Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1911-03-12
.AMERICUS At THE SOUTHERN
COMMERCIAL CONGRESS
Alan Rogers Description Of the AmGriCuS Delegates and
Their Work for Sumter County

Atlanta, Ga, March 1.-THE grea
Southern Commercial Congress, JUS
concluded proved a tremendous sue
cess and Notwithstanding that ever!
Southern state sent large and repre-
sentative delegations, the shown;
made by the body of Americus citi.
zens was of the kind that is certain
to draw valuable dividends in The
future.
One thing is certain. Every one ot
the delegates, including some of the
nations greatest notables, know q
great deal more about Americus and
Sumter county than ever before, and
the remarkable facts-presented in the
shape of an invitation on Wire
Grass green paper, made truly last
ing impressions in every instance.
One of these invitations was per-
sonally presented to almost all u
the most influential men who came
here as either speaker ~or delegates
Two notable exceptions Were Theodore
Roosevelt and George w. Perkins
Both of these gentlemen left before
the invitations We're presented, but
each was extended personal invita-
tion and their regrets at being una
BILE to see the New Garden of Eden
appeared sincere. And each insist ID
that the time was coming when they
would avail themselves of the privil-
ege, if the welcome could be kept
warm until such a trip was possible,
Just by way of a reminder, print
ed invitations We're sent to both of
these distinguished Americans under
separate cover.
Here's How 1t Happened.
When the Americus delegation mo-
bilized in the lobby of the Piedmont
on the first day of the congress the
fine showing made seemed to demand
recognition. Then it was that Mayor
Mathis and President Shiver, of the
Board of Trade, suggested issuing
invitations to visit Americus and
Sumter county. The suggestion met
with approval and after all had Of
fered facts and figures the invitation
was prepared and in the printers
hands in less than an hour.
More than this, recognizing the im-
portance of the great national high
way between Montreal and New York
and Atlanta and Jacksonville, via
Americus. the delegation decided that
it would be a good thing to call on
Editor James R. Gray, of the Atlanta
Journal, thank him for all that had
been accomplished and point out some
of the special advantages of The
Only Way"
Editors Gray and Howell Called Upon
Editor Gray gave the delegation a
hearty N6ICOIIe ~ Jut mas HlllNClIl
new home of the Journal and assured
his visitors that the Americus route
viii be given every consideration.
Confident that this will result in the
choice of this best and "Only Way,
the members of the delegation left
the Journal office for the Constitution
building for the purpose of thank
ing Editor Howell for all that the
Constitution had done in the way OF
the cause of good roads in
Georgia and particularly in the Wire
grass" section.
Ie was the purpose cf the Americus
body to thank Mr. Howell for the
generous space in both the news aud
editorial columns in reporting the
marvellous progress and enterprise OF
their city and county and in this
way bringing the development of this
section before the entire country.
Unfortunately, Mr.. Howell was moi
in his office, but later several of the
delegates improved the opportunity D
extending their thanks individually.
Valuable Publicity.
All of the Atlanta newspapers car
ried news stories of the gne showing