The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-10-28
Governor O'Neal Delivers
Able Address Introducing
National Executive to
Commercial Congress
PRESIDENT SPENDS
A BUSY SIX-HOUR
STAY IN MOBILE
Underwood, Daniels, Fletcher and
Other Men of Prominence Ad-
dress ongress-Memorial to
Morgan to Feature the
Ceremonies Today
BY L. s. RETTY

BY l.. $. BETTY
Mobile, October 27.-(speciaI.) Del
Sress. which convened today In fifth
annual session. had two distinct priv
ileges, one of seeing and hearing the
President of the United states, and the
other of hearing the address of Gov.
Emmett O'NeaI, who introduced the ma
tion's chief executive at the annua
session of the congress.
During the course of his private and
public career, Governor O'NenI has
never delivered n more able speech.
Time and again his remarks were
greeted by storms of applause which
shook the auditorium hall. The speech
was masterpiece and AIabamians
were made to feel proud Of their gov
ernor.
Several times President Wilson unit
ed in the general ovation rendered the
governor during the course of his re-
marks, and in his address referred to
the excellent speech of Alabamas gov
ernor
Construction of Canal
Governor O'Neal told of the construc
tion of the Isthmian canal. which. he
declared, had been the dream of ages
Where France surrendered America
conquered he said Where DeLes-
seps failed, Goethal triumphed."
This was the governors theme-the
fulfillment of the dream of those who
had conceived the passage from ocean
to ocean and the American genius and
indomnitable courage which had made
the achievement possible.
The governor declared that the COM
pletion of the canal will mean that the
people of the United States will attain
their hopes of commercial supremacy
"a supremacy which comes from lead
ership and superiority rather than from
acquisition.
The speaker declared that impartial
history viii say that three of the most
important names which will be linked
with the construction of the Panama
canal were furnished hy the state OF
Alabama, Morgan, Gorgas and seibert.
His reference to these three Alabatn
ians were greeted with storms of ap-
plause particularly his remarks on Sem
ator Morgan.
Morgan Loosened Stone
NOW tHat tne hour or final success
has almost struck" said the governor.
''we can proudly proclaim that it was
John I. Morgan of Ala bama who loos-
ened the stone from its seat on the
mountain and that. looking wisely into
the future, he but uttered the language
of prophecy when he triumphantly de-
clared that no obstacle can long pre-
vent Its removal through its own gray
ity.
Continuing his euIogy of Senator
Morgan, the governor said mo greater
geographical event has occurred since
from the far off shores of Spain CO.
lumbus brought his tiny fleet across
the wide waste of the Atlantic Co
lumbus realized his position when be
round new world. Morgan's dream be-
came an actuality when the new world
was drawn into closer contact by this
great work"
The governor paid a fitting tribute to
the President and his remarks brought
tumultuous applause "While GoethaIs
wrought the great ambition of Morgan
ana achieved the physical liberation
from the obstacles of nature, our great
president, our most honored guest. was
guiding and directing the policies. now
most happily crowned with success
which freed us from the greivous bur.
uen of an unjust and iniquitous system
or tariff taxation. unshackeled com
breath of that newer freedom. under
whose stimulating effects the Amer
lcan people VIII move forward to great
er and more lasting triumphs in all the
Ilelds OF commercial and Industrial
life"
Combined Great Qualities
IN referring to the Presidents labors
TO secure sound currency system, tho
governor declared that the chief execu-
tive had combined bfc lo,,..;x.. -,
superb craftsmanship and his masterly
leadership, In order that he might give
currency system, sound, elastic and
capable of serving the needs of that in
dustrial and commercial activity and ex-
pansion which will follow in the wake of
Just, wise and equitable system of tariff
taxation
Governor ONeal spoke for 20 minutes
and every sentence rang out through the
large auditorium hall clearly and dis
tlnctly AT times his remarks were
greeted with deafening applause, and his
speech is declared the greatest of his en-
tire career, Alabamans were made to
feel proud of their governor. and they
felt that no one in the state could have
discharged the proprieties of the occasion
better than he. In closing he referred
to the commercial growth and prosperity
of Alabama. Where among the COM
monwealths of the nation" he said, ''can
any state De round to whom an Alabam-
ian should yield the palm of superiority?"
In closing Governor O'Neal said: '"rhe
development in Alabama and the entire
south has been steady, substantial and
permanent. 1t has been long and dreary
struggle to overcome the loss of wealth
and wealth producing power which fol-
lowed in the wake of great civil war.
.Hampered in our struggle to readjust our
economic conditions by hostile federal
legislation and further weakened by the
{ lormous immigration from our borders
estimated at 100000 people, caused bv
the misgovernment and chaotic conditions
engendered by the era of reconstruction.
with the crushing burden of DEATH with
loss of credit, the overthrow of our eco
nomic and indsutrial system, and the
misrule created by unjust unwise and bit
ter section legislation, It is not remark
able that our educational and industrial
developments were retarded, that the
great tide of immigra ton which poured
into the ports of the east found it's out
let in the undeveloped west, and that the