The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1899-09-16
THE TRUST CONFERENCE.
Delegates from Many states Meet IN
Chicago 10 Discuss Com
btnntions.


400 delegates present, representing IS
states and as many organizations of
employers and employees. the confer
ence on the use and abuse of trusts and
combinations was opened at Central
Music hall Wednesday by President
Franklin Head. of the civic federation.
shortly after 1880 o'clock. Attorney
General T.. G.. Akin made the address
OF welcome on behalf of Gov. Tanner.
DIR. Taylor welcomed the delegates
to Chicago on behalf of Mayor Harri-
son,
Among those present were w. Bourke
Cochran, of New York; Albert Shaw,
editor of the Review of Reviews; Prof.
II. L. Ely, University of Wisconsin,; At
torney General Smyth. Of Nebraska.
William Jennings Bryan was absent,
but it is believed he will appear later.
An attempt TO round the somewhat
shapeless mass of delegates into work
ing form resulted i'm considerable dis
order. II was finally resolved that the
Civic federation, through it's chairman,
should conduct the meeting Wednesday.
and that committee on programme be
named, consisting of one man from
each state delegation and one from
each organization national in It's scope.
The Labor organizations did not secure
recognition as entitled 10 committee
men until vigorous speeches had been
made by August Cans and John w.
Hayes, Knights of Labor delegates.
Hayes created Something of a sensation
by declaring in language as scornful as
IL was vigorous that he didn't intend 10
be classed with the New Jersey delega-
ton. even IL he did vote in that Cradle
of Trusts"
Prof. Jeremiah w. jerks. OF Cornell
university. representing also the
United States industrial commission,
which is investigating the trust prob
lem for the purpose of preparing n
report for congress. presented TO the
delegates the problems arising out of
industrial combinations which il is the
purpose of the conference TO study
The afternoon session opened with a
paper by Prof. III. G. Adams, University
Of Michigan, on the same subject ms
that of Prof. jerks. The address was
received attentively, but il remained
for Dudley Wooten. of the Texas dele
CATION, TO stir up the enthusiasm of the
camp meeting variety. He was fire.
quently interrupted by cheering. lie
said in part:
Accepting in good faith that amendment
which heroic legions OF the south resisted
unto death on thousand hattlehelds. we
believe that neither slavery nor involun-
"A "a Gh
crime. shall exist within the United States
or any place subject TO their Jurisdiction.
And we confidently assert that the com
mercial and industrial bondage which is
being rapidly imposed upon the toll and
talents or 10000, 600 American citizens by the
syndicated wealth OF few great corpo-
rate monopolies is more dire and dangerous
than the slavery which bowed the heads
and burdened the backs of 100000 south
ern black men. And above and beyond
these great written guarantees or equality
and justice we look TO the lessons OF his
tory and appeal 10 the authority OF ex-
perience When we are told that the spirit
OF commercial combination promises gold
en- rewards to the present tendencies Of our
economic system, we remember that no re-
public has ever survived the mercenary
despotlsm OF merchants and money
changers"
The speaker aroused the widest en-
thusiasm in the ranks of labor repre-
sentatives and delegations from many
western and southern states, while the
fasteners generally smiled critically
and made no demonstration.
Prof. John Graham Brooks, OF Cam
bridge, Mass, and William Fortune.
president of the Indiana state board of
commerce, also spoke.
Gov. Atkinson spoke at the opening
of the evening session, after which Con-
gresham John w. Gaines, of Tennessee,
presented the report of the committee
on organization and programme as fol-
lows:
Permanent officers: Chairman, william
Writ Howe. Louisiana: first vice president
Dudley c. Wooten Texas: second vice
president H. " Johnson, Colorado; third
vice president, s. L.. Corliss New York
secretary. Ralph NJ. Easley. Chicago.
Special rules OF order: First that the con-
ference shall hold three daily sessions. as
follows: From ten a. IN. TO one p. m. from
three 70 Ave y. m eight y. m. until adjourn
mont. Second, all papers or addresses be
limited 20 20 minutes.
The report was adopted unanimously.