The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-05-29

Independent Telephone tN'hanGe Net.
Forming a Union 10, Mutual Pc otecsion.

CHICAGO. Ill. May eS.-Onc common
purpose animated the meeting in the
Palmer House to-day of nearly two hun
drcd representatives OF INDEPENDENT telc-
phone exchanges scattered an over the
country. Responding to a cah issued 10y
!. l.. keciyn. president OF the Western
Telephone Construction Company, these
representatives met 10 create a national
association 10 nght the Bell Company.
Their work to-day consisted OF the FOR
nation Of an Executive Committee OF two
rcpresentativCs from each state. and In"
adoption OF the report OF Committee
ON Permanent Organization. Tho de-
tails OF the plans OF organization "nd
hy-iaws for the government OF the ass
sociAti0n viii come before the meeting
tomorrow.
Nearly every state in the Union was
represented. and the attendance o. cN-
pectcd TO be largely increased tomorrow
Responses 70 the invitation 10 Join IN
forming a national organization were r'-
ceivcd from more than four hundi'"
telephone exchange men. They are ah
agreed that there is "a necessity for ltll-
ing IN an aggressive war against The com-
mon enemy or the independent oN-
changes The recent decision of me
United States supreme Court upon the
Reriucr patent. while not regarded 'i
special importance as affecting the lh-
torosts Of the independent exchanges
was conceded TO have had an injurious
effect m influencing public opinion, and
this made il an the more important that
they should act in harmony upon all mat
tors 1Gectirc tho ndcpendcnt companies
Indications OF a sharp contest among
81.
when the meeting convened Chairman
Keelyn stated al the outset that no man
ufacturer of telephones or person con-
nected with companies similarly engaged
would be- recognized IN the deliberations.
This policy had been agreed upon IN the
meeting. at which the Executive COM
mittoe was named and when ,he secre-
tary called off the names OF the commit
tee the question of eligibility was raised
against two or more of its members
Chairman Eoolyn ruled that manufacture
ers could not be considered i'm such
caraCity. Being manut icilrer hlm-
self. his ruling was regarded hy f'W
OF the delegates as somewhat arbitrary.
II was shown. however that the men
who feared trouble them Ost were i""'ii-
fed in some manner with the Bell Com
pand. and. therefore. interested IN de-
feating the objects Of the meeting
Every effort will Doe made 10 have a
harmonious convention. While the oppo-
sition 10 Chairman Keelyn. on It's face
seemed 10 have some strength. ID had no
weight with the members of the Exccus
tive Committee. and those fully conver-
SAINT with the plans of the organlzation.
The members Of the Executive Com
mittae represent the exchanges Of koiths-
burg and MattoOn. H.. Rushville. Ind;
East Saginaw and lshpeming, Mich:
Oskalcosa aud Boone. Iowa. la Crosse
aud Madison Wis. Maryville and Cam
eron. No. Ashland and OwensborO, KY;
Huntington and Charleston y. "a;
Lynchburg and Richmond. "a Iaiti-
more and Westminster Nd. Elizabeth,
y. j.. Cobleskll. \. Y; Palestine and
Beaumont. Texas. Charleston and Spar
tansburg. S. G.: Tarboro. " g.. Vino
ma. Mimi: Montpelier. W.; Rome. y. y;
Natchcz and Yazoo. Miss; ChlNicothe
and Columbus. Ohio. and two Pennsyl-
Yauia towns. not given.
The Executive Committee will submit
a report tomorrow which is expected 20
contain important suggestions as 10 the
policy 10 be pursued by the association
toward the Bell Company Tho convcn-
ton will not adjourn until Saturday ar
tcrnOOn.