The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-10-12

a general discussion of methods for
Increasing the efficiency of these men.
This was the first meeting of its
sort in Southern territory, but it re-
suited in the organization of the
Southern Commercial Secretaries AS
ISOLATION which has since that time
held annual meetings.
A resolution passed by the Sec
| retaries' Association in Chattanooga
recommen to the various CONNER
| cial bodies of the South the holding
OF a congress of Southern business
men in Washington, beginning Dec
ernber 8, 1908.
After a necessary delay in securing
sufficient authoritative endorsement
for the call, a committee of three Of
the members of the Secretaries AS
ISOLATION called upon Col. Theodore
Roosevelt, then President of the
United States, and enlisted his inter
est and cooperation. A number of
other prominent men in official and
business life gave assistance and at
the time set, there gathered in Wash
lngton number of representa- tive
men from sufficiently large territory
to make the promoters of the con-
vention feel that their efforts had been
successful. The Congress was ad-
dressed by a number of eminent men
on broad, general topics pertaining to
Southern conditions. It was at this
time that the business men Of the
South themselves unanimously de-
cided TO bring into being a permanent
organization 70 be known as the
Southern Commercial Congress and
to have its Headquarters at Washing
ton.
A general line OF work for the Con-
gress was mapped out. Mr. John NJ
Parker, of New Orleans, Louisiana. was
elected president. an executive com
n1ittee of able men from varioua busi
ness centers of the South was ,choscn.
The Congress was organized Deem
Der 8. 1908, and incorporated July 21.
1911. From that time on the Con-
gress has worked every day in the
year for five years to accomplish the
purposes for which 1t was organized
The funds at it's disposal have never
been adequate, but the money used
to carry on the work so far has been
contributed in one way or another bv
various local commercial orEaniza-
lions and the individual business in
situations of the South.
Two years ago DR.. Clarence 7
Owens Of Maryland, was elected
managing director. and Senator
Duncan U. Fletcher, of Florida.
succeeded Mr.. Parker as president
Under the administration of these two
officers the Congress has made great
progress. The Congress, under these
directors has become a national and
international institution.
THE Southern Commercial Con-
gress is not merely an annual
meeting. 1t is union of effort on the
part Of all Southern commercial bod
les and individual business institutions
to bring two things to pass.
First, to induce a proper understand
ing by the people Of the South regard
ing the significance of the physical re-
sources of their states in establishing a
greater nation through a greater
South; and second. 20 sweep out of
the mind of the world all elements of
Misunderstanding regarding the
south, its prospects, its people and its
opportunities
1.-THE Southern Commercial Com
gress was designed to be confedera-
ton of all local Southern commercial |
bodies and individual business instt- |
tutions interested in Southern pro-
gress, an extended Chamber of Com I
merce doing for a section of country /
what the local chamber does for its /
community, centralized source of in {
formation and inspiration for local
organizations, a national ONCE for
each, cooperative bureau for as
sembling and circulating nationally
the broad facts regarding Industrial, /
commercial and agricultural possibili- :
ties and progress in the South"
The Southern Commercial Congress.
being alert for every possibility in the