The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-09-14
CONFERENCE ON TRUSTS
WOOTEN, THE TEXAN, HAMMER
ED THEM AIERCIIESSLY.
LESS THAN HALF THE DELEGATES THERE
Considerable Disorder Resulted from an At
tempt TO Round the Delegates into
Shape. Labor Delegates had 20
Struggle for Recognition.
Struggle for Recognition.

SuOS5SlC lOi hOOOSo ohitOhS
Chicago, Ills, Sept. 13.-The confer
ence on the uses and abuses of trusts
and combinations began here today with
less than half the delegates appointed
by the various States in attendance.
New York, headed by w. Bourke Coch-
ran, and Wisconsin were most numer-
ously represented.
The meeting took place in Central
Music Hall, and was called to order at
1890 by Franklin II. Head, the tempor-
airy chairman appointed by the Civic
Federation, on whose call the confer
ence was arranged. The delegates list
ened to an address of welcome by At
torney General of Illinois Aiken, repre-
senting Governor Tanner, who, by ill
ness was prevented from appearing in
person. Mr.. Aiken was followed by
DIR. Taylor. who welcomed the dele
gates on behalf of Mayor Harrison.
With the progress of the speaking it
became evident that many of the dele
cations had come with firm convictions
for or against trade combinations. The
speech of Mr.. Wooten, of Texas, deliver
Ell during the afternoon and hammering
the trusts in Il merciless manner,
aroused the widest enthusiasm in the
ranks Of the labor representatives and
the delegations from many Western and
Southern States, while the Fasteners
generally smiled critically and kept their.
arms folded.
The attempt to round the somewhat
shapeless mass of delegates into work
ing form resulted in considerable dis
order.
Is was resolved finally that the Civic
Federation, through its Chairman, Mr..
Head, should conduct the meeting to-
day. and that a committee on pro
gramme, consisting of one man from
each State delegation and one from
each organization, national in it's scope,
should be appointed. Local organiza-
tions in attendance were given voice
in the committee by being allowed to
vote on the committeeman with the
delegation from their States. The labor
organization did not secure recognition
until vigorous speeches had been made
by August Cans, representing the
knights of Labor, and John w. Hayes,
also a knight of Labor delegate.
i
was not unexpected and Secretary
Easley announced that probably hun
dred of the tardy ones, including Gov
ernor Pingree, of Michigan, would be
present at tomorrow's session.
Among those present We're:
w. Bourke Cochran, Albert Shaw, Of
the Review of Reviews; Governor At
kinson, Of West Virginia; eX-Governor
Foster, of Ohio; Professor john i.
Clark. of Columbia University; Attorney
General L.. S. Smith, of Texas; +. Il.
Thurber, of New York; Professor Henry
G. Adams. of the University of Michi-
gan; Professor j. w. jerks, of cornell
University; Professor John G. Brooks,
of Cambridge, Mass; Lecturer on Po-
litical Economy in the University of Chi
cago Professor Bemis; Lieutenant Gov
ernor Jones, OF Ohio Professor Il. i.
EIy. OF the University of Wisconsin,
ATTORNEY General Smythe, OF Nebraska.
William i. Bryan was absent, but it IS
believed he will appear later In the con-
ference.
Chairman Head delivered an address
in explanation of the call for the con-
ference.
Professor jerks followed with a paper
under Gnc capUIUl IIpUIelIIS uDCloiS IliN
Conference"
This afternoon the session opened with
a paper by Professor Adams on the same
subject as his predecessor, Mr.. jerks.
These addresses were received atten-
lively, but it remained for Dudley
Wooten, of the Texas delegation, to stir
up the enthusiasm of the camp4meeting
variety He was frequently interrupted
by cheering.
He spoke in part as follows
Accepting in good faith that amend
ment which the heroic legions of the
South resisted unto death ON a thousand
battlefelds, we believe that 'neit.her sla
very nor Involuntary seryitude, except
as punishment for crime, shall exist with
in the United States or any place subject
to their jurisdiction And we confident
ly assert that the commercial and in
dustrial bondage being RAPIDLY imposed
upon the toll and talents of 10,0000O0
American citizens 10y the syndicated
wealth of a few great corporate mono
poles is more dire and dagerolls than
the slavery which bowed the heads and
burdened the backs of the 4,000.OOO
black men.
'.And above ard beyond these great
written guarantees of equality and JUS
ttce we look to the lessons Of history ami
arneal to the authority of experience
When we are told that commercial com
binations promise golden rewards to the