Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-12-09
LEADERS IN SOUTH /
CONFER ON TRADE.
Speaker Clark Is Confident,
He Says, President Will
Uphold Sea Freedom.
Meeting AT BALTIMORE
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
BALTIMORE, December 9.-The
"world trade after the world war" Is
the theme of the tenth annual con-
vention of the Southern Commerclai
Congress, which assembled here To-Day
for q weeks session. The question
of the changed outlook, of readjust-
ment and of international reconstruct
ton brought about by the great con-
fiict will be discussed by men dis
tinguished in the business and pro-
fessional life of the nation. Develop
ment of trade with South and Central
America will be given special con-
sideration.
Delegates from virtually every
southern state were present when the
convention was opened this forenoon
with an invocation by Cardinal Glib
bons and address of welcome by GOV.
Emerson C. Harrington, on behalf OF
the state of Maryland, and Mayor
James H. Preston. who extended Bal
timore's greeting to the visitors.
Judge Robert w.sBingham, president
of the congress, responded.
Speaker Champ Clark of the House
of Representatives was announced to
deliver the annual address.
Freedom of the Seas.
Americas future prosperity rests in
large measure on the increase OF It's
foreign trade, Speaker Champ Clark
of the House of Representatives said
in an address at the opening or the
convention.
.aThe one problem resulting from the
war with which the Southern Com
mercial Congress is most concerned
is what arrangement Will be mace
touching the freedom Of the seas,
said Speaker Clark. when but
handful, for the freedom of the seas,
on earth. Last year and this. we
fought the central powers for the
freedom of the seas, for. after all Is
said and done, that is the chief reason
why we participated in the war.
Has Faith in the President.
1--WE can depend on President Wilson
to secure freedom of the seas at the
congress at Versailles. In that con-
nection the principal question with
which this commercial congress should
wrestle is how to increase our foreign
trade, for upon that rests In large
measure the future prosperity OF tols
republic"
The immense merchant marine built
I'D during the war should be main
tanned forever, Mr.. Clark declared.
and added that the only way to do 1T
"is to modernize our navigation laws,
make our seamen the most efficient
and above all things. increase our
foreign trade"
1--WE have no time to lose in the
preparation for the trade war which
comes simultaneously with peace.
warned Speaker Clark in concluding.
Great Britain and France have been
busily and scientifically preparing for
it even within the sound of the roar
of the great guns"
This Evenings Speakers.
This evening the League to Enforce
Peace will meet. Former President
Taft will speak on 1.-The Moral Value
of a League of Nations; Oscar S.
Straus on winning the War for a
Reconstructed Worldw; DR.; Nichoias
Murray Butler on THE Things for
Which We Fight. and Edward FIlene
OPTIMISM At the allied war expo
sition at the armory in connection
with the convention are exhibited
many trophies and relics from the
battlef1elds of Europe.
Clergymen Of nearly every denomi-
nation in Baltimore devoted their SER
mons yesterday to the theme World
Peace Based on Justice and Human
ity." in compliance with the sugges-
ton of the program committee of the
The Woman's Auxiliary of the
Southern Commercial Congress also
met here .'Woman's Part in Interna-
tional Construction" was the topic
under discussion.