The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-05-05
Mr.. @. L. HUTOHINSON'S BOARD
OF TRADE ADDRESS.

Mr.. Charles L. Hutchinson, Presi-
dent of the Board of Trade of this city,
and we'll known in our church from his
prominent position in st. Paul's parish,
made an address on last Sunday eve
ming at the weekly Economic Confer
ence of Capitalists and Workingmen on
the question, SIS the Board of Trade
Detrimental to the Community ?"
The address was one of series ar
ranged by Mr.. Salter, of the Ethical
Culture Society, with the object of Sc
curing an exchange of ideas and thus
bringing the capitalists and the wage
workers of the community to better
understanding of their mutual inter-
ests. These addresses are given alter
nately by prominent business men of
our city, and representatives Of the
Labor Unions and the Socialists, and
they are followed by conference or
colloquy, in which allshades of opin-
ion relating to economic questions have
chance to be heard. Thus far these
conferences have been unusually sue
cessful and have attracted large audi
ences each Sunday night to the Madi-
son Street Theater, where they have
been held during the last month.
Mr.. Hutchinson's address was digni-
fed and enlightening production, fair
and candid statement, in good literary
form, and well calculated to reach and
instruct those to whom it was mainly
addressed, those who, on account of
insufficient information or class preju-
dice, regard the great Exchange of
Chicago as opposed to the higher inter-
ests of the community at large. Mr..
Hutchinson repealed the charge with
becoming spirit that the Board of
Trade is made up of body Of gamblers
and spectators, and commended that it
is an organization of merchants for the
legitimate purposes of trade, explain
ing its business methods and attendant
responsibilities in manner to carry
conviction to all fair-minded hearers.
He admitted that dangerous specula-
ton cannot be prevented on Change,
but urged that the institution should
not be condemned for the abuses which
have crept in and drawn reproach upon
it. He defended speculation when
within proper bounds, representing
that it was something which inheres
i'll the very nature of all enterprising
business has thus inhered from the
beginning and will to the end.
In the address, and also in the con-
ference which followed, Mr.. Hutchin-
son presented many arguments show
ing the economic advantage of the
Board of Trade and gave citations
from the rules of the institution to
show that it contemplated only in its
organization the highest form of mer-
camille integrity. The address briefly
discussed the question of capital and
labor, and several points were made of
high moral and humanitarian impor-
lance. 'Undue speculation" said Mr..
Hutchinson, ''is detrimental always.
The effort to get something for moth
ing is contrary to the law of God" He
called upon the rich men of the COM
munity to consider something more
than their material gains, and urged
that wealth be used more widely for
the benefit Of mankind. while men
make their business their religion and
not religion their business" he re-
marked, land live to themselves alone,
there is need of agitation, of thought,
of reform" He thought that just here
1.-THE average business man may learn a
good lesson from the workingman.
The latter has given more time, at
tention, and thought to these social
problems than the former. And many
among them can come out of the shop
and take their place upon the platform
and express their thoughts, intelligent
uhouShUo3 upon oOAhO VI uuCoO fltol
questions of the day in manner that
would put to shame the average bust
ness man.
In regard to the present antagonism
between labor and capital Mr.. Hutch
inson we'll observed that education
forbearanee and patience must be re-
lied upon to solve the problem"
The address was not only vigorous
defense of the Board of Trade, and an
explanation of its rules and methods of
business but also heightened appeal for
wiser and better understanding of the
inevitable relations that exist between
the capitalist and the working man. 1t
cannot fail to do great good, pervaded
as it was by high moral tone, candid
spirit and just appreciation of the
economic perpleXities of the situation.
1t won favor from the miscellaneous
and somewhat hostile audience to which
it was addressed, and rounds of gener-
GUS applause greeted the speaker at the
close. Mr.. Hutchinson was placed in
a difficult situation when, after the ad-
dress, he was called upon to answer
the numerous questions hurled at him
from the audience, but he acquitted
himself in mastery style and came
Al