Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-02-19
PESSIMISTS MUST
Be PUT To WORK.
SAYS Mr.. DANIELS
Secretary of Navy Tells Com
.merciaI Congress America
viii Send Twenty Million
Men if Needed to Win War

Especial Dispatch to The Journal)
WASHINGTON, Feb. 16.-Secretary
Daniels in his address before the MEM
bers and guests of the Southern Com
meFcial congress at a dinner at the Uni
versity club last night, given in honor
of Senator Duncan u. Fletcher, of Flor
ida, the retiring president of the con-
gress, and Judge Robert w. Bingham,
of Louisville, Ky. the new president,
said:
I'VE have no place in this country for
those exhibiting a pessimistic attitude.
Such men should be put TO stevedoring
under General Pershing.. That will be
the best way for them to regain their
normal attitude toward their country.
The only sentiments we have time for
now are conservation and courage.
America has done more to prepare for
war in six months tina many other ma
tion in the hostiry of the world. We are
taking men who never in their lives
drove a rivet and turning them into
builders of the ships which will trans
port' ten million of our soldiers to
France-nay, twenty million, if neces-
sary, to win this war. We are now
building more torpedo boat destroyers
than any other nation in the world, and
the day will never come again when
American commerce will not be carried
to every port on the seas under the
American flag. {.
"a great deal of this tremendous pro-
gram is due to the foresight and energy
of your retiring president, Senator Dun
can u. Fletcher Had other members
of congress seen the great need of ship
ping as he did, and followed his lead,
the biggest blunder the United States
has made in a decade would not have
happened, and the shipping bill would
have passed two years before. He had
the vision to see that we need a strong
merchant marine"
On his retirement from the presi-
dency of the congress in favor of Judge
Bingham, Senator Fletcher was pre-
scented with a silver loving cup. We'll
coming his successor to the presidency
of the congress, Senator Fletcher re-
viewed the work of the organization,
saying that it has literally united the
north and the south through the unanim-
ity of it's aims and the coordination of
it's efforts.
During my seven years as president
of the congress-" Senator Fletcher said.
81 have seen the commercial develop
ment of the south greatly enhanced. A
large part of this is due to the efforts
of the gentlemen here tonight. We have
accepted opportunities for service which
were suddenly presented and which the
founders never anticipated would arise.
We have reached into foreign lands, and
our literature, name and influence went
with the flag. New energy has come to
the congress, and as one who has shared
for seven years it's burdens and respon-
sibilities, 1 congratulate the officers
and members of the congress upon the
happy choice of Judge Bingham, third
president of the Southern Commercial
congress-" $50 f.-
Judge Bingham pledged the efforts
of the congress unreservedly to winning
the war in his speech accepting the
chair. -.
"It is not the time for fault finding
and criticism" he said. THE obligations
of the hour rather demand affirmative
fidelity to those who are our national
leaders in the contest for humanity
against Teuton autocracy and injustice
The Southern Commercial congress will
study to serve the president of the
United States in every opportunity and
emergency. The treasury department
will receive our support in all it's work.
the department of commerce may expect
our energetic service in the field of for
eign and domestic commerce. We will
cooperate with the department of labor
and with the department of agriculture
in encouraging intensive production OF
foodstuffs for ourselves, our country
and our allies; and the food admins
tration, in it's every department will
have the earnest support of the sixteen
states included in the territory Of the
Southern Commercial congress"
Among the guests at the diner were
members of the presidents cabinet, SEN
ators and congressman, and prominent
business and professional men repre-
senting various organizations through
out the country.