The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-11-17
SPEECHES BEFORE THE
WATERWAY CONVENTION
EDWIN L, QuARCES.

Southern Commercial Congress. Wash
ington, D. c., spoke as follows:
/ wish that I knew as much about the
atlantic Inland waterway Association as
its organizers do, and that every member
of this convention knew as much about
men do that brought it into being, and
hope that before the convention closes,
we may, at least, approach that condition
Of mutual understanding
The theories, purposes and methods OF
both Of these organizations place them IN
that admir- BILE category Of combined Ell
iu r nj ans with ali the D UNDERTAKING and
mud singing practiced in this country
to-day, It is the rare exception that the
themselves through voluntary organiza-
ton to the accomplishment OF some iaud-
able end, are other than mmendable l
make a plea for the earnest consideration
by all our upright citizens, of all such
movements as the Mississippi to Atlantic
Inland Waterway Associa ton. the Ma.
tional Rivers and Harn oisI S Congress an r.
has been said that no man ever becomes
truly great allying himself with a cause
greater than himself. One OF the saddest
have labored to operate Chambers OF
Commerce, Waterway Associations and
the ike, is the man who IS too Big IN M ms
IN other peoples eyes to pitch In and
work with the great body of self-elected
Sc wants Of the public good II you ever
want to know all about raan-how much
public spirit and generosity and breadth
Of vision and religion he has--go ask the
secretary OF the Chamber Of Commerce or
secretary to talk you'll find out Nine
times out of ten he can tell you more
than the mans minister. When the PR.
vate citizens of the South realize that
this is the greatest section of America,
but that it has had less done for 1t than
any other. and that the quickest results
80 - cd off -
will the public servants of our citizen
body be able to get what we want from
city, state and national legislation.
interested in the Mississippi to Atlantic
Inland Waterway Association, first, then,
because, like the Congress, the Water
movement of citizens for the betterment
of conditions affecting vast number of
people.
We have deep interest in this effort.
again, because Its success will be per
nanent contribution to the constructive
elements now being assembled fol. a
through a greater South. The Southern
Commercial Congress is now attempting
to point out to this entire country that
magnificent destiny of the South, lies in
her. coast line. her harbors, her navi-
gable streams in the proximity of varied
in the ease with which many Of her ma
tural routes of water transportation lend
themselves to artificial connection. From
our office at Washington. we have sent
out through the press of the country, the
story of the increase of tonnage through
Southern. ports We have told over and
navigabIe steains in the United States.
over 200 lie within the South We are
pointing out the wonderful development
Of our gulf ports, particularly. that must
come with the opening of the Panama
Canal. In fact, the prophecy we can
read along the waters edge from Balti-
more to Brownsville, is one Of the very
brightest we have seen In our search for
the salient forecasts of what Is COM
ing. Thus. you are here to-day to con-
sider the furtherance Of a project, the
own desire for the utilization Of funda-
mental opportunities.
Now, I cannot think Of any greater rea-
son for interest of the Southern CONNER
cial Congress in the Mississippi to Allan
tic Inland Waterway Associa ton, than
this. and the same is the reason for an
Commercial Congress You are attempt
ing to secure an appropriation by Con-
gress for the construction Of this inland
waterway. 1t takes but a glance at the
map to see that your reasons involving
the economy Of time, mileage and money
in tran sportation. are powerful arguments
for the project, and the matter Of the
safety Of life and property may also rea-
sonably be advanced; but the extent to
which this construction is made necessary
tion 'h that eongrsssona1 Committees Wi
surely raise, unless they have changed
their methods Of cross-examination since
the last time I met lot Of self elected
servants of the public, coming down the
capitol steps.
TO secure help from Washington for
these specific efforts for progress, we
must make a mighty effort for progress
along general Ines. When these millions
of our idle acres are under Intelligent Gull
tivation, When our great pockets of min
eral wealth fire opened, when our vast
water power lis harnessed, when we come
to manufacture here the products we
| must buy evsry day, and which lie under
our very noses, in the raw, when we shall
fifteen hundred miles from home, Their
will our represen tatives we send tc
Washington be equipped with argument
different ears. But, gentlemen, we must
create these arguments and give them
to our men in Congress, as their very
swords and shields when we send them
there The ability Of our representatives
to participate in raolding national poll
cies and to share in the results Of ma
tional legisla ton, will never lie in their
hands until we, as the great body OF
Southern citizens, shall put them there.
This power can come only by industrial
commercial and agricultural development
and it will come when we Of the South
arise as one man. proclaim to the world
our supremacy in natural advantag es. anC
work for supremacy in commerce, indus
nercial Congress was designed to be the
Union of Southern forces for fastening
that day. And finally. I take the oppor-
topic. Mr. Henderson. your secretary
gave me, namely, the Southern CONNER
cial Congress.
To set before you the purposes of thi:
organiZa ton. SO not to consume toe
much Of your time. probably can not
do better than repeat some statements
recently prepared along this line:
The Southern Commercial Congress is