The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-09-14

More Than His Match, and Finally
Joins in the Laughter at His Own
U+1aIx divergent on the Various
Points AT Issue.
CfUCAGO. Sept 13.-Tho conference on
the uses and abuses of trusts ana III"
trial combinations began here today Win
less than half the delegates appointed
q nv the various states in attendance NeW
York headed by W. Bourke Cochran ana
Wisconsin. were most nunerously repre-
sented.
The 1nee ting took place in Central WI
,ic hall and was called to order at lU:S0
o'clock by Franklin II. Head, the tenn
norarv chairman appointed by the CIVIC
Federation. at whose call the conference
assembled. The delegates listened TO an
address Of welcome to Illinois by AT
tornzv General Atkin, on behalf cf GOV.
Tanner. who, by illness, was prevented
from appearing in person. Mr.. Atkln was
followed by Dr.. TAYLOR, who welcomed
the delegates to Chicago on behalf OF
MAYOR Harrison.
With the progress of the speaking 1t
became evident that many of the dele
r cations had come with firm convictions
for or against trade combinations. Tie
speech of Mr.. Wotten, OF Texas delivered
duriug the afternoon, hammering trusts
in a rlerciIess manner, aroused the Wild
est enthusiasm in the ranks of the labor
representatives and delegate from
many Western and Southern states, While
the Fasteners generally smiled critical
ly and kept their arms folded.
The attempt to round the somewhat
thapeless nlass of delegates into working
form resulted in considerable disorder.
Suggestions for the makeup Of a commit
tee to arrange a programme to be fol-
lowed the next three days of the con-
ference came from every part of the
house with such rapidly that it was with
difficulty the temporary chairman ex-
'lacteG the basis for resolutions, which
s1ere finally adopted This was not ac-
sompltshed until Bourke Cochran and
August Cans, q delegation representing
the Knights of Labor, had become the
center of scene which provoked unre-
strained laughter, Mr.. Cochran joining.
COCHRAN OUTDONE.
The head of the New York contingent
in an endeaVor to bring a little order out
Of the choas arose while Mr.. Cans, in a
very loud tone of orat3ry, was declaring
that his delegation vas of more import
ance than that of any state. When the
New Yorker began speaking the labor
delegate fished from q hip pocket d pair
of opera glasses and at a short range
contemplated the speaker, commenting
occasionally in such way that the
merriment attained Il volume which
drowned the voice of tile Eastern orator.
1t vas resolved finally that the civic
federation, through its chairman, Mr.
Head, should con5uct tie meeting today,
and that a committee or programme cons
sisting of one man from each state dele
cation ana one from each organization
national III its scope should be appointed.
Local organizations il attendance were
given voice in the convention by being
allowed tc vote for the committeeman
witt delegates from their state
The labor organizations die not secure
recognition until vigorous speeches had
been made by Mr. Cans and John HAYES,
also 4 Knight Of Labor delegate. Mr.
Hayes created omet5,rg of 9 sens7 ton
by declaring in language as scnrnfuI as il
was vigorous that che cid not intend 70
be classed with the New Jersay de!ega-
ton, even if he did vote in that cradle
of trusts "
The non-attendance of manv delegates
was not unexpected. and Secretary Fas-
ley announced that possibly 100 Of the
tafdy ones, including Gov. Pingree. Of
Alchgan, would be at tO-morrow's ses-
SION Among those present to-day We're.
Bourke Cochran, Albert Shaw of the Re-
view of Reviews; Gov Atkinson. of West
virginia; ex-Gov. Foster, of Ohio: Prof
John 3. Clark, of Columbia 11nfversf+I-.
a Cr11ftI IT.
Thurher, of New York: Prof. Henrv
crater Adams of the University of Mich
lgan; Prof j. w. jerks of Cornell mi
Versity; Prof John Graham Brooks of
Cambridge, Mass, lecturer on noliticaI
economy in the University Of Michigan:
Frof Bemls, Lieutenant Governor Jones.
OF ONO; Prof R. T. Ely, of the Uniyer
sity of Wisconsin, and Attorney General
Smythe, of Nebraska
William Jennings Bryan was abs Mt
but II IS believed he will appear later in
the conference.
OBJECT OF CONFERENCE.
Chairman Head delivered an address in
explanation of the call for the confer
ence He said in part:
The Civic Federation of Chicago is .
i!OH par llSan organization en bracine i'm
us membership a goodly proportion of the
acIlFe business and professional men of
our city. Some months since it realiZad
that no topic seemed so widely discusses
as what was designated by the general
title OF 'trusts-and that too upon no
current topic was there so widespread
ana general an ignorance and confusion
or IDEAS. There seemed to us a CRYING
need for education upon the subject; Of
an education which would show the broad
olStinctlon between the various trade
computation and trust. and to promote
such education this conference is now in
session. " -
1t is not a trust or an antitrust con-
ference, put a conference in search of
truth and light. With this end in view.
the attendance has been solicited of men
of every shade of opinion upon tha genl
eral subject; from the men who regard
trusts and trade combinations as the
standing menace to our national prosner-
1ty, and even to the perpetuity of orr
system OF government; to those who feel
that trade combinations and large aggre-
cations of active capital are simply an
active evolution in the development of
our Industrial and commercial life. and
that such aggregations are absolutely
necessary to compete with the vast accu-
mutations and experience of the older
nations, and their almost total control
outside Of food products, OF the markets
OF the world. We are also to hear from
those holding views between either ex-
treTne; those who believe In the value Of
combinatfons properly organized, but
who recognize IN the reckless and excess
siVe Capitalization of many Of such com
binations e peril leading to widespread
panic and distress from such inflated
stocks being absorbed by the small in
vestors. whose savings may be thus in
Lost