The Washington herald., 1909-04-04

tunities which lie at hand: TO induce
them to invest their money. their energy,
their efforts. in the promotion and devel-
Opment OF their own country. And. in
order TO secure their continued co-opera-
tiOn. the executive committee OF the
Southern Commercial Congress became
convinced that the only way was 20 Sc
cure the financial interest Of the South
ern people In this movement-hrst. In
order 10 perpetuate that interest and,
second. in order to give to the organiza-
ton the means TO carry on its work.
Il come from small city in Virginia,
and for years we endeavored to carry or
a commercial organization in that city
and finally I attended a meeting at which
five OF the leading citizens consecutively
were elected president Of the commercial
organization. and each one declined TO
serve. saying that the commercial orga-
nization was dead and that he did not
have the time or the inclination 10 attend
IL.
I'VE then started in and went down TO
rock-bottom, and decided that no man
could become a member Of that OrEaniZa-
ton until he had his money in IL. We
did not propose 10 start n business or
ganization on an ideal theory: and We
did not propose to ask a man 10 come
into a business organization and 70 lend
his efforts and his energy and his work to
II unless we had him tied, unless he
would put his money into the orgsniza-
tion. and unless his business interests
were tied to the development Of that bust
ness organization.
This Congress Starts that Way
In that same way the Southern Com
merciaI Congress is starting. not with a
theoretical plan. not with a lot Of talk
about the greatness OF the South, the
glories Of her past. or the possibilities OF
her future. but with a practical plan for
to-day; with a plan backed by the money
OF the Southern people. committed in this
way by their money 10 create and per
petually carry on the work That. we
think. is the wise way 20 work-tO develop
and 10 make the S0uth's resources known
20 our own people and 70 outside people
II believe in the Southern Commercial
Congress. 7 believe Il is a movement
destined to accomplish great good. It is
not a movement simply 20 develop a sec
ton: IL Is not movement TO exploit any
individual: IL is not a movement 10 pro-
mote any one mans interests. II Is a
movement 10 improve and promote the
interests Of an integral part OF our great
cOuntry-'a greater nation through
greater Southland IL is a movement to
develop those industries. to promote those
interests. through ordinary business
methods We do not want empty talk;
we do not want exploitation, except on a
business basis.
Consequently, we are asking the peo-
pie 10 come forward and put their money
into The Southern Commercial Congress,
because we know when we have their
money we have their continued interest
We are not offering any return 10 the
man who puts his money into this enter
prise, except IN a general and indirect
way. We are taking the attitude that a
man who puts his money into the South
ern Commercial Congress for the intelIi-
gent exploitation Of the resources Of the
South. for the development Of the South,
whether that exploitation and develop
ment takes place in Alabama, Texas, Vir-
ginia. Kentucky. or Tennessee, Is going TO
reap a result in that what helps at all
must help all.
south Wants Immigration.
Down in my state OF Virginia there
has been a great movement to establish
an immigration station at Norfolk. and
I believe the same movement has taken
place in Atlanta, Savannah. New Orleans.
and Charleston. immigration is not a
question that Norfolk can determine; II
is not one that Atlanta can determine;
or Savannah. nor New Orleans. nor Char
lesion. immigration depends not only on
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