The morning call., 1891-04-15

those questions affecting the agricultural
interests of the country, for the reason that
prosperous AGRICULTURAL c0ld lion VIII li.
sure prosperity in all the other branches oi
industry. lie suggests the subjects oI
transportation" markets" and Federal
and State Statistics" as the pivotical aues-
tions affecting the farmer.
A letter from M. Ii. de Young was read,
regretting his inability to attend. his duties
as Commissioner TO the Columbian Exposl-
ton demanding his presence elsewhere.
Senator Pepper OF Kansas wrote express.
ing the hope that the congress would result
in bringing the people Of the West and
South into closer social and commercial re-
lati0ns
INDIVIDUAL ACTION NEEDED.
Charles Francis Adams of Boston wrote
that, while he recognized the hardships oi
the present situation in the West, he did
not believe any action except individual
action was necessary for a remedy. with
the very general popular idea thar the
Government is grand paternal do-ali, to
protect every one and everything, and to
provide remedies for every i'll that the body
polite is subject to, Mr.. Adams does not
sympathiZe; on the contrary, says he: II
am so antiquated in opinion as TO think that
the world is governed altogether too much,
and that it rarely has been governed so
much or so badly as 1t has been In TINS
country within the last twenty-five years
If the people are left alone they VIII WORK
out their salvation a great deal quicker and
more satisfactorily than while the Govern-
ment incessantly incumbers them with It's
well-meant but ill-advised assistance"
DEPRESSION DUE TO NATURAL CAUSES.
MIR. Adams said he did not believe there
was any general business or agricultural
depression except that due to natural ana
temporary causes, and that he did net be-
lieve any legislation is required. He thinks
tr1nsnprfafInn land
would provide for itself under the laws OF
supply and demand If the Government docs
not continually meddle with it. Western
products would find markets soon enough II
the Government would leave the matter Sc
yereiy alone. The great trouble with the cur
rency is the excessive tinkering, and if the
Government would leave 1t alone the in
ternal currency of the country would regu-
late Itself just as perfectly as international
currency does. The manufacturing inter-
ests of the country have always been sue
cessfully promoted by individuals when the
Government had left them alone, and every
interference of the Government from the
beginning to the Mckinley bill has been
detrimental to public interest The lrrl-
eating of arid lands is settling itself In
Idaho and Colorado and other States where
the Government leaves it alone.
MORE PROSPERITY WITH LESS LAWS.
The fewer commercial laws we have the
better, and If there were no commercial
laws the community would be far more
prosperous than it is. The Interference of
the Government with immigration has been
uniformly mischievOus. Business combina-
tiOns and trusts were dangerous 10 those in
side them, and if LETT alone by the Govern
ment would work nothing but good, unless
perverted TO some purpose opposed to the
laws of trade, in which case they inevitably,
sOaner or later, bring about the ruin of
those concerned in them. The Indian ques-
tion and the opening of Indian lands has
been brought into its present unfortunate
condition by Government interference, aud
he knew no way of getting it out of the
snarl.
II. K. Thurber of New York, writing on
business combinations and trusts, said they
were caused by sharp compet tltion. Their
effects were beneficial to the producer and
consumer. The aggregation of capital, skill
and experience in almost every branch of
business is for the best interests Of the
masses.
Papers were read from John V. Farwell
of Chicago a&d others on the same subject.
Governor Frances was chosen President,
and Temporary Secretary Springer was
made Permanent Secretary.
Adjourned.