner was given
There were many speeches. Some or
them We're plean, celd-fact statements
about the resources OF the south, but
which showed the golden opportunities
waiting in the land OF cotton. Some OF
them glowed with the warmth or the
southern sun, and paid as much tribute
to the southern woman as the southern
opportunity for wealth. All OF them IN
N.ted the world to look 10 the south
as the richest and greatest section OF
the greatest country of the world
AS prelude to the speeches, CharieS
4. Douglas, chairman of the Washing
ton committee Of the Southern Com
mercial Congress. introduced MIR. Parker
and Thomas -. Boggs Of Baltimore Mr..
Douglas praised Mr.. Parker's devotion
to the needs of the commerce OF the
south, and declared that with him at
the head Of the movement, the congress
would be successful in the extreme. lie
also said that Washington mad been
honored by becoming the home of the
congress and that the citizens extended
welcome 10 IT.
President Parkers Address.
President Parker's speech was cheered
| tErOuRlOuI. lie Sdiu Ill part.
The city of Washington is pre-eminent-
ly the place where he would have head
quarters from which we can distribute
authentic information IS to our resources,
our health and our possibilities.
IN this city we have our President.
our senators, our representatives, and
likewise in common with the rest Of the
nation our great public buildings filled
with valuable complied information,
which the united people Of. the United
States will gladly help us help use for
our mutual advantage
Due TO lack of intelligent exploitation.
the south is less understood and more
misunderstood than any other region of
our country +.
greater need for their development and
fewer investing capitalists reliably in
formed to their opportunities than is
the case in any other section of our coun-
try.
Many earnest thinkers had these facts
deeply impressed on them while iistenin 6
to able speeches at the meeting of the
Southern Commercial Congress i'll Deem
Der last and have worked heart and soul
to bring to life that knowledge which will
prove SO beneficial to the south and 10 the
nation.
Purpose of the Congress.
1.-THE Southern Commercial Congress has
nlEH lOediS anu dlIlDlllOH w y nope SOOll
to have the resources of the south COM
piled. state b. state and every county In
every state These resources will be com
piled from the geographical survey. show
ing what is under the ground and the gen
eraI topography: from the Agricultural
Department showing what is now being
raised and what can he produced. from
the health department, showing our low
mortality. from the weather bureau,
/ -
census department showing our sparsely
settled country: from United States sur
ycyS showing the yastnesS of our unpop-
ulated area and from maps showing loca-
tion and transportation facilities by rail
and water.
The facts could all bc duly attested by
the proper officials and would doubtless be
certified by the friendly amba ssadors OF
those great European nations whose stur-
dy pioneers founded our country.
This condensed. concentrated Informal
ton would he invaluable to our people.
and in addition TO relieving the congestion
Of Immigration at the North Atlantic
portS would divert to our section that
desirable class Of immigrants who, in en-
riching themselves. would bring to us a
class of thrifty. energetic and economical
people who would add to national pros
peIitN.
1--WE will have in our new building the
Southern club. which we trust will not
only be Joined by senators and representa-
lives but by distinguished southerners
who live here. and which will at all times
nrove a welcome meeting place for our
people.
Southern Transportation.
W w Finley. president Of the Southern
railway. who followed. gave some inter
es,ine information as TO the railway sys-
TENS and waterways Of the south. lie
said. in part
II believe that the most important eco
nomic problem that concerns our section
al this time is that of adequacy of trans
portation facilities. Our farmers and our
manufacturers produce commodities far
in excess Of any possible local consump-
ton IL they are to lie sold pfofttahly
they mus be moved 10 markets where
they are in demand. When production in
any locality has reached the limit of the
capaciiy Of its carriers further expansion
must stop unless there Is III increase III
CARRYING capacity. In some localities III
the south aud for some commodities water
transport ton can be awaited of. and /
believe that the Southern Commercial Con-
gress can very properly advocate the i'm
provement Of our waterways 10 the high
est possible state of efficiency. But even
with the improvement OF the waterways
by far the greater part of the commerce
of the south must continue to move by
rail. The question of whether Your rail