The age-herald., 1899-09-14
THE ATTENDANCEz4x ; SMALL Governor PingrS 5 $ld William J. BryanAmoT 6 zse AbSentees " ARE EXPECTED TO COME LATER A Wrangle as Ito How the Proceedings of the Conference Should be Con- ducted-Chairman Head
 Explains Call.


 ences 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 Cochran, and Wis., consin were most numerously represented. The meeting took place in Central Musld Hall, and was called to order by Franklin II. Head, president of the Civic Federation. The delegates listened to an address of wel+ come to Illinois by Attorney General Akin on behalf of Governor Tanner, who by ill4 ness was prevented from appearing in person. Howard s. Taylor city prosecutor, welcomed the delegates to Chicago on bes half of Mayor Harrison. E
 With the progress of the speaking 1t beS came eViient that many of the delegations had come with firm convictions for or against trade combinations. The speech of MT. Wooten, of Texas, delivered during the afternoon and hammering trusts In a mer- ciless manner, aroused the widest enthusis asm in the ranks of the labor representa- tives and the delegations from many wests ern and southern states. while the east erners generally smiled critically and kept their arms folded. shapeless Mass of Delegates The attempt to round the somewhat shapeless mass of delegatssG>o working form resulted in considssa s1e disorder. 1. Suggestions for the make ufbof a commitA tee to arrange a programne for the cone ference came from every part of the house with such rapidity that 1t was with diff. fculty that the temporary chairman eX- tracted the basis for resolutions which were finally adopted.
 It was finally resolved that the civic fed- eration through it's chairman, MT. Head, should conduct the meeting today and that a committee on programme be appointed consisting of one man from each state dele gation and from each organization national in it's scope. John w. Hayes, of the Knights of Labor, created something of sensation by declaring that he did not intend to be classed with the New Jeri sey delegation, even if he did vote in that cradle of trusts.
 The non-attendance of many delegates
 was not unexpected, and Secretary Easily announced that probably hundred of the tardy ones, including Governor Pingree, of Michigan, would be present at tomorrows s session. Y Some of Those Present Among those present today were w. | Bourke Cochran, Albert Shaw. of the Re1 | view of Reviews; Governor Atkinson, of
 
 Ohio: Prof. John B. Clark, of Columbia university Attorney General T. s. Smith,
 of Texas; r. B. Thurber, of New York; l Prof. Henry Carter Adams, of the uni-
 versity of Michigan; Professor J. w, | Jenks of Cornell university; Prof. John Graham Brooks, of Cambridge, Mass.' | Professor Beis, Lieutenant Governor | Jones, of Ohio; Professor R. T. Ely. of the | University of. Wisconsin, and AttorneyF | General Smith, of Nebraska w. J. Bryan l did not appear but 1t is believed he will be present later in the conference. ' Chairman Head delivered an address in explanation for the call of the conference. Professor Jenks followed with paper under the caption, Problems Before the Conference"
 finished and an adjournment was taken
 until o'clock The afternoon session opened with a paper by Professor Adams on the same subject as his predecessor, MT. Jenks. Texas delegation, to stir up enthusiasm of the camp meeting variety. He was freA ouently interrupted by cheering and was rapturously received by his fellow dele- gates from the Lone Star state upon the completion of his peroration. He said in part; .z wooten's Fiery speech
 Accepting in good faith that amend- ment WHICH lHe HtIOiC lc5IonS oi lhc Soulh resisted until death on thousond battle- felds we believe that neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as punish- ment for crime, shall exist within tho United States or any place subject to their jurisdiction.
 And we confidently assert that the conn., mercial and industrial bondage being rap- idly imposed upon the toll and talents of 70 GOO 0f0 American citizens by the syndi-
 cated wealth of few corporate monopo-
 lies is more dire and dangerous than the
 slavery which bowed the heads and bur-
 dened the backs of 100000 southern black men.
 And above and beyond these great writ. ten guarantees of equality and justice, we
 look to the lessons of history and appeal t9
 the authority of experience When we ara told that the spirit of commercial combi- nation promises golden rewards to the present tendencies of our economic system, we remember that no republic has ever survived the mercinary despotism of mere chants and money changers" Committee on Organization The committee on permanent organizay ton met after the afternoon adjournment