Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1899-09-19

those who did not attend the convention
may have the advantage Of the views
expressed by leading economists, law
yers, politicians and thinkers from differ
ent sections Of the United States. This
Mr.. Head deems highly important.
Among the reflections of Mr. Head on
the conference generally are the follow
Ing statements:
1.-The idea of the civic federation was
| to have full discussion ofsall sides Of
the general question of trusts and trade
combinations. 1t is subject upon which
| there is endless confusion of thought
among the people, and we hoped, by CIV
ing all sides fair hearing, to clear away
much of the fog and mist and to bring
the people nearer together so that they
might better judge of the evils of these
large combinations, if there were any,
, and to devise remedies for such evils.
I'm almost every respect I think the
conference has been a decided success.
Many Of the papers offered were from
careful economic students and possessed
, not only great, but permanent value.
Among these might be mentioned the
papers contributed by Henry G. Adams,
J. w. jerks, John Graham Brooks and
Professor John b. Clark of Columbia
university. Undoubtedly the two speeches
which attracted most attention were
those delivered b. w. Bourke Cochran
and William Jennings Bryan.
"As result of the discussion it seemed
to me that the general impression Of
those present was that the growth of
trusts and combinations should be ieal-
ously watched and guarded and that
there should be a careful supervision Of
their operations by the state authorities,
and also, possibly, by the general govern
ment-supervision somewhat similar to
that over national banks would be most
desirable and important-and that all
such corporations should be required to
have carefully kept books Of account,
showing all the general operations in
their business. and that the features Of
such statistics should be made public
something after the manner in which
the statistics of national banks are made
public. The objects sought through those
suggestions were not only for the benefit
Of the general public, who might be con-
siderng an investment, but also for the
benefit Of the stockholders, who might
thus learn if the managers were loyal to
the interests of the stockholders.
"There has been some talk of there be-
ing political capital in the result of the
conference. | do not know that the re-
suit of the conference could be construed
to have any political bearing. The ques-
ton of business trusts and corporation is
not a political question. There are prob
ably just as many Democratic stock
holders in these various combinations as
Republicans. They have entered into
these combinations with the belief that
they are advantageous in the way Of
cheapening production and doing away
with the excessive competition WI tch in
periods of depression IS oftentmes fatal
to all parties to the competition What
ever may be the steps taken 20 adopt
some remedies or restrictive measures,
which shall retain whatever there may be
of benefit in the trusts while ,4moving
that which is prejudicial to tbs national
good, in my opinion. the conference held
in Chicago will prove Il historical meet
ing, and its influence as source of edu-
cation. and perhaps as starting point of
some definite development, will be felt
for Il long time. The civic federation is
satsted-yes, gratified-with the entire
work of the conference"