The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-06-02
A GREAT CONFERENCE.
REPRESENTATIVES OF ALL The
AMERICAS TO MEET IN OCTOBER.
The Proposition First Suggested by james
q. Blaine During Garfsid's Administfa~
tlon-Thc Representatives Of the United
States IN the Conference.
lsnecial Correspondence

Especial Correspondence
WASHINGTON, May Boy long odds
the most important convention OF the
wear is that which will meet in this city
next October. II is called the American
States conference. and is TO be attended
only ly the states of the three Americas
North, Central and South America
The plan had its origin with the pres
cnt secretary Of state, who attempted 20
put it into execution while he was sec
retary under President Garfield; hut II
failed at that time owing to the death
of the president and consequent dissolI'
ton Of his cabinet. and also on account
of the difficulties then existing between
Chill and Peru and Mexico and Guate-
mala Now Secretary Blaine revives the
scheme with very good prospects OF sue
cess. Naturally, the United States takes
the ieadin,<place in this continental con-
ference. for it is by far the most pow
erful and important nation Interested
Under the invitations the following
work is prescribed for the conference;
First-Measures that shall tend to pro
serve and promote the prosperity oil the
several American states.
Second Measures toward the forma-
ton of an American customs union, I'M
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-Thc establishment Of n uni
form system OF customs regulations in
each Of the independent American states,
to govern the mode of importation and
expectation of merchandise and port
dues and Charge. uniform method OF
determining the classification and valua-
ton of such merchandise in the ports Of
each country. and uniform system OF
invoices, and the subject Of the santa
ton of ships and quarantine.
Finh-Ihc adoption Of 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-Tho adoption Of a common sill
yer coin. to be issued by EACH govern
mont. the same TO be legal tender in all
commercial transactions between the cit
liens of all the American states.
Sevcnth-An agreement upon and rec
ommendation for adoption to their re-
spectiye 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.
Eiehth-And TO consider such other
subjects relating to the welfare Of the
several states represented rs may be pre-
scented by any of said states which arc
hereby invited to participate in said con.
ference.
Though the delegates have held no
meeting, and have received no instruc-
tons, by common consent John b. Hen
dcrson, Of Missouri, is already looked
upon as the chairman Of the american
commission. Gen. Henderson is a man
of great ability and force. y native OF
Virginia, lac was before the war q Doug
las Democrat. and in the war espoused
the Union cause and did good service in
the field. lie was in tho United States
senate from Missouri from 1868 to 1869,
and it was there, during the Andrew
johnson impeachment trial, that he first
demonstrated the positive character OF
his convictions and his tenacity and
courage Of purpose. So close was the
struggle in the senate that it was known
one or two votes would in all probability
turn the scale for or against the limo
cence or guilt Of Johnson, and the great
est pressure was brought to bear upon
Henderson, who was supposed TO be
friendly 10 the president, 10 induce him
TO change his vote.
He was doluged with letters and tele
grams from his state, public mecting'
were held to ask him by resolution &c
turn against the unpopular Johnson, and
he was even threatened with political
ruin But it was all in vain. Gen. Hen
dcrson could not be turned from his pur
pose. and voted with Trumbull, Fes
sender. Grimes and other Republicans
and thus saved the president from th,
disgrace of impeachment This dis
play of moral courage cost Gen. Hen
dcrson his scat in the senate, for at the
next election he was displaced by Car
Schurz. Gen Henderson is very wealthy
having for a number Of years enjoyed
the most remunerative law practice in
the city of st. Louis
Andrew Carnegie. the Pittshurg iron
and steel millionaire. is ono OF the best
known members Of the commission
Carnegie is a Scoichman. and has th,
shrewd mind and well poised judgment
characteristic OF the mattress Of the Bon
ME land. lie was put on the commits
sion because of his thorough familiarity
with the commerce Of the world, anO
more especially with the iron and stee
interests. On recommending Carnegie
to the president for this honor Secretary
Blaine remarked that the conference
was likely to resemble q game Of check
ors. and he knew Carnegie was n good
checker player, for he had tried him Il
his sorrow. 1t is a fact that Carnegie
owes his rise in the world to game OF
draughts.
His father was n joarneyman potter
in Pittsburg, and being fond Of check.
ers, rs most Scotchmen are. often joined
in the games at a well known ale house.
There he met David Brooks, a railway
manager, and happening to speak one
day OF his son Andrew, and to express
The wish that he had some work foI
him, Brooks told Carnegie he would
take the boy into his Office as a messen.
ger The yoansster went TO work the
ne,a day at So week, learned to manip-
ulate the telegraph KEYS. attracted the
attention of Tom Scott. and was soon
put in the way OF developing into a
millionaire, an opportunity which he
lost no time in graspinc
The diplomat Of the delegation, who
may be relied upon to look out for the
interests OF this country in all matters