The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-09-05
ID MAKE SOUTH KNOW ITSELF AND BE BETTER KNOWN
 .s Dr. Owens Says This Is the Object of the Southern
 Congress
GIVES OUTLINE OF
 HIS FUTURE DUTIES
The Former Commander of the Sons of Veterans Says That the south Has 5 Future as We'll as Past.
 His Interview


 Dr. Clarence J. Owens, who was recent ly appointed commissioner of agriculture and immigration by the Southern Com mercial congress, with headquarters in Washington, reached Birmingham last night on his first trip of inspection in the south
 He is well known in this city by reason of his connection with the United Sons of the Confectionery, of which he is the commander-in-chef.
 The aim and cardinal purpose of the association with which Dr. Owens is connected is to educate the south to local needs, and to inform the country what and where the greatest states in the union are situated.
 Dr. owens stated last night thatlhe de- sired to get in close torh with the local commercial bodies and learn from the of- ficers and the members just what are the needs of the Birmingham district in the line which he represents.
 'I am from Alabama, and think it is proper that my first work be performed in this state" said Dr. Owens last night "The purpose of the Southern Commer- cial congress is to exploit the vast re- sources of the south and turn the tide of proper immigration to our own fertile fields rather than to those of other sec. tions. However, our congress would much prefer that our fields remain idle as some of them are now than to attract the wrong Va Jn obtain another race problem for solution. However, l will be in close touch with railroads. steamboat lines and the various immigration bureaus of the country and will certainly exert every energy to bring a desirable class of settlers to this state and section"
 In detailing his work further Dr. Owens said
 pr. Owens Talks
 "The feature which I am expected to- work out in connection with the Southern Commercial congress is, that agriculture lying at the basis of the life and prosper ity of the nation, 1t is necessary that every nook and corner of the great south shall be brought as rapidly as possible to the highest state of agricultural effi- ciency.
 For possibly a year l shall travel over the various southern states getting into personal touch with the men in those states who are progressive agricultural ists. or who are working to spread agri- cultural Knowledge. After that it is planned that I shall be located in Wash ington at the offices of the Southern Commercial congress to bring together out of the efforts of the national depart ment of agriculture and out of the indi- vidual efforts of the state of the south all progressive features, so that through. our organization the duty of which it Is to work for the south and thus to help build the nation, all agricultural advances may be made widely known and quickly utilized.
 "It will also be my duty, in journeying through the south, to understand the sen timent of the whole region in relation to- immigration, and thus to cooperate with all the forces that are attracting the att tention of the world to the agriculturals portions of the south.
 'I am greatly honored by the selection of the executive committee, for I under-y stand that, in the development of the plans of the Southern Commercial con gress, I am the first commissioner to be appointed. Later, as I understand it. there will be commissioners appointed in relation to mines and mining. roads. transportation, commerce, education, etc.. each of these in charge of a duty similar to my own in relation to the opportunities of the south and the work of al lof us together hastening the day of southern development
 south Has Future
 For two years I have been honored by the Sons of Confederate Veterans and elected commander-in-chie of that south wide organization. In common with all my comrades 1 revere the past in south ern history, yet I assure you that our young men are coming very rapidly to un-. derstand that the south has future of national greatness as well as a past. As see it, we can only be true to the, memory of our fathers by working in our day to bring to pass even a greater day than they foresaw. The ideal that we are working for is harmonious de- NeiopiileHt oI all tne great Hdtuldi ie- sources of the south, so that there may come Into being a yet greater nation through this greater south.
 "I knew of the first plans for the Southern Commercial congress two yearsf ago. and at the time felt that at last there had come into existence an organ-s ization that could bring to a head all the influences of the south. At the time I hoped that l would be asso- ciated with 1t in it's great work. and that hope has now been realized The two basic purposes of the congress are so simple as to appeal instantly to all think ing men. It's first great duty is year In and year out. to make the south know itself and ifs secnnd great .d,,tv Is to rtaakA