The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1915-04-26
COMMERCIAL CONGRESS-
OPENS At MUsk0CEE
FIVE DAYS SESSION TO BE
FILLED WITH NOTABLE
ADDRESSES
(By Associated Press,)

,Muskcgee, April 26.--Plans for pro-
noting the varied interests Of the
south will be discussed at the sixth
annual convention Of the Southern
Ccrmereial Congress which opened
hc.e today The resources OF the
south ana ideas for its progress are
TO be talked over in five days pro-
g...m. with three sessions daily
President Wilson will be unable to
attend but the federal government Is
reIresented by other officials from
Washington Agriculture, marketing
imm:gration foreign trade, municipal
efficiency. rural credits and the ell
feet Of the European war upon the
commerce Of the United States, es-
pecially the south, are among sub
iects to be discussed.
The congress was opened THIS
morning with the annual address or
Senator Fletcher, of Florida, its pres
ident. welcome froG Senator owen,
of Oklahoma as a aiiizen OF Mu5ko-
gee and Okfahoma's welcome by
Governor Robert L. Williams. Among
others on the program are Assistant
Secretary Vrooman, of the Derart- T.
aren't OF Agriculture, Assistant Secre-
tary Sweet, of the Department oil
Commerce; Charles S Haml.n' Gov
ernor CT the Federal Reserve Board
George w Perkins and Willard
STRAIGHT of New York; Senator Lew
is. Of Illinois, Myron 7. Herrlck- OF
Cleveland. Ohio; Senator Ransdell, Of
Louisiana, and Col, Haryle jordan
Pre- !dent OF the Southern Cotton
Grawc.s Association.
THO Southern Commercial Con-
grcs is a confederation OF LOCAL
southern commercial bodies and IN
ciyidual business institutions inter-
csted in southern progress, designed
10 act as central body doing for
thc scuth what local chan Der Of
commerce does for It's community
With delegates present from every
Southern State the sixth annual con
ycntlcn CT the Southern Commercial
congress began at O'Clock for five
dav session. Welcoming addresses
ana forral review of the year by
United States Senator Duncan I 1
Fletcher. or Florida president of the
congress marked the opening session
Senator Fletcher called attention to
stAe fact that this was the first meet
ing of the congress across the Mis-
sissippi,9 the previous conventions
having been at Washington (twi-e,)
Atlanta, Nashville and Mobile.
"In these days of rapidly moving
events, quick CHANGING circumstance
when new conditions are arising, big
things are happening" said the SEN
ator, "it IS well to meet in this new
state to consider new questions as
cuss with the people new problems
which must be solved.
1--WE must take our eyes off the past
and turn them to the future. While
we are the heirs of the ages when
have gone before, and while the ex-
incidence. the wisdom. the sacrifice, the
toll, the courage and enterprise OF the
mast have brought us to the present.
we cannot subsist on what has
before. but, utilizing it in creative ef-
fort in the present, we must likewise
realize our responsibilities in respect
to that approaching future
Speaking of the European war he
said: This unparalleled upheavel
and worldwide CONFEDERATION. directly
involving 4 continents must newt
ably mean serious and Injurious con
seouences to rs. All nations are now
more or less ter-dependent. No
country ean long prosper isolated and
alone. Communication promotes ana
(Contlnued on Fase Two)