The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-09-25
CONVENTION PLANS
IN TANGIBLE FORM
arrangements for Southern CONNER
cAal Congress Are Nearing
Completion.

NoF1oih. VW-s fept. ZAs-AardIy
more than six weeks remains before
the opening session of the Southern
Commercial Congress- With plans al
ready In tangible form, every indi-
convention ever held in this section.
Never before have 30 many speak
ers OF such prominence as those who
will participate IN the Congress been
gathered in tho South at one time.
Men from every part OF the world.
prominent in all walks of life and
recognized as the foremost minds OF
the day, have accepted Invitations to
address the convention.
One of the chief topics to be dis
cussed will relate to the many phases
of International reconstruction, a
topic that Is of particular interest and
importance at this time, when al
most half Of the world In locked in
war.
Cosmopolitan Spirit.
| The Democratic and Cosmopolitan
spirit of the Norfolk convention could
| hardly be better indicated, say men
who are interested In arranging for
the meetings. than by the men from
different countries and from different
professions who will exchange views
on this all important topic Honor
able r. X. Wellington Koo. plenipo-
tertiary extraordinary from China to
tho United States. promises to be one
of the lost interesting speakers, COM
ing az he does from a country that
has been on the verge of an open
clash with hs closest neighbor since
the outbreak of the European war.
Practically every member of Presi-
dent Wilson's cabinet has sent a
definite acceptance Those who have
not yet been heard from are expected
to announce before another week
passes that they will be among the
speakers. The President himself will
probably be the chief speaker Of the
convention.
Practically every important southern
city and town will send delegates to
represent their communities At the
Congress. Many of them have already
mailed TO headquarters lists Of the
men who will appear in their interest
Before another week passes. It Is prob
able that these delegates will number
several hundred. Two or three COM
cahy every day for the past two
weeks
Plans for the entertainment of the
visiting speakers and delegates are be-
ing whipped into shape. Before the
first of the month only the finishing
touches wifi remain.
DIR. Clarence ]. Owens dtreotor-gsn-
eral of the Congress. is expected to be
in Norfolk the first part OF the week
for conference with various commit
tees handling details of tho work in
Norfolk. ---
Partial List of speaEsru
partial list OF the most promine mt
speakers who have sent positive ac-
oeptance. follows:
Hon. wellington Koo. minister from
China to the United States.
Phineas varnum Stephens. New
York city.
DR.. Glen Levin swfssett. former d.
rector OF the Romance Language de-
partment of the University Of Tennes-
see.
John Shelton williams. comptroller
OF the currency.
l. e. Johnson, president Norfolk and
Western Railway Company.
Hon John Barrett. director general
Pan American Union
DR.. f. e. Pratt. chief Of the Bureau
OF Foreign and Domestic Commerce OF
the United States Department of Com
nerce.
Hon. Robert L. Owen. United States |
Senator from Oklahoma.
Hon. Henry c. Stuart Governor Of
Virginia.
Hon. w. P. q. Harding chairman Of
the Federal Reserve Board
Hon. Romulo g Moan Ambassador |
extraordinary and plenipotentiary from |
Argentina.
Hon. David s. Rose. former Mayor OF |
Milwaukee. now general counsel Of the |
Chinese American Products Exchanre
Company.
Hon William Jennings Bryan for
mer Secretary Of State.
Hon. Locke Craig Governor of North
Carolina
Hon Theodore @. Bilbo. Governor sf |
Mississippi.
Hon. Robert Lansing. Secretary Of !,
State.
Hon. III. de Freyrs, Peruvian MINIS II
ter to the United States.
Hon. Duncan Y. Fletcher Senator
from Florida
Hon. Woodrow Wilson. President Of II
the United States. acceptance pend
ing) =