The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-03-09
Speakers at Southern Commercial
Congress Point Out Advant-
ages to be gained
for South
MUST TAKE ACTION AT ONCE
Commercial Bodies Urged to Make
Study of Trade Conditions-Roose-
veIt to Speak Tonight and
Taft Tomorrow.

Atlanta, Ca, March 9.-The dele
gates to the Southern Commercial
Congress faced a formidable program
of address and discussions at the be-
ginning of the second days sessions
this morning. "The World as a Mar
ket for the South" was the general
theme of the day. On various phases
of the general topic the congress list
ened to addresses by M. Jusserand, the
French ambassador at washington;
John Barrett, director of the Interna-
tional Bureau of American Republics;
Bernard NJ. Baker, Baltimore capi-
talist: Charles II. Sheriff., United
States minister to Argentine; Col.
j.. ID. Tyson of Knoxville, representing
the Southern textile interests; John
Temple Graves of New York. and sew
eral other men of national or interna-
tional reputation.
Roosevelt Tonight; Taft Tomorrow.
No regular session OF the congress
was held this afternoon. Instead, the
time was given over to reception OF
the delegates by Governor Brown and
the visiting governors. Tonight the
address of Col. Theodore Roosevelt
and tomorrow the address of President
Taft are to aid in making the con-
gress what seems already assured-the
most successful as well as the largest
and most representative meeting ever
held in the interest of the development
of the new South.
Unless the South Immediately begins
to get ready for the opening of the
Panama Canal, disappointment and
even disaster is predicted by John
Barrett, director general of the Pan
American Union.
Address BY John Barrett.
"Get ready for the Panama Canal
should be the motto and the slogan Oh
the South for the next three years.
If this conference were called for no
other purpose than to consider why
and how the South should get ready
for the Canal, it would have great
work before il. With full respect Tor
the other questions to come before this
gathering, it is no exaggeration or as
sumption to insist that the greatest
opportunity and responsibility now
before the South is that of getting
ready for the Canal. And yet there
is no subject of Importance which Is
more unappreciated and neglected.
"The adjournment of this conference
should be marked by determination OF
every delegate present to return to ms
home town or city and organize a ':Get
ready for the Canal movement. IL
this suggestion, which Is simple ana
practical, is actually followed 1t VIII
mean an increase in one year after the
Canal is used of $50,00O,0 900 n the ex-
port and import trade of 'e South
and of 5000, 900. 900 in five yc-rs.
Ignorant Of Conditions.
Were l to hold a catechism mere
today of the thousand of delegates OF
this huge conference called to help the
South's progress. l do not believe that
one half of one per cent of them could
answer accurately and interestingly
practical questions on those points
covering the twelve countries whose
mighty coast line. reaching 5000 miles
South from the California Mexico
boundary to the Strait of Magellan,
will for the first time have direct
communication with the United States
through the Canal. In other words, l
do not belieye that one half OF one per
cent of the commercial and Industrial
interests of the great Southern States
are taking any of these steps enumer-
ated to Get ready for the Canal
"The situation is deplorable and
must be changed. II is more import
ant to the South than reciprocity
more essential than a tariff board
more vital than any issue before Con-
gress. unless II be that of now regulat-
ing the tolls which must be paid by
vessels using the Canal.
Address BY 3. N. Baker.
"The Obligations OF the Panama
Canal" were discussed by Bernard N
Baker. a Baltimore capitalist and ma
tional authority on conservation and q
retired steamship man. This subject
was assigned to Mr. Baker after 1t was
found that Senator Money of Mississ-
ippi, who originally had expected &c
handle IT, was unable to attend the
conference on account Of Ill health.
Il know no way to make a greatei
nation by a greater South" said Mr.
Bernard, "than I'm the South's awak
ening to n realization of the opportuni
ties which are before her today to Sc
cure the obligations" OF the Panama
Canal.
The something 10 be done is TO
every commercial body. every mer
chant and manufactures. and farme
to demand of their representatives II