The record-union., 1899-09-15

WOAlOST Is not lHdl lH6y are nSSucu'
but that, being needed, they are not
applied. The reason is to be found, /
think, in a certain weakening of the
moral fiber of the American people,
partly as a result of the economic er-
rors which have been inculcated so in
dustriously, and partly in response to
the tireless propaganda of calumny
and calamity, which has become in \
manner a public disease affecting in
Juriously the entire body of the people.
THE American Republic needs a
tonic of some doctrine for the instruc-
ton of youth and for the admonition
abuse of power is too deep seated for
correction. One immediate and whole
some effect of such a tonic would be
the impartial enforcement of wise laws
against all OFFENDERS and the repea4 OF
obviously unwise laws, regardless OF
the protests of their beneficiaries. No
unlawful trust could stand for day
in the face of a public sentiment 50
actuated."
The convention took a recess until )
O'clock
The afternoon session was devoted
to the papers on THE Relation of Agrl-
culture to Trusts
Dudley H. Wooten acted as Chair
man of the session, but presided over
delegations even thinner than they
were druing the forenoon. W. Bourke
Cochran was missed from the ranks of
the New Workers, but this gentleman
asserted that he had not forsaken the
conference. An Eastern delegate slept
through the entire session, pro-
nounced example of ennui which af-
fected many others to a less degree.
Governor Pingree was in attendance,
and at the close responded to a clamor
from the pit for speech. He merely
observed that he was opposed to trusts,
for reasons he said, which he would
tell those who attended in the evening
Samuel H Greeley of the Chicago
Board of Trade spoke on THE Protec-
ton of American Grain Markets From
Railroad and Warehouse Monopoly
He was followed by J. c. Hanley Of
st. Paul, delegate from the National
Farmers Alliance and Industrial
Union.
Aaron Jones of South Bend, Ind,
Master of the National Grange, de-
clared that the farmer was opposed to
no other branch of industry, including
trusts.
The last speaker of the afternoon
was Major Benjamin r. Tucker of
New York, editor of an anarchistic
paper He gave his view of trusts from
the view of Anarchists.
The speakers with one accord over
stepped the twenty minutes allowed
each speaker. AT the close an oppor-
tunity for discussion was offered, but
motion TO adjourn was carried.
J. c. Hanley of st. Paul spoke on for
eign markets and American shipping
and the effect and influence of these
on agriculture.
Trusts and combines" said he, IF
conducted on a strict business com
petitive system. would be a blessing
rather than a curse. But the opera
ton Of many of these gigantic monop-
olies as conducted at present is men
ace to the existence and stability OF
our nation. / am convinced that legis-
lation cannot control this evil, with
out striking at the root of it, and that
the Government own and control ali
means Of transportation and public
utility"
Mr. Hanley then went deep into
statistics, showing the effect of en-
larging our market and extending it to
foreign countries in our agriculture.
In the course of his speech, Aaron
Jones said: 1T occurs to me that the
step in remedial legislation is to pass
a well-considered antitrust law by the
Congress of the United States, defining
the powers and limiting the privileges
of these corporations. And supplement
this law by enactments of the several
State Legislatures to apply to such
places as could not be reached by the
Federal law"
Major Tucker, at the close of his
speech, said: Free access to the world
of matter, abolishing land monopoly;
free access to the world of mind, abol
ishing the idea of monopoly; free ac-
cess to free idea and untaxed market
abolishing tariff monopoly and money
monopoly-secure these, and all the
rest shall be added unto you. For lib
erty is the remedy of every social evil,
and to anarchy must the world look
at last for any enduring guarantee of
social order
President Corliss of New York
presided at the evening session. He
introduced Governor Pingree of Michi.
gan.
Governor Pingree's subject was THE
Effect of Trusts. on Our National Life
and Citizenship"
He haoap hv mildly criticiSinO tha
Civic Federation of Chicago, declaring
that in all of the sixty nine questions
distributed by the Federation broadcast
over the country as a means of gather
ing material for the use of the confer
ence, only one question related in any
way to the effect of trusts upon socie.
ty He deplored the fact that in all
the discussion. business considerations
the almighty dollar seemed to be
uppermost.
while it is a popular fallacy to deny
the existence OF social classes in this
country" he said. lit is nevertheless
indisputable that we'll defined classes
divide our society. The strength OF
the republic rests in the great
middle class. the manufacturers,
jobbers, middlemen. commercial trav,
elers and business men generally, and
it would be a little short of calamity
to encourage any industrial develop
ment that would affect unfavorably this
important class. Close to them and
another strong element are the skilled
mechanics and artisans"
1T was the effect of the trusts upon
the classes. Governor Pingree main.
i