Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-09-14
TRUST NOW ON TRIAL
Before a Body of Business Men
and FubIicists at the West -
ern Metropolis.
MANY LABOR LEADERS TAKE PART.

| Getting Recognition in the Conference Tor
Their Organizations-ProE jerks and
Prof. Adams State the Problems To BE
soIved-Texas Man Goes for scalPs and
Gets the AppIause-Wm. Writ Howe Is
the Permanent President.
Chicago, Sept. 14.-At the opening
of the second day of the trust confer
ence resolution was passed for the
appointment of committee ;on reso-
lutions, consisting of one member
from each state. to whom all resolu-
tions will be referred. Thea the de-
| alterations waxed warm over the
proposition o have all resolutions re-
ferred to the committee without read
| ing or debate. Pro-trust people and
antis were fearful, and it became evil
dent that one side or the other would
secure control and bind the minority to
something of which. they disapproved-
After long discussion, it was de-
cided to refer resolutions to the com =
mittee direct, with the underst lnding
that at the last day of the conference
it would be in order for the mover of
any resolution to call it up if not re-
ported by the committee.
Chicago. Sept. 1.-THE great confer
cucc on the uses and abuses of trust
combinations began yesterday with
less than half of the delegates in at
tendance. New York, headed by w.
Bourke Cochran. and Wisconsin were
most numerously represented. The
meeting took place at Central Music
hall, and was called to order ut 1890
by Franklin II. Head, the temporary
chairman appointed by the Civic Fed
GRAFTON, on whose call the conference
WAS arranged for. Attorney General
Akin welcomed the delegates to Illi-
nOiS on behalf of Governor Tanner,
who by illness waS prevented from
appearing in person. DIR. Taylor wei
coined the delegates to Chicago ON be-
half of Mayor Harrison. There are
probably 100 tardy delegates. most of
whom Will he here during the confer
cnce.
Union Labor Demands Recognition.
In the process of organization it was
finally resolved that the Civic Fedora
tiOn. through its chairman. should con-
duct the meeting yesterday: that Il
committee on programme be named,
consisting of one man from each state
delegation and one from each organ
iZation, national in its scope. The Ia
Dor organizations did not secure recog-
milton as entitled to Il committeeman
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 it
was vigorous that he didn't intend to
he claSSed with the New Jersey dele
CATION. even if he did vote in that
cradle of trusts
Prof jerks Outlines the Problem
Chairman Head delivered an address
i'll explanation of the call for a con-
ference. and the first paper on the sub
Ject before the gathering was that of
Professor jerks. under the caption of
Problems Before the Conference" He
said that he could not expect to state
clearly all of the questions raised by
the growth of these industrial COM
binations. but would mention some of
the most important ones. Some of |
these We're: How far can an establish |
ment which sells only Il high per- |
centagc. say 40 TO 90 per cent. of the |
total product. secure monopolistic
gains? Is competition to be consid- |
cred free when one establishment con-
trolls from 40 to 90 per cent. OF the en-
tire product in market? Is the Drin-
ciple of combination the same in caDi- |
tai and in labor? What would be the |
effect on trusts of the abolition of the |
tariff and patent laws? The question |
OF over capitalization. Effects of com
binationS in prices. on wages on mid |
dle-men. and finally what form of leg
islation is wiSeSt?
Trust-Hammering Speech AppIauded.
The speech of Wooten. of Texas.
hammering the trusts in a merciless |
manner. aroused the widest enthusi-
asm in the ranks of the labor repre-
sentativeS and delegations from many
western and southern states. while the
eaSterners generally smiled critically
made no demonstration. He declared
that commercial and Industrial bond
age is being rapidly imposed upon the
toll and talents of 7O.OOO. 900 American
citizens by the syndicated wealth of a
few great corporate monOpolies.
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