, 1891-04-15
THE WEST AND SOUTH.
Opening Of the Western States
Commercial Congress.
Read From Many
Prominent Eastern Men.
Charles Francis Adams Views
on Government Aid.

KANSAS CITY, April IA AT the West
ern states commercial congress a paper
was read from NJ. II. DeYoung OF San
Francisco on irrigation.
Senator PETER of Kansas wrote express
ing the hope that the congress would re-
suit in bringing the people OF the West
and South into closer social and CONNER
cial relations.
Charles Francis Adams Of Boston wrote
that while he recognized the hardships OF
the present situation in the West, he did
not believe auy action. except individual
action, was necessary for a remedy. With
the very general popular idea that the
government Is the grand paternul do-all to
protect every one and every thing aad pro-
vide remedies for every ill that the body
polite is subject to, Mr.. Adams does not
sympathize. "On the contrary, says he.
Il am SO %antiauated in opinion as to think
that the world is governed altogether too
much, and that il rarely has been gov
erned so much or so badly as il has been
in this country within the last twenty-five
years. If the people are left alone they
will work out their salvation a great deal
quicker and more satisfactorily than while
the government necessarily encumbers
them with its well-meant, but ill-advised.
assistance.
Mr.. Adams did not believe there was
any general business and agricultural de
preston except that due to natural and
temporary causes. lie did not believe
any legislation was required. He thinks
improved transportation by land and
water would provide for itself under the
laws of supply and demand if the govern
ment does not continually NEEDLE with it:
Western products would find markets
soon enough il the government would
leave the matter severely alone. The
great trouble with the currency is exces.
sive tinkerinR, and if the government
would leave it alone the internal currency
OF the country would regulate itself lust
as perfectly as the international currency
does. The manufacturing interests of the
country had always been successfully pro-
NOTED by individuals when the govern
ment had lett them alone. and every
of the government.
from the beginning to the Nc
bill had been detrimental to
public interests. The irrigation
of arid lands is settling itself in Idaho
and Colorado and other states where the
government leaves it alone. 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 had been
uniformly mischievous. Business combin.
atoms and trusts were dangerous to
those inside them, and if left alone by the
government would work nothing but good
unless perverted to some purpose opposed
to the law of trade. in which case they
would inevitably. sooner or later. hrlng
about the rum of those concerned in them.
The Indian question and the opening of
Indian lands had been brought into its
present unfortunate condition by govern
ment interference, and he knew of no way
Of getting it out of the snarl.
II. K. Thurber Of New York, writing
on business combinations and trusts said
they we're caused by sharp competition.
Their effects were beneficial to ;he pro-
ducer and consumer. The aggregation Of
capital. skill and experience in almost
every branch of business is for the best in
terests of the masses.
Papers were read from John '. Farwell
of Chicago, aud others on the same sub
ject.
Governor Francis was chosen president
and Temporary Secretary Springer was
made permanent secretary. Adjourned.