Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-02-14
MERCHANTS CD
HOME At TER
BIC DINNER
Successful Week to 1900 CuImi.
mates in Banquet, Where
Noted Men Speak.

Five hundred Southern merchants
are leaving Atlanta for their homes
Saturday, after being guests at the
annual Merchants Week" of the At
lanta Merchants and Manufacturers
Association, one of the most success
full weeks in the history of the city
1t is estimated that during the week
more than 900 out Of town mer-
chants and BUYERS. hailing from all
parts of the South, visited the city
and purchased their spring stocks.
The visitors have been royalty en-
tertalned by the local association, the
festivities of the week coming to a
close Friday night with a monster
banquet at the Auditorium, at which
more than 500 dealers, statesmen and
visitors Toasted and enjoyed the flow
of oratory that followed
The dinner was undoubtedly one Of
the most notable feasts Atlanta has
seen in recent years, with an excellent
menu prepared and served under the
direction OF J. Lee Barnes, of the
Majestic Hotel. The hail was deco
rated with flags and bunting hung
from the rafters and the sides of the
balcony and gallery. A cabaret per-
Torrance by two young women and
enliven the affair.
Public Hears Speeches.
The doors of the Auditorium were
thrown open at o'clock, when the
speaking began. and several hundred
people who did not attend the din
ner came in and heard the speeches.
Several of Georgia's most noted ora
tors made short addresses. among
them Postmaster Boiling H. Jones,
who served as postmaster; Senator
Hoke Smith, j. W. Vaughn. of Car
tersville, president OF the Southern
Merchants Convention: John Skel-
ton Williams, who represented the
National Regional Bank Board, and
Mayor James G.. Woodward
All of the speakers predicted new
era of prosperity for the South. and
pledged their cooperation in any
movement the merchants OF this sec
ton might inaugurate to better their
condition and the condition of the
South generally. The recent legisla-
ton enacted by Congress was also
referred to by the speakers with the
declaration that the new currency
act is destined to~prove a godsend to
all lines of business
Williams Optimistic Over Business.
John SHELTON Williams was particu-
larly warm in his praise of the new
laws and was optimistic concerning
the future of the South.
We hope that in working out the
new currency act" said Mr. Williams.
I'VE shall he able to make the dollar
less of curiosity than it has been
to many of our people. | believe none
of us are likely to overestimate the
tremendous good that will flow from
the enactment Of thig la
THE splendid piece of constructive
legislation which the country now ad-
mits is likely to he the solution Of the
vexatious financial problems that
have confronted the nation for the
past half century is spoken of as a
miracle. but it is no miracle: II is the
logical and natural result and product
of men who have devoted to its Crea-
ton and development brains and en-
ergies which for many years have
been dedicated to the study of great
problems of government, political
economy and social progress from the
altruistic standpoint"
Senator Smith Given Ovation.
A startling array Of facts and fig
ures proving Georgia's claims to
greatness were presented by Senator
Hoke Smith in his speech. He was
given a tremendous ovation
I'VE produced last year" said Sen
ator Smith, cotton and cotton seed
worth approximately two hundred
millions of dollars. We had, in round
figures 100000 acres in corn. This
land, cultivated up to the highest
standard for three years, can be made
to average so bushels to the acre and
without increasing our corn acreage
we can raise in Georgia one hundred
and seventy-five million bushels of
corn.
Along with this immense corn pro-
duction we can increase our oats and
our hay Following this logically will
be production of beef cattle and
hogs, not alone sufficient for home
consumption, but amply sufficient to
supply many other markets
There is scarcely a limit to the
capacity of Georgias soil to produce
fruits and vegetables Raising food
stuffs to supply our own people, and
marketing in the. East a large part
of our products, handsome net re-
turn should come to the State.
Add to this two hundred millions
OF dollars from our cotton crop, and
the agriculture of Georgia in a few
years will make this one of the rich
est States in the world
I'VE must raise our own foodstuffs
! We can easily produce corn and oats
and hay TO raise horses and mule.
and cattle and hogs for our own use
and to sell. And then If cotton and
! cotton seed were our only surplus
| agricultural products, the rapidly
with which wealth would accumulate
would broaden the opportunity fol
every citizen while it would make
ours the most powerful section of the
world"
Senator Smith referred to the work
Of the Boys Corn Clubs and the Girls
Canning Clubs, to the farm demon.
stration work and the other activities
that are aiding in the work Of max.
ing GeOrRia the Rrpatpgf ctate in tte