The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-09-14
USE And ABUSE OF Trusts.
Opening Of Chicago
Conference.
Begins With q Scrap About The
Craftsmanship.
One Chosen For Each
Day Finally.
Addresses BY Gov. Atkinson and
Others.

/ Chicago. September 15.--The conference
on the usss and abuses Of trusts and c,m-
binations, began here today with less
than half the delegates appointed by the
various states In attendance.
The meeting took place In Central Mu-
sic hall and was called to order by
franklin II. Head, the temporary chair
man appointed py the civic federation.
| Addresses Of welcome were made by
Attorney General Akin, on behalf of GOV.
Tanner, who Is III, and DIR. Taylor on be-
half OF Mayor Harrison. With the pro-
grsss or the speaking today It became
evident that many OF the delegates had
come with firm convictions for or
against trade commissions. The peech
OF Mir. Wooten OF Texas, delivered dur.
ing the afternoon and hammering trusts
in IA merciless manner, aroused the Wild
est enthusiasm in the ranks OF the labor
representatives and the delegations from
many Western and Southern states,
while the easterners generally smiled
critically and kept their arms folded.
Suggestions for the makeup Of COM
mittee to arrange programme 10 Ee fol-
lowed ths next three days OF the confer.
ence. popped from every part Of the house
with such rapidlty that 1t was with diff
GUILTY that the temporary chairman ex-
tracted the basis for resolutions which
were finally adopted. 1inis was not ac-
ccmpiished till W. Bcurse Cochran. and
August Cans. a delegate representing
the Knights of Labor, had become the
centre of = scene which provoked unre-
strained laughter.
1t was resolved, finally, tnat the civic
federation, through its chairman, Mr..
Head, should conduct the meeting today,
! and that COMMITTEES on programme CON
sisting Of one man from each stats dele
gstion and one from each organization,
national In Its scope, should be appoint
ed. Local organizations 10 attendance
were given voice in the committee by
being allowed to vote for the committee
man with the delegate from their state.
| The labor organizations did not secure
recognition until vigorous speeches had
been made by MIR. Cans and John w.
Hayes, also knight Of Labor delegate.
William ]. Btyan was absent. but 1t is
believed he will appear later in the con-
ference.
Chairman Head delivered an address
In explanation of the call for the con-
ference.
Prof. J.W. Jenks of Cornell university,
followed with paper under the caption
| Problems before the Conferences"
IL was o'clock before this paper was
| finished and an adjournment was taken
until 3 O'Clock.
The afternoon sesslon opened with pa-
per by Prof Adams on the same subject
as that Iof DIR. Jenks
| These addresses were received attentive
ly, but 1t remained for Dudley wooten
of the Texas delegation. to stir up enthu-
siasm. He was frequently interrupted
by cheering.
He spoke, in part. as follows:
| accepting in good faith that amend
inent which the heroic legends Of the
South resisted unto dsath on a thousand
battlellelds, we believe that neither
slavery nor involuntary ssryitude, exospt
as punishment for crime. shall exisa with
in the United States or any place subject
to their jurisdiction. And ne con fident-
iy assert that the commercial and indus
trial bondage being rapidly imposed
upon the toll and talents OF 20 O10, ,oc0
American citizens by the syndicated
wealth of . few great corporate monopo.
lies is more dire and dangerous than the
slavery which bowed the heads and burd
ened the backs of 4,O0O.O COO Southern
4 black men.
1'And above and beyond these great
written guarantees Of equality and JUS
tice we LOOK 90 the lessons OF history and
appeal to the authority of experience.
When we arc told that commercial oor,-
tination promises golden rewards to the
present tendencies of our economic sys-
tenn, we remember that no republic hss
ever survived the msrcsnary despotism of
merchants and money changers. -
John Graham Brooks-of Cambridge.
Macs spoke ard was received with con-
siderable applause.
Mr. William Fortune of Indianapolis,
president Of the Indiana state beard of
commerce, made an earnest plea for con
ssrvative procedure as a more honeful
cours, than the application of reyolu.
tionary or too radical measures to an
Evolutionary problem. He Indicated q
grave doubt of the usefulness Of the doe
trinaire In arriving at national solu-
tion OF the question. He guardedly suq-
gested the danger capital may bring to
itself by Needless abuse of its
power and indicatsd the Importance to Il