Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-01-29
COOLIDGE SPEAKS
ASHONOR GUEST At
TARIFF CONGRESS
America First" and Inter
est of Southern Farmers
Discussed by Vice Presi-
dent-Elect


of the United States, told a capacity
audience at the Baptist Tabernacle
Thursday night that the incoming
Harding administration will be q
staunch friend of the south ana
deeply interested in its welfare and
prosperity.
He pledged the administration
whole-hearted cooperation and AID
to southern farmers, and those. en-
gagged in other lines OF INDUSTRY
promised policy Of equal protectlon
to manufacturers and producers OF
raw materials, and made it plain
that america first will be the ab1d-
ing policy of the administration.
Governor Coolidge was given
rousing reception as he entered the
platform with Governor augn M:
DORSEY, Governor John M. Parker OF
Louisiana; Dr. M. Ashby Jones, Ma
jor B. M. Bailey, of the army recruit
ing service; Congressman w. ~: Up
shaw and officials OF the southern
Tariff Congress-, whose annual 1aia Ses-
sion here brought the next vice pres
ident to Atlanta.
Governor Parker introduced Gov
erner Coolidge. 1T has, been my
honor in the past" said he, TO IN
troduce three great rsa, men W "
Wilson, William H. Taft and Theo-
dore Roosevelt; and now L want TO
present to you another great Amer
ican-a man whom l know personsai-
ly and who, in his duties as vice
president, is going to be one OF the
best friends the south ever had"
Governor Coolidge opened his ad-
dress with a nunequlvocal assertion
of America first, in all AFFAIRS
whether political, commercial OF III
1--WE have not been given man
date of omnipotence," said he, but
| we have been entrusted with Worlo
sponsorship. But above all, we nave
an inheritance of obligation, respon-
sibility and of duty to the Onlteo
4 States"
John H. Kirby, president OF the
Southern Tariff Congress, In ms ao-
dress Thursday morning at the open
ing session of the congress, held IN
Taft hall, replied to the charge that
tba congress is a Republican pro-
teetive tariff propaganda.
1T has frequently been asserted,
said Mr.. Kirby, that the soutn t;a
Tariff Congress- is an organization
! 1ormer for the purpose OF advocat-
ing a high protective tariff 1t also
has been asserted that the Repup-
can party is manipulating the Or
..Snlzation behind the scenes. Mum,
i.efs of my own friends have told
~. mar fought not to criticize the
t..r.ff policies of the Democratic
party.
lions; are entirely untrue. -EAey are
gs result of nisinformat1on Ins
oI1thern Tariff congress is not al
letting a Democratic tariff as sucn
- Republican tariff as such. lts
/ ,Dject is to obtain just ana equildpis
consideration of the Industrial anu
business interests of the south IN
vhateyer tariff may be written
,,hether that tariff be written &C
: cording to Republican theory OF
4 protection or written accoroing 20
the Democratic theory OF a tarlll
eve contend that it is ruinous to
She south to sci it's products IN an
open market in competition WIN lne
PRODUCTS of foreign countries admit.
ted free, and then turn around anu
Inv our supplies and equipment IN
a nrotected market where foreign
competition has been driven out.
we contend, for example, lnat
shrinkage of $S5O,0oO.Ooo IN the me- tat siT
,nonths is the direct result or the
tres Importation of vegetable Gus
rom the Orient, made by pauper "a
I,or under the most unsanltary "oih
ing conditions, - noanut-
prowine industry is in the same
ss;+J,ation for the same reason. we
contend that our cattle industry > oui
wool industry. our lumber lnoustly
o,,, sugar industry, our rice lndus-
o tr1, ana ALI of our other industries,
engaged in the production of raw
material are entitled to and musI
receive the same relative degree OF
protection from foreign competitloaa
that is given to the manufactures
nroducts of industries in the north
end in the east.
'-n0 " 100 delegates Present
"These are our contentious anu
this Is our pol1ey fion IN a an sense
We are not interested in Republican
"A theories of tariff, or Democratic
theories of tariff. but we are v1talc
~ interested in the protection OF
south today. condition of almost
uniyesal distress which may be
largely. If not entirely. attributed to
the fact that certain industries, agri-
cultural and otherwise. have not
our tariff"
At the close of Mr.. Kirby's re-
marks Governor Calvin Coolidge, Of
Massachusetts,, vice president-elect
hall in the company of Colonel Wal
ter P Andrews and other members
of the Atlanta reception committee.
Governor Coolidge was given a
prolonged ovation. The delegates all
rose in his honor, and he was escort
ed to a place on the PLATFORM. Mr..
Kirby requested him to make a
speech, but Governor Coolidge de-
ciined with the explanation that ms
speech was to be made THURSDAY
that. one speech today would be
enough for him. He did. however
pause to remark that during the
incoming administration. Of which
he is to be part, every effort VIII
be made to study and to solve the
problems of the south. This state
ment brought forth another round
of applause.
The opening session in Taft hall
Thursday morning at 10 o'clock was
which was very much smaller than
those in charge of the arrangerasntn
had expected and predicted. The gen
eral statement hae been made tSas
least 1900 business men and manu-
facturers from all parts Of the
south. Taft hall was not heated and
the delegates were shivering with
cold and most of them sat through
the session with their overcoats On.
James L. Mayson. city attorney
of Atlanta. speaking in the place of
Mayor Key, extended the visitors a
most cordial welcome and expressed
the hope that the congress would
81 ACCOMPLISH practical results IoF the
benefit of the south. Robert B.
Troutman. vice president of the
chamber of commerce, speaking for
the president, Lee Ashcraft, also ex-
tended the visitors a very cordial
welcome. In the absence of N. A.
Shaw, of Texas. who was on the
program to respond, the response
was delivered by John M. Kirby,
president of the congress. Mr..
Kirby presided throughout the morn
ing session instead of Governor Dor
sey, of Georgia. who was on the pro-
gram to preside. but who was un-
able to be present.