The Golden Age, 1915-04-22

tension of the influence and power of the nation, in fraternity, as well as commerce and finance, with other lands of the Western World and the conti continents - nents continents of the Eastern Hemisphere. The great meetings of Ihe Southern Commercial Congress in Washington and elsewhere have always emphasized the contrast between conditions as they were and conditions as they are. But specifically during the years of 1911 to 1915 it wi 1 emphasize the contrast, in conditions of fifty years ago and those of now. Five Measurable Scenes. The five great meetings in the years mentioned represent five scenes in the great drama of In South's Recovery." The stage is the South; the audience is the nation and the world. Ihe scene in Atlanta, in March, 1911, carried out the idea of "The South s Physical Recovery, the scene in Nashville, in April. 1912, carried out the idea of "The South's Agricultural and Educa Educational - tional Educational Recovery;" the scene in Mobile, in October, 1913, carried out the idea of "The South's Com Commercial - mercial Commercial Recovery, using the 1 anama Canal as a means of defining the increasing importance of the Southern States as related to the commerce of the nation and the world. Ihe scene in Muskogee, Oklahoma, April 26-30, 1915. will portray the whole question: "Agriculture, Immigration, Municipal Ef Efficiency - ficiency Efficiency and Foreign Trade. Such a constructive move, so broad in all its purposes, has never been undertaken for any other portion of the United States, and, indeed such a move is unnecessary for other portions of the United States To make this clear, we state that the division of the United States into North, South, East and West, is indefinite relative to North, East, and West, but definite only relative to the South. When the term "the South" is used it has a defi definite - nite definite significance that has attached itself to it foi generations and which in away, has been the means of establishing a bias regarding the South. The ease with which the word "South" has been used in relation to untoward occurrences, partic particularly - ularly particularly in public print, created the general feeling that the South is a region of strange diseases, of social disorder, of educational backwardness, and whatever other vivid imaginings chose to find lodg lodgment - ment lodgment in the minds of those who knew not and aid not know that they knew not. The Congress docs not deal with South Caro ina as such any more than it deals w th \ irginia as such. It is in the business of setting the facts of "the South" before the nation, expecting that truth will drive out error, that knowledge will supplant misapprehension and that, through truth knowledge, the mind of the nation may be. made to listen to the message of the South and yield to its offerings of opportunity, thus bringing men to cast in their lot with the men already there in working out and building up the great civilization that is predicted upon the marvelous inherent re resources - sources resources of the South. An Influence Irresistible. The Southern Commercial Congress is exercising an influence that is practically irresistib'e for bv avoiding all contact and complications with definite business and by holding fast to the convincing af affirmations - firmations affirmations that are true regarding the South, it has become a fact that no one anywhere could question the accuracy of what was said, nor take (Continued on page 5.)

ern Commercial Congress, the people of Geor Georgia, - gia, Georgia, South Carolina and Alabama where he wrought so valiantly as a young educator, look with peculiar pride on the chivalric leader of this mighty host of patriotic men who are building a greater nation through a greater South. ' ' This brilliant leader is Dr. Clarence Julian Owens, a Georgian by birth, a Carolinian, an Alabamian and a Marylt nder by adoption and an orator and an organizing genius "by the grace of God." Seeing the opportunity when other eyes were dim, and seizing the opportunity and fighting upward in the night when other hearts were faint, Clarence J. Owens has placed the South Southern - ern Southern Commercial Congress on a basis as firm as the resources and the optimism of the South; and while he has been doing this marvelous thing he has touched elbows, measured arms and wrought out mighty problems, not only with the leaders of the nation but the "crowned heads" of the world. No other man in the South has risen so rapidly and few men in the nation have done so much as Clarence J. Owens in so short a time. If he were not so useful and so absolutely indispensable in his present position of constructive statesmanship and patriotism The Golden Age would nomi nominate - nate nominate him here and now for United States Sen Senator - ator Senator from Maryland (which he refused to con consider - sider consider last year), or for the'Vice Presidency on the next Democratic ticket. The laurels belong to the victor, and Clar Clarence - ence Clarence J. Owens has won! In announcing the Muscogee Convention Dr. Owens gives the fol following - lowing following glowing and comprehensive survey of the work and purpose of the Southern Com Commercial - mercial Commercial Congress: Nineteen fifteen marks the semi-centennia: of the close of the titantic struggle when the confed confederation - eration confederation of Southern States for war passed into his history. - tory. history. Following that eventful period the States of the South re-entered the Union and embarked upon a career of restoration and rehabilitation that con constitutes - stitutes constitutes one of the brightest pages in American history. From the desolation of war the men oi

any period of Southern history. To this period be belongs - longs belongs the inception and organization of The South Southern - ern Southern Commercial Congress, a confederation of six sixteen - teen sixteen Southern States in industry, agriculture, edu education, - cation, education, finance, commerce, and all activities, local, state and South-wide, I hat stand for the progress, development and power of the greatest third of the area of the United States. The birth of the Con Congress, - gress, Congress, coming at a period when the South had completely recovered from the physical devastation of war. brought the vision of the restoration of the South to the national life in the potency of leadership in constructive statesmanship. The re resources - sources resources and opportunities of the South are related to every national obligation and opportunity, and even beyond the national life to her international relations as vitally associated with the great move movements - ments movements of the century that have to do with the ex-

the South, with undaunted courage, emerged from the ashes of defeat in war to the full fruition of victory in peace. Year by year steady progress was made. Decade by decade the story of the South, written in actual achievement in agriculture, commerce, finance industry, and education, gives to the world the finest example of concentrated pur purpose, - pose, purpose, based on God-given resources, the proud her heritage - itage heritage of the Southeastern States of America. The past decade marks the greatest forward movement in the march of Southern progress in