Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-10-16
GREATER NATION THROUGH
GREATER SOUTH, SLOGAN
Southern Commercial Con-
greSS Opening Marked by
Brilliant Speech
By RALPH SMITH.

/
annual convention of the Southern Com
mercial congress. which convened at the
Hotel Astor this morning. The dele
gates OF sixteen southern states are
here assembled 10 cooperate for a
greater nation through a greater south"
/ The convention Is marked by the char
acter of the attending delegates. They
are among the most representative body
of southerners ever assembled under
one roof. and all are bent upon the same
object-the development of the south
: ern states.
Just as the annual reunion OF the
/ Confederate veterans in the capital OF
/ the nation marked a new epoch I'm the
history OF the nation. the assembling here
! I'm New York. OF the Southern CONNER
cial congress carries further signifi-
canoe that the American people are
again united.
Senator Duncan L. Fletcher's speech,
as president OF the congress, in re-
spending to the addresses of welcome on
/ the part of the governor of New York
and the mayor OF New York. was pitch
ed along patriotic lines. He pictured
/ the American nation as i'm the position
OF commercial supremacy of the world
that will always endure--a position. he
argued, that means America will stand
in the forefront for everlasting peace,
when the bloody war is over, because
commerce speaks only the language OF
peace.
The senator's speech follows:
SCOPE OF WORK
MR. Chairman: The generous greet
| ings just expressed are greatly appre-
ciated by the Southern Commercial con-
gress. Frankly. however, we were quite
prepared to be received with cordiality
and in that hospitable spirit characteris-
tic OF this great cosmopolitan city.
Coming fresh from the sixteen
southern states we find many friends
who have preceded us and who have
found permanent places in the political.
business and social life of this marvel
Gus city.
The enterprising committee. compos-
ed of your foremost citizens, have ex-
hibited an interest and sympathy in our
purposes and work, which assured us
you would extend your hearty good will
and valued cooperation.
! Zone of the afflrmations Of the South
ern Commercial congress pronounces for
the development of rivers and harbors Of
the country.
One of the things we stand for is in
creased transportation facilities to the
end that commerce may be unhindered.
You are recognized as the chief COM
mercial city of the United States. This
port has ranked first in the western
hemisphere in foreign trade. That was
true even when our products and COM
modities were carried by our competitors
overseas.
I'VE propose now to have an Amer
lean merchant marine, flying our flag,
carrying our goods to the ports of chris
tendon, and bringing to us the products
of other countries to supply our needs.
The time has passed when we will
h
ing dependent on competing merchants
for the delivery of his goods.
THAT means that New York will be-
come the chief focusing point of the
worlds routes Of trade.
your status has been that Of the
financial center of this country. When
ever an important undertaking needed
to be financed eyes were turn to you.
Wall street became a synonym for H.
nancial power-feared by some, respect
ed by many, undoubted by any. To-
day you are the worlds bankers. Hence
forth you will take your place as the
financial center of the western world
and the American dollar will speak in
every tongue.
RIGHT WILL PREVAIL.
You have been the power house where
the nations energies were largely gen
Grated: from now on you will transmit
that force across the seas to influence
human activity around the globe. Di-
recting forces originating here will be
felt in every land.
After a while order will come out
of chaos. law will supersede despotism,
force will go down before right, military
castles and dynasties will come to their
senses. individual liberty and national
freedom will be advanced, peace, as
sured and righteous peace, will come to
war-blighted world.
This is a commercial city. Peace
lasts longer than war. The supremacy
of the future will not rest upon the
largest army or the greatest navy, out
on commerce, which speaks the language
of peace.
THAT nation. in the coming years
which produces the things il needs, and
to which other nations must come for
the things they need or go hungry and
unclothed, will be in the position of SUI
preme power
where is that nation but America?
where is the port that can accom-
MEDIATE the world trade like New York?
The invitation extended by your
governor. mayor and chamber of COM
merce we were proud to accept
The vision Of the congress is ex-
pressed through its slogan. "A Greater
Nation Through a Greater South I'M
pressed by the TACT that gross mis-
representations regarding conditions in
that region of our common country
called the south had been extensively
disseminated, that misinformation and
lack Of information concerning the nat
ural resources to be found there and
about the social, political and education
al conditions as they actually exist
were widespread. the Southern CONNER
cial congress undertook TO correct these
things, as far as possible. in the inter-
est OF truth and by way OF public serv-
i've.
Its activities. however. have not been
confined to that work. or limited to the
south.
HAS BLAZED THE WAY.
"Its greatest achievements have been
nationwide in scope.
"It has blazed the way for construc-
tive work of far-reaching Importance to
the whole country. some of which has
been accomplished.
1T aims TO put forward ideas. TO ad-
vance ideals. which constitute the basis
for sound and certain progress.
not Of patriotism runs through the I'd
I'm the interchange of views at the
annual conventions We come TO see more
clearly what is the correct solution of
problems around US and catch a vision of
what lies ahead.
"Old world order received its death