The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-16
URGES NATIONS BIG MEN
 TO LOOK TO THE SOUTH

90 per cent of it's iron and steel to be dependent upon one ore supply so cas- fly captured or shut off. It is not
 to be supposed for moment that the people of this country will permit such a condition to last much longer. Until the Manufacturers Record pre- scented this view of the situation a few months ago, it seems never to have occurred to the business men of the country, nor to government officials. It has now come upon all with start ling clearness, and the Manufacturers Record knows full we'll that the high est officials, as we'll as the foremost capitalists and iron and steel men of the country, regard the situation with very grave concern. This great coun- try, with its 100,OO0,0O0 people, is not going to carry all of it's preparedness eggs in one basket and that basket within reach of a stone from an enemy. You represent the billions invested in railroads as well as the billions in iron and steel. Of what value would the railroads be to the investors or to the country If the iron and steel which are essential in their make up should be cut off?
 You recognize full well that these statements are incontrovertible facts. You recognize that they are of such q character as to cause you and the government grave concern.
 , What are you going to do about the matter?
 In the south and southwest there are almost limitless stores of iron ore and coal which furnish foundation for the profitable operation of great iron and steel industry. The utilization of these
 ores in this way would strengthen the preparedness programme of the coun- try, give the only possible insurance that you can find at any ocst for the billions that you now have staked in iron and steel and in railroads, and thus combine profitable operation for
 the money invested in these new in- terests and insurance for existing in- vestments.
 Let no man for a moment imagine that in this campaign the Manufactu- rers Record is moved by selfish mo- tives for southern development, seek ing only to awaken attention to the unutilized riches of that section. The Manufacturers Record is not actuated by a motive so narrow. If there is any other way in which the things for which the Manufacturers Record Is fighting in this preparedness campaign can be secured to better advantage than through the development of iron ores of the south and southwest, then we shall heartily welcome any facts that can be given on that point and enthusiastically commend them to the nations attention.
 This subject is too broad for selfish or sectional influences to be consid- ered
 If the position that the Manufactu- : rers Record has taken be correct, then there is no other way under the sun by which national preparedness" or l national insuredness" can be obtained other than that which we have out l lined. If this be the case. then every ! man who fails to take an interest in | this great situation. and by cooper i ating in spirit at least if not in money, | is recreant to his responsibility as a l citizen of this country.
 I In studying this matter, even from the viewpoint of benefit to the south
 and southwest. it should be borne in mind that the south is the nation S | greatest undeveloped asset that it of fers the only possible solution of this
 l the coast line of the country; that ii
 1 cotton for the worlds spindles as well
 as the worlds explosives; that it's de,
 velopment means the enrichment ot
 every other section, and that like 2
 | great insurance company, it holds 1T
 it's hand a policy which, if you an6
 the nation jointly will accept. will give
 you the only insurance against possi
 ble overwhelming disaster that is pos
 sible to be found.
 Tn great work of this kind each in
 dividual is too much inclined to say
 that he is busy with his own rlans and