The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-12-18
TO work FOR GREATER south /;
NoTE OF ENDEAvOR AT OPEN
ING DAYS SESSION OF SOUTH
| ERN COMMERCIAL
CONGRESS.
Many Prominent Men i'm Attendance
ON Annual Event now Convening i'm
Charieston-Today Will be Peace
Day and Exercises Will Commem-
crate Fifty Years of Peace.


nant note sounded at the opening ad-
dress at the first day OF the Southern
Commercial congress held in the Ger
man Artillery hall.
A vision OF the South of tomorrow
Is being unfolded at the sessions Of
the Southern Commercial congress
The record of past achievements Is
being sketched accurately by men
who know. All questions making for
the progress OF the South will be dis
cussed.
Drainage. rural credits, a we'll bal
anced system OF agriculture. the de-
velopment OF industries and trade
these are some Of the more important
matters to be given attention by the
congress.
commissioners OF agriculture from
practically all of the States of the
South will gather in Charleston to-
morrow and join the deliberations of
the commercial congress.
The leaders In finance, commerce
and agriculture are in attendance
upon the congress and questions af-
fecting almost every line of endeavor
In the South are being given close at
tention.
There were several hundred dele
gates representing many Southern
States and almost every county in
South Carolina in convention hall this
morning when the commercial con-
gress was called to order by DIR. Clar-
ence j. Owens. managing director of
the congress
The Invocation was by the Rt. Rev.
William A. ,Guerry, bishop of South
Carolina. He invoked divine blessing
upon the deliberation Of the con-
gress, upon the governor of the State,
the president Of the United States and
the war-racked nations OF Europe.
I'VE meet here today to forget Sc
cession hall. We are not forgetting
the old South. but representing the
new South" said Mayor John p.
Grace. warmly welcoming the visitors.
He referred to Charleston as the cap
tal or the old South and OF the new
South. He was received with ap-
p!ause ------- ..---.
Ions and continued applause greet
ed GOV. Manning. who delivered an
address OF welcome to South Carolina.
Enthusiasm ran high in convention
hall when the band played Dixie" as
the officers OF the congress and
speakers entered the hall.
An interesting feature Of the con-
vention today was the large number
OF women present at the opening ses-
sion.
The South's progress during the
past five years was told In facts and
figures by the various speakers in a
most striking manner at the first day
or the congress. South Carolina's
progress was reviewed In detail and a
statement of this States unusual ag-
ricultural records won much ap-
plause.
Charleston. the plumb line port"
was referred TO as the Souths great
est port and the open gateway to
Panama.
Addresses OF today were by Gov.
Manning. Mayor John p. Grace, Will
liam q. McAdoo. secretary of the
treasury: John Barrett. director gem
eral Of the Pan-American union; John
Temple GRAVES, associate editor OF
the New York American, and Senator
Duncan u. Fletcher. president OF the
congress The response to the ad-
dresses OF welcome was delivered by
Thomas $. southgate first vice pres
tdent OF the congress.
The large attendance Is most
gratifying and look forward to a
most successful session OF the con-
gress." said John Barrett, director
OF the Pan-American union. He Is
the representative OF an organiza-
tion that Is working for the develop
ment or trade relations between the
United States and the countries to
the South. MIR. Barrett will remain
In Charleston for several days.
a hopeful spirit vas breathed In
the annual address by Duncan u.
Fletcher. United States senator from
Florida and president Of the Southern
Commercial congress.
Senator Fletcher. outlining the
purpose OF the congress. said that
1T was making for the permanent
progress OF the choice portion OF the
greatest country on earth"
I'VE have created greater ma
Hon Ahr.o,nnh nrnaAn. Co,,.h L.