Telegram-herald., 1889-06-03
GREAT CONFERENCE
Representatives Of All the Americas
20 Meet n October.
| MOST IMPORTANT CONVENTION
The Proposition FiFst Suggested b james
Il Bs4tss DaFtas G@Fn<Iass Adaaisis-
tFatiSa-Abs sPFsssntstisxs OF tis
Iaitsd states Ia the CoafeEsaes.


~ F@''@+eSt->s a-f Wy long sS1ttS
tie most Important convention Of the
yssT Is that which viii meet Ia this city
next October. Ii ID called tie American
States conference. and Is - DC attended
only By tue states ot ths three Americas
North. Central and South America.
Tie plan had rs origin with the pres
ent secretary or state. who attempted q
put u into execution while he was sec
retary under President Garfield. bat IL
failed al that time owing 10 the death
OF the president and consequent disSolu-
ti0n II his cabinet. and also on account
Of the difficulties then existing between
Chill aud Peru and Mexico and Guate-
nala. Now Secretary Blaine revives the
scheme with very good prospects Of sue
cess. Naturally. the United States takes
the leading place IL this continental con-
ference. for IL IS by far the most pow
erfh and important nation Interested.
Under tie Invitations the following
work is prescribed for the conference;
First-Measures that shall tend 10 pre-
serve and promote the prosperity Of the
several American states.
Second-Measures toward the forma-
ton OF an American customs union, un-
der which the trade OF the American
nations with each other shall, SO far as
possible and profitable, be promoted.
Third-The establishment Of regular
and frequent communication between
the ports OF the several American states
and the ports of each other.
Fourth-The establishment of uni
form system Of customs regulations in
each OF the independent American states,
10 govern the mode of importation and
expectation OF merchandise and port
dues and charges, uniform method of
determining the classification and valua-
ton of such merchandise in the ports of
each country, and a uniform system of
invoices, and the subject OF the santa
ton Of ships and quarantine.
Fifth-The adoption Of a uniform sys-
tenn OF weights and measures, and laws
to protect the patent rights, copyrights
and trade marks of citizens of either
country in the other, and for the extra
dition of criminals.
Sixth-The adoption Of a common sill
yer coin, 10 be issued by each govern
ment. the same to be legal tender in all
commercial transactions between the cit
izens of all the American states.
Seventh-An agreement upon and rec
ommendatiOn for adoption TO their re-
spective governments of definite plan
of arbitration OF all questions, disputes
and differences that may now or here
after arise between them, to the end that
all difficulties and disputes between such
nations may be peacefully settled and
wars prevented.
Eighth-And TO consider such other
subjects relating TO the welfare of the
several states represented as may be pre-
sented by any Of said states which are
hereby invited to participate in said con-
ference.
Though the delegates have held no
meeting, and have received no instruc-
tiOns, by common consent John 3. Hen
dersOn, of Missouri, is already looked
upon as the chairman Of the American
commission. Gen. Henderson is a man
of great ability and force. \ native of
las Democrat, and in the war espoused
the Union cause and did good service in
the field. He was in the United States
senate from Missouri from 1868 to 1869,
and it was there, during the Andrew
Johnson impeachment trial, that he first
demonstrated tho positive character Of
his convictions and his tenacity and
courage Of purpose. So close was the
struggle in the senate that il was known
one or two votes would in all probability
turn tho scale for or against the inno-
cence or guilt of Johnson, and the great
est pressure was brought to bear upon
Henderson, who was supposed TO be
friendly to the president, to induce him
TO change his vote.
He was deluged with letters and tele
grams from his state, public meetings
were held to ask him by resolution TO
turn against the unpopular Johnson, and
he was even threatened with political
ruin. But it was all in vain. Gen. Hen
derson could not be turned from his pur
pose. and voted with Trumbull. Fes-
senden, Grimes and other Republicans,
and thus saved the president from the
disgrace Of impeachment. This dis
play of moral courage cost Gen. Hen
derson his seat in the senate, Tor at the
next election he was displaced by Carl
Schurz. Gen. Henderson IS very wealthy,
having for n number Of years enjoyed
the most remunerative law practice in
the city OF st. Louis.
Andrew Carnegie. the Pittsburg iron
and steel millionaire, ia ono Of tho best
known members Of the commission.
Carnegie Is a Scotchman, and has the
shrewd mind and we'll poised judgment
characteristic Of the natives Of tho Bon
ME land He was put on the commis-
sion because Of his thorough familiarity
with the commerce of tho world. and
more especially with the iron and steei
interests On recommending Carnegie
% the president for this honor Secretary
Blaine remarked that the conference
was likely 70 resemble n game u check
srs. and he knew Carnegie was a good
checker player. for be had tried him -
Lis sorrow. Tt il fact that Carnegie
owes his rise In the world TO q game Of
drauEhts.
His father was \ iournevman potter
in Pit,sburE. and being fond of check
OTIS. as most Scotchmen are. often joined
n the games az a well known ale house
There he net David Brooks. railway
manager, and happening 70 speak one
day Of lis son Andrew. aud 70 express
the wish that he had some work for
him. Brooks toll Carnegie he vould
take TIE boy into his of3ce a. a messen-
-ar Tha rnllr r.fer wsnt . rrrk The