The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-09
s1s,257,5o1.5o.
URGES PEOPLE TO
A|DLAND congress.
Col. N. F. Thompson Greatly
Pleased With the Results
Already Accomplished

In talking over the results and outlook
of the land congress yesterday, Col. N.
r. Thompson. who piloted that organi-
4 gation through the first year of. it's ex-
stence under great difficulties. and who
ias now been given its management un-
er brighter auspices, expressed himself
much pleased over the recent meet
q. He claimed that 1t had fulfilled in a
eat degree all that had been predicted
i for 1t.
He said that the advantages of Ala
bama for agricultural development had
been more fully presented at the recent
sessions of the land congress than ever
before In the states history. Said he:
In the presentation of the variety of
soils as given by Commissioner Kolb, In
the showing of corn production as pre-
scented by Professor Duncan of the Boys
Corn club, work which places Alabama
in the lead of the entire United States in
that field, In the advantages of Alabama
for cattle raising, as shown by B. M.
Allen, In hog raising by Clarke Meal
pine. and in wheat growing by Joshua
Franklin, and the great variety of ad-
vantages as shown by others. together
with the narshalling of these strong
agencies of development, the railroads,
all in all I think the people of Alabama
are to be congratulated ON the results.
But the real work of the land con-
gress is just beginning. and its future
success and usefulness will largely de-
pend upon the support and cooperation
that 1t receives from the people of Ala
bama. 1t appears to be extremely difficult
TO get Alabamians to concentrate ON any
one line of development policy long
enough to obtain results unless 1t be in
the field of politics. But the blatant dem
agogue, whose only claim for attention is
his policies of destruction, can readily
gain a hearing and followers in Alabama,
while an adv ocate for progress and de-
velopment, for union of effort In fields
that will bring untold blessings to the
people. literally such an advocate has to
beg for a hearing Ii our people could
be brought to devote as much of time and
money In constructive policies as they
give to those that are destructive we
would soon have Alabama the richest
and most influential state in the union.-
There is great work ahead for the
land congress, and ii is going into that
work with the determination to make
Alabama's advantages known and appre-
ciated throughout the world IL properly
supported. But much Is to be done first
among our own people here at home.
Those conditions that were brought out
before the land congress and which were
shown to be the great barriers that stand
IN the path of the states progress, must
be removed and the energies of the land
congress are going to be devoted largely
TO that work. But the land congress is
prepared to meet not only that, but every
requisite of development that Alabama
requires, either in publicity, In bringing
in settlers or immigrants. I'm attracting
capital II the people will but give this
organization their united support. There
will then be no need of any other or
ganization in any field from the outside
seeking to bestow benefits upon this
state"