The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-10-01

SOUTH AMERICA IS
TO BE GREAT FIELD
FOR DEVELOPMENT
Fine Crowd Hears Barrett
and Owens Speak at the
Chamber Auditorium
URGE AID FOR THE
MOBILE CONGRESS
Also Want Birmingham to Send Rep
resentatives on Trip to South
America to Study Con-
ditions There

Warning the people of Birmingham that
the benefits of the Panama canal and
Pan-Americen commerce were only for
this city providing the people OF this city
took advantage of the opportunity and
strove to develop relations with South
American countries, opening the eyes of
his hearers to the wonderful civilization,
the remarkable wealth. the enormous re-
Sources the high ideals and ambitions OF
the Latin American countries and finally
voicing plea to the common sense,- the
judgment and the sentiment of the people
of Birmingham to indorse the action of
president Wilson in trying to prevent
war in Mexico, Director General John
Barrett of the Pan-American union last
night addressed one of the largest Cham
Der of Commerce audiences assembled
this year.
Fine Crowd Present
There were probably near 300 people in
the Chamber of Commerce auditorium
when Clarence J. owens, director man
ager of the Southern Commercial con-
gress. Mr.. Barrett and the chamber COM
mittee which welcomed the guests to Br-
mingham entered the hall about $50
o'clock. President w. P. G. Harding pre-
sided and after the speaking punch and
waters We're served at the door as. the
crowd passed out. Mr.. Owens spoke first
on the work of the Southern Commercial
congress. what had been done and what
the congress hoped to do. He particu-
lary urged Birmingham to have a large
representation at the congress when it
convenes October 1928 at Mobile. Mr.
Owens and Mr.. Barrett left last night
very soon after the meeting adjourned
for Memphis, where they will speak to-
day.
Mr.. Barrett was repeatedly greeted with
applause during his address, The remark
able voice with which he is possessed
and his command of English make him a
pleasing speaker. He is man of very
large stature and delighted the large audi
ence last night His address ON 1.-THE
Panama Canal and Pan American Com
merce; What They Mean to Birmlng-
ham" was in part as follows:
Every Reason to Be Interested
Birmingham has every reason to
be vitally interested in the Panama canal
and in Pan-American commerce. The
leading industrial iron and steel manu-
featuring center of the entire south, it
has as much at stake in the opening
of this mighty waterway and the develop
ment of this vast trade as any other city
of all the United States.
The Panama canal and the Pan-Ameri-
can market may mean to Birmingham
the difference between her holding the
position as an average prosperous manu-
featuring town of the south, and that
of being one of the greatest industrial
centers of the entire land. In other words.
whether you take advantage of the op-
portunity which outline to you and act
as result upon the message which |
deliver to you, it will determine whether
Birmingham shall presently attain and
always hold a masterfu place among the
great manufacturing cities of the world
or simply be satisfied with the common
place existence of an average manufacture
ing town of a local section.
Unless | mistake the remarkable his
tory and exceptional progress of Birming-
ham; unless | misinterpret the meaning
these splendid business buildings of Bir
mingham; unless / am misinformed In
regard to the wonderful natural resources
which surround YOU unless / have mis-
judged the men whom / have met and
see here tonight. Birmingham will be up
and doing and leave no stone unturned,
no step untaken, to get ready for the
Panama canal and go after Pan-Ameri-
can commerce. Let the same splendid
enterprise which has made the name of
this city famous throughout the world
actuate you in studying the peoples and
mastering the markets, not only of the %
countries of Central and South America
but the great lands which will be reached
through the Panama canal and bordering
upon the Pacific ocean.
Foreign Trade Bureau
you ought to be congratulated on
the movement already started here for
the organization of foreign trade
bureau. In making a success of this
promise you the cooperation of the
Pan-American union, the International
organization in Washington Of all the
American republics. devoted to the de-
velopment of commerce, friendship, ac-
quaintance and peace among them, all.