The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-07-16

incident with the actual opening of
,bn Panama Canal in 1913, are now
1ar U.y Officials Of the congress
!ntand 10 make The Mobile convention
,ha greatest annual meeting of the
ar.ariZatiOn ever held. Probably
more thau 10000 representative bust
moss men Of the sixteen states COM
nrised in The territory Of the South
eern Commercial Congress will attend
the convention. and many Of them
will take the opportunity of visiting
the canal in special steamers from
Mobile.
The Mobile convention will, in a
measure show the great ucc of
the vast plans launched by the Con-
gress four years ago, when it was first
organized in Washington, D. c. The
story Of the Southern Commercial
Congress and how it has grown in a
brief four years from a very small be-
ginning. 20 be one Of the greatest
commercial organizations in the Uni
ted states is an interesting one.
The Southern Commercial Con-
greSS Is no more commercAj than it
is Industrial, no more induStrial than
agricultural, no more agricultural
than educational. IT is all Of these
and more too; for it is the name Of
the moNrment intended to weld INTO
one irresistible confidence all the scat
tered Efforts that are being made
Throughout all the South to utilize
resources. improve conditions and fit
ingjy announce the advantages of the
South 10 the world.
Wiia1 The Congress Is.
The southern Commercial Congress
is not IN business, n yet it is a pro-
meter II business. 1t is not interest
ed in any educational institution. yet
ii promotes education. 1t has not a
square foot Of land to sell, yet it is
creating Z demand for land. 1t does
not publish a periodical, yet its in
futnce through the printed page has
grown Is leaps n bounds. 1t is not
d n~atioral advertiser, yet its worn
VIII prompt a widespread and com
ptllns eutburst Of Southern munich
pal and real estate advertising. 1t IS
not The name Of an annual meeting.
!tt i holds annual meetings as part
Of is work.
The Southern Commercial Congress-,
IS q movement that expresses COM
l'ele dissatisfaction with things IS
tneN are, unless those things are the
BEST than can be. 1t 10
o'htrS the changes. uses. and actiyi-
ues mat should be in the South. but
uoes not dlSsipate it's own force in q
sea Of detail.
me moNement was organized in
washington in December, 1908. with
VIE luii dignity of its name and it's
purpose, and yet when it started there
was hot an effective union of con
au,dNt forces anywhere in the
tou'h g sustain it; nor did ii wait
y No IlaG ROC e
.eres's would be benefited through
'"e success Of the effort.
IS movement it sprang full grown
NE minds Of a group Of COM
.eic'al secretaries who met in Chat
Soea, ienn., in August. 1903. and
di,i 80 nat there we're certain con-
Gus ehlsNng in the South and out
Ivy u II mat could only be met by
"ni"" OF effort, and further decided
.via. " Such a union Of effort did not
sos. .; STALE by state, throughout the
ston"' then. without waiting for the
a tlocess OF gradual unihcation,
ths, lhg must be held to declare
claa. soch q union did exist. The
ST. Judgment Of the men who
bv ~ ."e movement is confirmed
yeara tact that in less than three
c,at me words Southern Comm.r-
th.. 1ohgress' have become knNUn
- HUushout the nation, the influences
M h. effort for union have been felt
ushout the South, and it is now
yond ",Aed as a practical force for
ootn here and abroad.
~, The First Plans.
ve,a DISCUSSIONS in Chattanooga
~. long such lines as these:
IN ranama Canal will be finished
" a few years. ""'Siieu
ic
fuano"h enterprise potent with in
II upon the South.
Va oound to draw hippine South
trayoo, ana TO change the routes OF
a trsn l're Of it will bring Southwark
reas"u OF population. becausa Inv
there . the influences OF the canal
yb'opeo IN the South.
has cahal, potent in it's influence.
men 80 the imagination of h
benefits ne South to anticipate great
is thar''heiess. only in are instances
aapiza, eVldence of commercial or
ticuIar'ons and business men mar
r%ea AIRY those of ports, prenai,p | 70
tnres on the canal and ". ;na,o
hlhderins cause is a ;ack If
PI IA 4