The Washington herald., 1909-04-04
MOVEMENT GETS
AUSPICIOUS START
Commercial Congress Holds
First Meeting Here.
BECOMES NOTABLE GATHERING
II Brings to Washington 1900 Busi-
ness Men of the south from Sixty
four Commercial Organizations,
Large Subjects Presented by Men
OF National Eminence.

The Southern Commercial Congress was
born, II Is said, In q small meeting Of
commercial secretaries OF chambers Of
commerce and boards Of trade, in Chatta-
nooga, Tenn, last fall. It was christened
at a meeting OF the committee OF ar
rangements a little later. II was made
known TO the world at the initial meeting
last December. which lasted three days.
the sessions being held at the Willard
Hotel in Washington in the second week
OF December.
That was a great convention week Not
only was this meeting held, but the Ma
tional Rivers and Harbors Congress met
in Washington that week, and there was
a meeting Of the Conservation Commits
sion appointed by President Roosevelt
to consider the preservation Of the natural
resources of the country.
Made Up OF Business Men.
The Southern Commercial Congress was
made up OF special delegates who came
here from Southern commercial bodies.
It's members were also delegates 10 the
Rivers and Harbors Congress. Repre-
sentatives and Senators from the South
were in attendance and many Southern
people who were in Washington that
week 10 see the Openig Of the Congress
OF the United States. It was in all respects
a notable gathering. and in its delibera-
tions sprung to life the movement for the
development OF Southern resources on
broad national lines, as distinguished
from narrow sectional lines. Through
this congress the upbuilding OF the South
passed from being local issue to a sub
~ md rovlG- S.cI
interest
Sixty-four commercial organizations
We're represented at the meeting, and
more than 1.5O0 men attended the six
sessions Of the congress
One Body Reacts on the Other.
The Southern Commercial Congress and
the National Rivers and Harbors Con-
gress were Of mutual benefit during that
conservation week. as the activities Of
the Southern Commercial Congress in
creased Southern representation in the
Rivers and Harbors meetings; and the
activities Of the Rivers and Harbors Con-
gress brought men from all parts Of the
Union under the influence Of the Southern
Commercial Congress.
After adjournment on December 8, all
in attendance On the Southern Commercial
uonal Rivers and HarbOrs Congress. De-
cember 3. The men in attendance on the
Southern Commercial Congress were ad-
dressed on December 8 by President
Roosevelt and President-elect Taft at
the conservation meeting held in the
Belasco Theater.
Speakers at the Congress.
The following subjects were ably dis
cussed at the meeting:
Health-walter wynau Surgeon General United
States Public Health and Marine Hospital se-7tcp.
The Panama Canal-Hon. Luke Z. Wright sec
rctary Of waT.
Ports-Hon- c. P Goodyear. Georgia
Waterways-Hon John A Fox Arkansas.
Rs'lroads-John F. Wallace, IL. D.. D. Sc. New
York.
Water Pvsers-Frank S. washbun. C. E.
Minerals tseneraD-DT. c W. Hayes. chief
geologist. United States Geological Survey.
Coal-L G. Glenn Pm D.. professor Of geology.
Vanderbilt University.
Iron-Edwin C. Eckel District of Columbia
Building Materials-Willan J. Oliver. Tpnnes,ea
Soils-J A. Bonsteel. chief Of survey work in
the Bureau Of Soils.
cottOu-HO0. D. a. Tompkins North Carolina.
Asriculture-C Clarence H. Poe, editor Tho ProVres-
sTe Farmer Raleigh y C.
Forests-Ginord Pinehot, Chief Forester of the
United States and chairman of National Conservation
Commission
Education-Dr Edwin A. Alderman. PRESIDENT
University of Virginia
S1ulmary-G. GrosrenOr Dave. Alabama.
Men Who Presided.
The presiding officers during the six
sessions Of the congress were:
Hon o. s Straus Secretary Of Commerce and Labor.
John n. Parker, member Of New Orleans Progres-
sve Union; James 2. Smith. PRESIDENT S. Louis
Busneas Mems Leagus; Charles Hall Davis rresi-
dent Of Petersburg Chamber Of Commerce; judge
George Billyer member Of Atlanta Chamber of
Commerce; w. A. BO1rs. president Of jacksonville
Board o. Trade
The men who arranged the details OF
the first session or the Southern CONNER
cial Congress We're:
6. GrosTenor Dave (chairman) secretary Of Crn
meT-ial Club. Montgomery Ala: John A Rstiprnar
fsecretaTl, secretary C, Business Mems Lear,e AZ
bany, Ga John A. Fatten treasurer president Of
Tennessee River Improvement Association. C-hatta
nOoga. Tenn; J. A. Arnold. secretary Of Teas
Commercial Sec-etaries' Association. F1-t Worth
Tex W G. Cooper, secretary q Chamber Of Com
me7ce, Atlanta. Ca; Edwin L. Quarles secretary
q CHAMBER of Commcrce. Petersburg Va: II H
Richar1s0n. secretary n Board Of Trade Jackson
vile. Fla; E S shannon. secretary Of Board Of
Trade. Nashville. Tenn james Z. smith president
Of Business Mems League. St Louis No NJ b.
Trezevant secretary Of Progressive Union New Or
leans. Ia