The San Francisco call., 1896-01-22
Tinkering With the Tariff and
Disturbance in the None
tary System.
TWO IMPORTANT CONVENTIONS.
Men Who Employ Thousands Meet at
Chicago and Talk of Needed
Legislation.

CHICAGO, ILL, Jan. 21.-Approval of
the measure OF legislation popularity
known as the mckinley BILL" denuncia-
ton of that designated as the "Wilson
bill' and a demand for prompt action by
the National Legislature to the end that
the present industrial depression might
give way to a season of prosperity, were
the keynotes of two important conven-
tions of representatives of commercial
and manufacturing interests that opened
in this city to-day.
One, the second annual convention of
the National Association of Manufacturers,
was held at Central Music Hall; the other,
a general convention OF textile manufac-
turers, called by the ASSOCIATION of the West
and South, assembled at the Palmer
House. At both the addresses were
pitched in the same key. The tariff re-
form law of the last Congress was held to
be responsible for the prostration of home
industries and the disturbance to the
monetary system, repeated changes in
legislation affecting manufacturing inter
ests were forcibly deprecated, and a halt
was called upon what was characterized
as the persistent efforts of politicians 10
disturb and harass the trade and industry
OF the country. The proceeding of both
conventions will be resumed tomorrow.
What the meeting of the National Asso-
citation lacked in numbers was more than
made up by the earnestness and enthu-
siasm that were manifested. Those present
represented nearly every State in the
Union and industries wide and diversified.
Samuel Allerton, the millionaire packer
and mammoth farmer, sat side by side
with Hon. Warner Miller of New York,
and Senor Gregorio E. Gonzales, special
envoy from the Government of Mexico,
Charles Heber Clark of Philadelphia, and
Thomas McDougall of Cincinnati were
seated on the platform. NJ. E. ingalls, of
Ohio, president of the 'Big Four" was
represented for the session by proxy,
and special representatives of George NJ.
Pullman, P. d. Armour, the Deering Com
pany and the American Book Company
answered to their names.
Altogether President Thomas Dolan of
Philadelphia confronted an audience rep
resenting many billions of invested capi-
tai and giving employment of scores of
thousands of wageworkers when he arose
to deliver the annual address. He was at
tentiyely listened to and frequently ap-
plauded as he told of the progress of the
new organization and its brilliant pros
poets for the future.
After the report of the treasurer, show
ing receipts during the year from all
sources OF $4,000 and expenditures in the
promotion of American trade of $11 900,
had been presented, the various commit
tees were announced. This concluded the
general business of the session and Thomas
McDougall of Cincinnati, one of the found
ers OF the organization, closed the days
proceedings with an energetic speech,
which provoked. tumultuous applause.
A mention in a personal reference to the
name of William Mckinley brought out
storm of cheers, twice renewed, and re-
peated when he denounced the meddling
with the Mckinley act as the crime of the
century. Concluding, he said:
1--WE need statesmen. What should we
think OF a government which is constantly
running in debt when it has unbounded
resources to produce revenue beyond its
expenditures? Nothing but the potent
voice OF the united manufacturing indus
tries OF the country will be able to say to
these so-called statesmen: we want &C
ton; we want such legislation as will ena-
bic US TO secure permanent home market
AGAINST foreign pauper labor"
A resolution of sympathy with the
Cuban patriots, and one introduced by
Charles Heber Clark of Philadelphia call
ing for an immediate investigation of the
printed statements that Oriental manu-
factures were being imported in large
quantities, and recommending action
against this new menace to American in
dustrles, were read and referred, and the
convention adjourned.