The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-14
ARE TRUSTS GOOD OR BAD?
DISOUssTON STARTS BRISKLY At THE
CHICAGO CONFERENCE

CHICAGO CONFERENCE.
Delegates From all Parts OF the COUNTY,
and Representing All Shades of Opinion
Clash at the Opening of the Meeting
Tho Various Views That We're ExprSsssd.
CHICAGO. Sept 13-Trusts and industrial
combinations were the subject OF discussion
to-day by q conference called by the Civic Fed
Grafton Of Chicago for that purpose. The con-
ference 10 an assem- blage OF several hundred
men. who came from nearly every State Of the
Union. Ittncludes Governors Of States. Sena-
tors. Coneressmen. college presidents and
professors. uawyers. trust officials. and bust
ness. laboring and professional men.
The opening session was marked by q heated
discussion. and strife ensued over the attempts
OF the delegates to organize. Scarcely had the
conference been called to order when differ
ences iof opinion and procedure were mani
Tested. and IL became apparent that the labor
organizations and the State delegates were to
lock horns. The immediate point OF dispute
was the matter Of representation on the pro-
Grammeoommittee
The conference was called to order by Presi-
dent Franklin II. Head OF the Chicago Irvine
Civic Federation. after the delegates had
spent an honr In Informal discussion In the
foyer OF tho hall. President Head introduced
Attorney General Akin Of Illinois. who spoke
on behalf OF Gov Tanner. welcoming the
delegates. Speeches were then made by City
Prosecutor II. 8. Taylor. Oh behalf Of Mayor
Harrison and by President Head for the Civic
Federation.
Al that point the officers OF the federation
attempted to turn the affairs OF the conference
over to the delegates. A motion by Attorney
General Smith Of Texas. providing for the con-
troll by the federation during the afternoon
and evening was adopted John /. yell
lott OF Maryland at once offered reso-
luton that the Programme Committee
consist OF one delegate from each
State and each organization. This was
amended to strike of the organizations. and at
70 have the delegates from organizations vote
with their respective States brought John W.
Hayes, delegate OF the Knights Of Labor. to
his feet.
Il am from New Jersey" he dec AIRED. land
We. the Knights OF Labor refuse to associate
or be olassed with the New Jersey delegation"
This declaration was received with applause
by the labor delegates and laughter by the
audience. A suggestion was made by James
II. Raymond that the national organizations
alone be represented. At once the State asso-
citations and local society delegates jumped up
and cheers and cries OF Mr.. Chairman" arose.
A dozen men spoke at once and out OF the con-
fusion A. E. Cans. Chicago representative Of
the Knights OF Labor. survived. lie demanded
to know: Where we stand?"
His appeals for representation were answered
by W. Bourke Cochran. who suggested that
each national delegation should have a
representative vote and each local organ
ization should vote with the State delegates.
While he spoke Mr.. Cans eyed him through a
largo pair OF field glasses. while the audience
roared with laughter. woman in the gallery
arose and attempted to make speech on the
"millionaires' trust" When quiet was at last
restored. Mr.. Cockran's suggestion was adopted
and. order ensuing. the programme was con-
tinusd
In his address. referring to tho objects Of the
conference. President Head said
1T is not a trust or an antitrust conference.
hut conference in search OF truth and light.
With this end in view the attendance has
been solicited OF Of every shade
o. opinion upon the subjects from the
men who regard trusts and trade COM
binations as the standing menace OF our
national prosperity. aud even to the perpetuity
of our system Of government. to those who feel
that trade combinations ana large aggrega-
tions OF active capital are simply a natural
evolution in the development OF our industrial
and commercial life and that such aggrega-
tions are absolutely necessary to enable us to
compete with the vast accumuations and
experience OF the older nations and their al
most total control outside OF food products. OF
the markets OF the world.
I'VE are also to hear from those holding
views between either extreme. those who be-
lieve In the value OF com binatons properly or
ganized but who recognize in the reckless and
excessive capitalization Of many OF such COM
blnations a peril leading to widespread panic
and distress. for such inflated stocks being
absorbed by the small investors. whose saw
ings may be thus in great measure lost"
Pending the selection OF the Committee on
Programme President Head secured the unan-
imous consent Of the conference to follow out
the morning programme as already arranged
by the Civic Federation and he introduced
Prof. G. w. jerks OF Cornell Prof. jerks
spoke on '' Trust Problems" He said in part
Il cannot expect TO state clearly all OF the
questions raised by the growth OF these indus
trial combinations. but mention some OF the
most important ones as they have been called
to my attention.
"1-Competition versus combination
denominations Of capital and combina-
tions OF labor. Some of the most active
opponents to organized capital have been
found In the ranks Of organized labor
denominations caused by special priv
ileges. 1t has been asserted lately
that the mother OF all trusts Is the
customs tariff law Many industries. how
ever. In which great combinations exist.
have no protection Of their products
by the tariff. Managers OF com nnations which
have been formed in protected industries, as
sert that 1t has been the ferceness OF home
competition that has driven them into COM
bination and that II the tariff has been in any
sense the cause OF the com binaton. it has been
such only by developing the home industry to
90 great an extent that fierce competition was
unavoidable.
1T has been frequently asserted that the
success OF many o. the leading comb nations
OF capital has been due to special favors
granted them by discriminating rates OH rail-
roads. 1t ia also asserted by some that the
most successful combinations ~ the present
day find 1t rather for their interest to observe
strictly the Interstate Commerce law and to
insist upon it that the railroads shall grant no
determinations to any one. whereas it is for
the interests OF those small combinations that
are still struggling for a firm foothod to secure
such discrimination.
4-Other causes for the formation OF cumbi-
nations OF capital. Managers OF great capital