Evening star., 1916-12-11
TRADE PROBLEMS
UNDER DISCUSSION
Southern Commercial Con-
gress to Consider Interna-
tionaI Reconstruction.
PROMINENT MEN TO SPEAK
By the Associated Press.

lFnUWlVcN ] WEN ~ STcHN
BY the Associated Press.
| NORFOLK, Va. December 1.-THE
Southern Commercial Congress began
its eighth annual convention here to-
day with what officials said was the
largest attendance in its history. This
unusual outpouring of representative
men from not only the sixteen southern
commemorative which the congress
embraces. but from many other states
as well. was attributed to the i'm
portance which generally is attached
to the subject selected for discussion
international reconstruction.
Organizations which have been called
to meet with the congress include the
House of Southern Governors. the
southern Cotton Congress, the Organi
cation of Southern Commercial Secre-
| tarieS. the Women'S Auxiliary of the
i Southern Commercial Congress- the Ma
| tional Association of Commerce of
Agriculture. the American comm ion
| on agricultural organization, confer
| ence on agricultural immigration and
labor called by Secretary of Labor
Wilson. and conference on commercial
! education in relation to foreign and
| domestic commerce.
Meeting of Changed Conditions.
! In calling the convention to order
| this. morning Senator Fletcher of
| Florida. president of the congress, out
| lined some of the steps which have
been taken in this country to meet the
changed world conditions after the
European war ends. and other speakers
today laid stress On not only what has
been done. but what must be done if
the United States is to play its full
i part in the rebuilding of Europe and
the rearranging of the commerce of
the world.
Senator Fletcher told the congress
that the federal farm loan act and the
laws to prevent rate discrimination,
blacklisting and the dumping of cheap
foreign products in this country would
aid planters and manufacturers during
the period of reconstruction. He also
| asserted that the shipping and Webb
bills before Congress would be i'm
portant factors. the one providing ships
to carry commerce and the other per-
mitting American exporters to, combine
to secure trade.
! The senator urged that the country
Immediately turn its attention to es-
tablishing fuller business relations with
, the nations greatest opportunity now
was in the Latin American countries
and China.
The opening session today was partly
given over to welcoming exercises. the
delegates being greeted by Gov Stuart
|of Virginia and Mayor Wyndham r.
Mayo Of Norfolk. Dr. Clarence J.
owens, director general of the congress,
responded. Other speakers at todayss
sessions were to be John Barrett,
director general of the Pen-American
Union: the controller of the currency.
John Skelton Williams; Gov. o'Neil Of
Alabama: Senators Randell.of Louisiana
and Overman of North Carolina; W. p
6. Harding of the federal reserve board
and Representative Small of North
Carolina.
Should Be Ready When War Ends.
Controller Williams in his address
/ declared that the United States should
prepare itself for defense against all
| ropean war ends to finance and assist
the world literally and help the
stricken nations toward recovery. This
country should realize. he said that
I the enormous and unprecedented wealth
beins accumulated here will tempt the
greed of all foreign governments"
while the maintenance of neutrality
and enforcement of international law
| will arouse the wrath of all com l.
| batants."
| Mr.. Williams said that even if all of
ltne peiigerents continue the suspen-
sion of specie payments after peace is
declared they must continue to trade
/ here on the system of barter and ex-
! change Of commodities because they
will be compelled to have America
products
! Street and Naval Parades.
| A street parade of United States sail
ors and marines. the Virginia Military
| Institute Cadet Corps, Boy Scouts and
| school children was to be held this aft
ernoon, and tonight the House of South
ern Governors will hold its session. with
Gov. Manning OF South Carolina pre-
siding.
! A naval parade in Hampton roads ha :
/ been arranged for Wednesday after
noon when Secretary OF the Navy Dan
| iels is to come here to address the con-
g=ess. Two score Warsfaps. including Z
almost every type from the biggest
/ dreadnaught 10 submarines and neel
! tenders. are anchored in the roadstead
| In Norfolk barDor are mobiliZed the
ships of the coast and geodetic survey,
the bureau OF navigation, the bureau
! Of fisheries and the lighthouse service
/ These vessels include the Roosevelt
! the ship on which Rear Admiral Peary
made his last trip to the arctic.
| Entertainments planned include
visit to the Norfolk navy yard, an oys-
ter roast at Cape Henry, where former
Assistant Secretary of War Henry D.
| Breckinridge will speak tomorrow on
/ interpreting Fort Storey as Part OF
| the Scheme of National Defense" We'd
| inesday evening a dinner will be ten
dered cabinet officials and other guests
of the congress.
| MANY CIVILIANS KILLED
BY FELLOW -COUNTRYMEN
/ BERLIN. December II. by wireless to
Sayville, n Y.-Of the native civilian
population in the French and Belgian
/ districts occupied by the Germans. ten
men, twelve women and seven children
were killed in the month of November
by artillery fire or bombs dropped by