The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-06-02

The conference then took a recess until p
nj, at which time the committee ON perman
ent organization reported the following off
GERS, who were elected:
Presdent-The Hon. David A. Wells,
of Connecticut. Vice Presidents-Wiil.
lam H. Springer of Illinois; Will
lam H. Smith, of Iewa; Austin
H. Brown, of Indiana; Charles Francis
Adams Jr, of Massachusetts,; Ulysses Tan
ner, of Minnesota; Willard Parker, of Miehi
gan; L G, Taylor, OF Missouri; J. Sterling
Morton, of Nebraska; E. n. Shepperd, of
New York Frank II. Hard of Ohio; james
N Bethune, of Virginia; N. C. Fredefickson,
of Wisconsin. H 80
Secretaries Charles E. Russell, of Iowa,
and James H. MCDONALD, of Michigan.
Mayor Thompson in fitting and we'll
chosen address welcomed the conference to
Detroit, and, as one of the best methods of
giving practical directions to commercial
/ liberty, was in favor of a North American
Zellverein
The president Mr. Wells, then said this
meeting was one of the most remarkable, in
any sense since the close of the war Men
and buy without restrictions, He referred to
the depression of business throughout the
country and prevalence of labor strikes, and
that before long the pressure of events will
compel an answer to the question why, in this
land of plenty and good living, there was
such stagnation and distress. 1t was only
question of time when the element of
| liberty involved in this free trade question
| should assert itself. His views concerning
the tariff would find freer expression before
the conference concluded
| Letters of regret from Charles Francis
| Adams, Jr., of Boston, and Perry Belmont,
| Of New York, were read. Mr. Adams favored
reduction of revenues to what was neces
sary in time Of peace. In making this Teduc
| ton, protect manufacturers by removing the
| tax on raw materials; put coal, ores, and
wool ON the free list do not tax tools, books
or machinery; extend the free list SO that
| manufacturers will be in a position to CON
tend with manufacturers of other lands in the
| open markets of the world; do not tax food,
| medicines, or works of art.
| Mr. Belmont favored keeping up the tariff
| discussion in advance of the presidential cleo
ton. Mir. Belmont said ii was not Only relic!
from the amount of present taxation that was
! needed, bat relief from unjust and discrimi
mating taxes as well.
The afternoon session was entirely taken
4 up in the discussion of the best ways and
means to promote the further extension of
| free trade views, and also to take steps which
will result in the formation of a national free
| trade committee, by and through which all
! the different organizations may act in har-
mony and with better results.
The eastern members generally opposed
| this ON the ground that the American Free
| Trade league now in existence was sufficient
for the purpose aimed at, Finally the follow
ing committee on organization was appointed:
I Philpott of Iowa; George 4. Peabody, Of
| New York; W. q. Brownlee, of Michigan;
| A. A. Healey, of Brooklyn; G. Z. Furguson,
| of Indiana
On motion, a committee was appointed to
prepare an address to the people of the United
States, as follows Thomas G. Sherman of
New York; A. p Fishhack, of Indiana; "A
r. Eddy, of Michigan; W r Smith, of Iowa;
E. A. Shepherd, Of New York; c. L. Taylor,
of Iowa; r. r. Bowker, of New York
This evening David A Wells addressed the
people in the opera house on the free trade
| question, making one of his best and most
| effective speeches
He did not advocate sudden revolution, but
| q gradual reform in the tariff whereby the
| results this conference aims to bring about
would be accomplished TO the advantage of
the people Of this country. A revolution in
| the tariff would defeat the very ends for
which all genuine free traders were now la
boring.
Mr. Wells was followed by Prof Perry,
who gave an interesting account of the
growth of free trade sentiment during recent
years.
| The conference then adjourned.
The Rev. Henry Ward Beecher sends word
shat other engagements prevent his attend
! ance upon abe meeting.
About seventy-fve delegates are in attend,
ance
At to-day'S session there was adopted a
resolution that the free-trade work of this
country he under the direction of the Ameri-
can Free Trade league; that the latter appoint
a national committee of one delegate from
each state league to have a general
direction of the work in his own
state, and be held responsible
therefore; that the executive committee APP
point and have the power to remove mem
Der and appoint one to represent it on the
national committee from each of those states
which have no state league, and that the
national committee appoint general secre-
tary, with headquarters in the city of New
| Work