The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-02-24
WORKING FOR THE SOUTH.
REPRESENTATIVES, OF 40 STATES
GATHER IN BAITIMORE.
Southern Settlement and Development
Organization to Urge Immigration
of Desirable People.

railroads and steamship lines that
serve that section and men who have
studied the agricultural and indus
trial problems Of the South for years
met here today and formed the
Southern Settlement and Development
organization. Baltimore was made the
headquarters with s. Davies War
neld " this city as chairman and
Eli Frank. also Of Baltimore. secre-
tary.
IL was resolved to start at once 10
raise funds TO carry on the work of
the organization to establish branch
es OF the company where necessary
and 60 carry on such work In the 16
Southern States as may be deemed
desirable with the view to procuring
desirable immigration. colonization
and settlement as the needs of the
several states may require.
II was further decided to recon-
mend TO the several States OF the
South ''the urgent necessity OF estab-
fishing I'm each state a state immigra-
tion bureau for the purpose OF dis
seminating reliable information re-
garding the resources. the possibiii-
ties and opportunities Of the South TO
be supported by the States machin-
cry and money. under The indirect
supervision OF the governor of each
State, with a good practical business
man I'm charge. whose duties shall he
60 cooperate with the United States
government the transportation com
panies. the commercial bodies. the
real estate men. the press and the
Southern Settlement and Development
organization In placing the country
properly before the people OF tss
world.-
The establishment OF a farm labor
department., to be added to the func-
@1Go0 81 -. state bureau, was also
- >C>os pepsAu found Il
Nj Kit and praetical 20 DO so.
a rssoIution that caused some dis
eus~ion before Y was fnally perfected
70 suit the ideas Of the dele gates set
forth tnat Northern ports OF entry are
receiving very large percentage of
all OF the desirable immigrants, who
rernain I'm these cities and States and
cities adjacent thereto. Tho CONNER
ciai importance and possibilities OF
the South justify the federal govern
ment I'm providing adequate facilities
for the reception Of immigrants at
baltimore. the South Atlantic and
gulf ports. from lack Of which said
ports are now suffering" and called
upon congress and the proper feder-
ai officials to take such steps as
may be necessary to provide such ia
cilities at baltimore. the South At
iantic and gulf ports as to put these
pores on a parity with said North At
lantic ports.
The meeting was the result OF the
ccnference on Southern immigration
held here on December s. A commit
tee was formed at that time. with s.
Davies warfieid OF Baltimore as chair
man. the membership to be consti-
tuted as follows:
One to be appointed by the govern
or of-each Southern State: one to be
named by the president OF each rail-
road and transportation company in
the South; one from each State to be
appointed by Chairman warfeid.
Delegates were present from Ala
hama. Arkansas. Florida. Georgia.
Kentucky. Louisiana. Maryland.
Mississippi. Missouri. North Car
olina. Oklahoma. South Carolina.
} Tennessee. Texas. Virginia and West
Virginia.
I'm addition. more than so railroad
and steamship companies sent repre-
sentatives. In some cases the presi-
dents OF the lines acting In person.
When Mr.. warfield called the meet
ing 20 order he faced the largest and
most representative committee ever
organized To consider the agricultural
and Industrial development OF the
South. In his address Mr.. warneid
referred 10 the vast areas OF unim-
proved farm lands In the South and
declared that every one concerned In
.property values I'm the South had n
defnitc interest In the promotion OF
this work. which. he maintained
could not be done without large ex-
penditures OF money Liberal treat
mont - necessary not only on the
part Of the railroads. but the STATE
governments also.