Omaha daily bee., 1883-06-01
FREE TRADE.
A Boom for the Old World at the Ex-
penee OF the New.
Special Dispatch TO Tus BSs.

Special Dispatch TO Tus BSs.
DETROIT, May 81 The free trade
conference met hero to-day. The
committee on permanent organization
reported the following officers, who
were elected: President, Hon. David
A. Wells of Connecticut; vice presi
dents, Wan. III. Springer of Illinois,
VIM. Ii. Smith of Iowa, Austin II.
Brown of Indiana, Charles Francis
Adams, Jr., Of Massachusetts,, Ulysses
Tanner of Minnesota, Willard Parker
of Michigan, K G. Taylor of Missouri,
j. Sterling Morton of Nebraska, Ed.
ward nj. Sheppard of New York,
Frank Ii. Hurd of Ohio, Jas. N. Be.
thune of Virginia, and N. O. Freder.
ickson of Wisconsin,; secretaries, G.
+. Russell of Iowa, and JAS. Fl. Nc.
Donald of Michigan.
President Wells, upon taking the
chair, said the meeting was one of the
most remarkable in any sense held
since the close of the war. Men had
come together to affirm the right to
sell aud buy without restriction. He
referred to the depression of business
throughout the country and the prevs.
lenee of labor strikes, and said that
before long the pressure of events will
compel an answer to the question, why
In this land of plenty and good living
there ives such stagnation and dis.
tress2 1t was only question of time
when the element of liberty involved
In this free trade question should as.
sert itself.
A letter of regret from Charles
Francis Adams, ir., was read. Adams
favored the reduction of revenues to
what was necessary In time of peace.
In making this reduction, protect
manufacturers by removing tho tax or
raw materials, put coal, ores and WOO
on the free list; do not tax tools,
books, machinery; extend the free list
so that manufacturers will bs in posi-
tion to contend with manufacturers oi
other lands In the open markets OF
the world. Do not tax food, medi.
cipes, art.
Perry Belmont in his letter, favor
ed keeping up the tariff discussion In
advance of the presidential election,
1t WAS impossible to tell how far the
fleets of the last tariff bill might com,
pei new legislation by congress, but
from all appearances commercial in
terests would bear testimony before
the end Of the coming session to The
necessity of further corrective legisls
tion. The house should assemble mex
winter prepared to form whatever leg
islstive dutien might arise la regard tC
the tariff. No member of the house
democrat or republican, could, even !
he wisfcd, escfpe tAis msaifass ofi ia
duty.
A long discussion ensued over the
question of organization, originating
in the motion of FL. j. Philpott, o
Iowa, that q committee of one from
each state represented be appointed tt
organize plan of systematic work II
the interest of free trade. The east
ern members generally opposed thi
on the ground that the American fret
trade league now In existence WA
sufficient for the purpose aimed at b,
Phi!pott's proposition. Finally th,
following committee on organization
WAS appointed: Phllpott, Goo. F
Peabody, New York; w. G Brown
lee, Mich; A. A. Healcy, Brooklyn
@. E Ferguson, Indiana.
On motion meeting was appointed
to prepare an address to the people
of the United States as foliows: Thos
G. Shearman, New York; A. P.
Flshback, Indiana; K. A. Eddy
Michigan; w. R. Smith, Iowa; K. A
Shepherd, New York, @. l. Taylor
Iowa; r R. Bowker, New York. Tb,
conference then took q recess.
At the evening session the oper
house was well filed, many ladies b.
ing present. Vice President Springer
presided and introduced D. A. Wells
who made speech of two hour
length.