The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-31
State Should Bestir Itself, He Says, in the Era of Unbounded Opportunity Which Is Facing It
MUST DEVELOP OUR
 NATURAL RESOURCES
 TO HOLD OUR OWN
State Afflicted With Too Much Tradition, Resigna- ton, Indifference and In- efficiency, He Says

University, May Especial )-W P. G. Harding laid aside the veil oi perfunctory oratory and faced his au- dience with a statement of rather un- pleasant but wholesome and far reaching facts in his address before the university alumni here this morn ing. The noted banker gave commer- cial and industrial conditions in the south searching analysis, and laid bare the fact that this section, rich as it is in natural resources, is tagging behind the other sections of the union in lines of commercial endeavor. Tn the south as rule, MT. Harding stated economics are neither scientific nor po- tentially efficient, but it's vast re- sources are subjected to a waste which is keeping from the reach of its cit izens the prosperity which is inher- ently theirs.
 "There has been too much talk
 about the wonderful natural re-
 sources of the south,' declared the
 speaker. "The time has come to
 act. Let's get together. Let's do
 something big. Other states are
 forging ahead. Even the arid re-
 gions of the union, where prosper
 ity has resulted from sheer en-
 deavor. surpass us in scientific
 achievement. By intelligent coop
 eration, by untiring effort and by
 increased efficiency, we can make
 the state of Alabama a great and
 pros, jerous one. If we could take
 the map of the state of Alabama
 and, beginning with the northern
 boundary. write across it the sim
 gle word, efficiency unlimited pro-
 gress and prosperity would be
 ours.
 PROUD OF TRADITIONS
 We of the south are justly
 proud of our traditions, but there
 is such thing as being afflicted
 by our traditions unless we find r in them an inspiration. We must
 awaken to the call of the present
 We must advance if we expect to achieve. The word Alabama ac- cording to tradition, signifies, Here
 we rest Let us not allow this say HE lO Dc SO lIdHSld tCo cS lo ihCoiit Here we do not work or Here we
 take our ease Let us rather so
 construe it to mean here we re- main. Let us make of our state section so prosperous that we may say, Hence we will not go; here we will remain"
 Mir Harding touched upon national preparedness during the course of his address, warmly indorsing President Wilson, who he termed as the man whose unfaltering judgment had pre- served stainless the honor and integ- rity of this country. Civil prepared ness, he declared was at the present moment just as important as military preparedness. MT. Harding reviewed the financial situation at the begin ming of the war and pointed out the carly financial depression which has been followed by an era of prosperity. The south, he said, has not shared full ly in the country's prosperity, because advantage of the opportunity offered by the world war.
 MOMENTOUS ERA
 After the war, the speaker predict cd, there will enter momentous com mercial era. Changes, he declared, would come which would effect 4 the commerce of the entire world agd if the south and Alabama eXpectSd to take a share in the change forts must be made to be prepared " see that change.
 The administration merchant marine bill and the rural credits bill were warmly praised by the speaker. The former measure. he said. would be of
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