The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-12-13
SOUTHERN
COMMERCIAL
CONGRESS
IN ANNUAL SESSION TODAY IN
CHARLESTOWN. SENATOR FLET-
CHER, PRESIDENT, TELLS OF
ITS WORK.

Charleston, S. c., Dec. 13.-A sug-
gestion made by DR.. Charles w. Eliot
that the southern commercial congress
drop the word southern" from its IT,
tie to broaden its scope, was presented
to the opening session of the seventh
annual convection of the congress here
today in the annual address of its
president, Senator Fletcher, of Flori-
da.
"Our name, southern has not lin
tied us in any way to narrow our field
of work." said Senator Fletcher. LAS
our slogan reads, so has our effort
been to help create "a Greater Ma
tion Through a Great South Dr.
Charles Charles w. Eliot, in express
ing his regret that he could not be
with us today, makes this suggestion
which delegates may consider:
"Since the commercial and tinan-
cial interests of the southern, north
ern, western and eastern sections of
our country are now well-nigh iden-
tical, would it be possible for your
meeting this year to take steps toward
dropping the word Southern" in the
title of the congress? Would not that
be step toward greater efficiency and
influence"
Senator Fletcher in recounting the
deeds of the congress, declared that
its greatest work, perhaps had been
for agriculture. At the same time, a
definite service had been rendered
for education, for public health, for
improvement of rivers and harbOrs,
fer development of water power, es
tablishment of new industr and di-
rect.ng settlement in rural districts.
I'VE have stood for the fullest de-
velopment of all the various resources
of the SOUTH" said the president. I'VE
have not merely talked, written and
published articles about them-we
have done things that countmightly
in a practical definite way"
Some of the things the congress has
done, were outlined by Senator Flet-
cher as follows:
1t sent to Europe commission of
sixty-fve members to study the sys-
TENS of rural credits in successful
operation there. 1t sent commits
sion to Central America, in the inter
est of trade, and at its meeting in Mo
bile laid the foundation for better
understanding and closer commercial
relation with all Latin America.
1t sent commission of municipal
executives abroad to study municipal
problems.
1t has undertaken to solve the prob
lem of distribution of farm products
so that the producer might get better
prices for what he grows and that
the consumer might have to pay less
for what he consumes.
1t has supported the cause of in
creasing transportation facilities as an
important factor in economic distribu-
tion.
1t has stood for the upbuilding of
the American merchant marine, in
sisting that this country with surplus
products seeking markets abroad,
could not afford to be abjectly depend
ent on the ships of foreign countries,
our competitors in those markets,
"The Southern Commercial Congress
has nothing to sell or trade explain
ed the speaker. at makes no profit,
it has no earnings, no income. The
importance of its work increases as
it proceeds with doing the things in
a broad way which build and promote
real growth, catches a vision of what
lies ahead. realizing that failure in
life comes not so much from under
taking too much, as from being salts
fed with too little; interpreting as it
sees them. the ideals of the south and
the hopes of the nation"