Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-01-09
SOUTHERN CONGRESS-
/, JOINS MOVEMENT TO
BOOST SOUTHERN ORES
C o m ere iaI Organization
Pledges WhOIe-Hearted Sup
port to Force Recognition of
Availability and Quality
BIZ RALPH SMITH.

WASHINGTON, Jan 6.-The South
-ern Commercial congress has Joined
hands with the southern senator's and
representatives in the movement to
force recognition by the government of
the quality and availability OF south
ern iron ore for the manufacture of ar
NOR plate Senator Duncan u. Fetch
sr, of Florida, president of the CONNER
cial congress, today committed that or
gznization to the wholehearted support
OF the movement which may result in
the location OF the 81, OO0. 900 armor
plate plant at Rome
The Southern Commercial congress
HRfIl cooperate TO the fullest extent
7 with the congressional delegations of
Georgia, Alabama. Tennessee and Vir-
ginia in forcing recognition by the gov
eminent OF the availability OF southern
iron c-es." said Senator Fletcher. The
importance OF this movement is not to
be underestimate. If I understand the
situation with respect to the govern
ment armOr plant The last vestige of
doubt end prejudice against our south
ern product must be dispelled before
the naval board enters seriously upon
the work OF selecting a site for the
plant"
It is fortunate for the southern cities
conTssting for the armor plant that
AoAAA1 - AOA a SAAG- nc SAaNC
has TO iron ore and moreover, il is not
sIategieally situated so as to command
consideration This enables Mr.. Fletch-
er. in his capacity as a United States
senator and president Of the Southern
Commercial congress to devote his in
tueHce and energies to a movement that
may prove invaluable to Rome. and
which is certain to inure to the ever
lasting benefit Of the south
Tyv--Wa
Senator Fletcher is an native GeOr-
-gian. and other things OeIng equal once
the availability OF southern ore is rec
ogn'zsd- it is probable he will enlist in
the movement to locate the plant at
Rome he declined today. however, to
commit himself as between the contest
ing southern cities.
PUBLIC DOESN'T KNOW.
For the moment, the big thing is
to. win recognition for our southern
ores" he said. none OF the sOuthera
cities can possibly land the plant I'M
less the government is convinced that
the s nth has as good or better iron
ore than other sections Of the coun-
try. / am aware of the unfortunate
AnsisconseptiOn that prevails among GER
hahn people Who believe that nothing
pod can come out Of the south. We
lust disPcl this misconception. do
Of relieve mat II comes from pEeJuoIce
<ainxt the south. but more from a
misunderstanding as to the qualities OF
lur products and progress
Il know that southern iron ores go
other sections but there are scores
people who do not know this
now for Instance. that ore is now be
shipped from the vicinity of Rome
Pennsy Vania and there manufac-
seSsinto steel. This is not generally
nown. however. and we must make IL
Known. We must create confidence in
our southern ore, and even if we should
lose the armOr plant which think
doubtful. We will have made better
market for our product"
: Senator Fletcher viii enter the con-
ferences with Senators Smith, Hard
wick. Underwood and Shields OF Ten
nessee, and together they will bring
pressure to bear that will prove helpful
n The ~71f.vEmaur-