Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-09-16

CHICAGO, September 15.-Working
men, socialists, advocates of the single
tax theory and students of political
economy were heard to-day at the civic
federation conference on trusts and
! com binations
A majority of the speakers vigorous
ly opposed industrial, financial and
transportation combinations. The prob
lem in its relation to the workingman
was discussed in all it's phases.
The committee on resolutions held its
first meeting and organized by electing
Ex-Governor Luce, of Michigan, chair
man, and Ralph M. Easley, secretary.
! 1t was decided to name a subcommittee
of five to receive and consider resolu-
tons that might be presented and re-
| port to general committee.
The morning session drew large au-
dience but the programme was over
Swallowed by the announcement that in
the evening William J. Bryan, of Ne
braska, and w. Bourke Cochran, of
New York, would speak from the same
platform. The political prominence Of
| the two orators gave rise to a general
| feeling that the night session would be
| of more political than economic inter
est.
| ho cd
cate of the single tax, was the first
| speaker to-day. His address was en-
| Enthusiastically cheered. Mr.. Post an
alyzed the trusts as, first, those that are
mere combinations of competitive bust
ness.
These would be beneficial" he said,
''but do not exist"
abolish the tariff" he declared;
abolish all monopolies that can be
abolished; take public highways for
public use, and collect from land own
ers the actual value of their special
advantages-do that, and you put an
end to the trust. You cannot do it in
any other way
Thomas j. Morgan, of Chicago, fol-
lowed on "The trust from the socialist
point of view
Henry White, secretary of the United
Garment Workers of America, follow
ed. In closing he said:
1.-THE trust managers have magnifi-
cent opportunities. VIII they avail
| themselves of them? Will they show
! the necessary large mindedneSs? Judg-
ing by our knowledge of human ma
| ture, which we know has not changed
perceptibly for a thousand years under
varying conditions, we have cause for
grave doubts as to whether they will.
But the American people have never
failed to successfully meet great issue
when they once they g-appled with it.
in the lowering cloud of social
strife there is welcome light. The mere
fact of such a gathering as this gives
us hope that the age of reason Is
dawning-and when men reason every
hitting is possible"
NJ. NJ Garland, billed to speak on
"An Iron and Steel Workers View of
Combinations, and E. E. Clark, Grand
Chief of the Order Of Railway Conduc-
tors, were not present when Chairman
Howe called their names, and John w.
Hayes, secretary of the Knights of La
Dor. was called He said:
II maintain that these great combi-
| nations are an assault upon the inner
ent and constitutional rights of the
citizens; that the real and vital adj
vantage to be gained is the despotic
control over labor"
Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation of Labor, followed
Secretary Hayes He denied lnat Or
gained labor is a trust and continued:
THE only practical use of the anti
! trust and interstate commerce laws has
| been to take from us the right of trial
by jury and to imprison workmen for
conspiracy.
Il believe that instead of trusts and
| combinations of capital opposing and
antagonizing the labor movement, they
should take a more comprehensive view
of the situation and try to make better
friends of the organized wage earners
than they have in the pass.
"In the midst Of greater consterna-
ton of wealth and the vast develop
ment of industry it behooves the work
ers to more ceaselessly than ever de-
vote their energies to organized labor
and counterfeit the effect which 9TH
erwise their helpless and unprotected
condition would have upon them.
Organized and alert, the workers
cannot fail to tighten toll and shorten
hours and lengthen life by constant
and persistent efforts and make the
world better for our having lived in
it,"
Mr.. Gompers was loudly applauaed.
The conference then recessed until
o'clock.
Judge William Dudley Foulke, Of
Richmond, Ind. said in part: