Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-07-18
WILL FIGHT TRUSTS.
THE CHICAGO CONFERENCES COM
MITTEE ASKS QUESTIONS.
BRYAN OFR OF THE DELEGATES.
Will Make an Address ON Industrial
Conditions mt the september Gath
eripg - Preliminary Arrangements
Include the Collection of Data.
washlnston Postl

CHICAGO. July i6.--The General Com
mttcc on Arrangements for the confer
ence on combinations and trusts. called
by the Civic Federation Of Chicago has
mailed circuar-le,ters TO 40 trusts ana
combinations throughout the country
asking twenty-six questions such as the
number OF organizations included In the
consolidation. the number yet outside
total original capital OF the various con-
Germs now merged and the present capt
tai employed by the combination, and the
effect on prices of products, the effect on
labor as 20 displacement, and ratio OF
wages
OF The labor unions in the variads
crafts employed in these combinations
questions are asked as 70 the effect on
wages hours Of work. and the NUMBER
brown out Of employment by the organi-
.ation Of the trusts The questions ao-
dressed 10 the 100 national ana locai
travelling men's organizations throughout
the country are as follows;
THE QUESTIONS PROPOUNDED.
/ How many commercial travellers in
your immediate vicinity have lost ther
positions owing 70 trust consultations?
2 HOW many Of those, discharged belong
10 your local organization?
g. What effect have these combinations
had regarding the salaries Of commercial
travellers retained in their employY
4. Estimate the number Of commercial
travellers residing in your locality.
s. What is your opinion OF trusts ana
industrial combinations, and what IS the
general sentiment expressed regarding
them.
The committee hopes the employment
OF this system will be that each set OF
replies may operate as a check upon he
others. so that the final result will be an
unquestionably accurate lot of data on
the essential points at issue in the trust
problem-materia which viii provide
basis for argument I'm the conference.
The six questions addressed 10 the
Wholesale dealers are as follows:
I,Are any or all of the articles in which
you deal manufactured by trust or
combination?
. II any. please state what.
g. To what extent are you able to buy
these goods from sources outside Of the
combination
T. What has been the course Of prices
since the combinations on the goods you
sell? Please give as full statistics Of
prices before and after combination as
you can. TO support your statement.
5. To what extent do you ascri0e' the
changes which have occurred TO the fact
OF combination. and TO what extent are
they due 10 other causes? Give any fig
ures that you can Of increase ana de-
crease in supply and demand, in support
of your views.
6 what Is your opinion Of the general
effect Of the combinations in your line
on (a) the trade-the distributer-and %
the public-the consumer?
MR. BRYAN A DELEGATE.
The list Of delegates appointed by the
Governors of the different States, TO at
tend the conference on combinations ana
trusts, called by the civic Federation OF
Chicago for September 13th-lGth. are be-
ginning 10 come in. Among those re-
ceived to-day were the following:
Northumberland Rosewator. Cover
nor c. Rounz, United States Senator AL
len. and William J. Bryan.
West Nirgnia-E. 5. Hutchinson, II. II.
Cassidy, J. w. Roche, James X. Smoot.
$. II. Gramm Samuel Dixon, Hullen
Quarter and ID. a. w. WineabbOtt.
Colorado-Thomas NJ F. Pattison, Mrs.
Sarah $. Plat. vice-president general OF
the Federation of Womens Clubs, and
Ex-Governor A. l.. Vahanam.
Additional acceptaQces have been re-
ceived from the Governors of Florida ana
New Jersey. who will appoint delegates
and attend in person, If possible Cover
nors Plngree, of Michigan; Stanley, Of
Kansas, and Poynter. of Nebraska, eX-
pect TO be present
Dir. Bryan will speak on the results of
industrial and financial conditions. Chi
Cages Antitrust League has decided TO
hold an antitrust demonstration and
mass-meeting In Burlington, ILL.,. on Au-
gust 9th Invitations have been sent 10
many prominent men throughout the
country. Among those who will speak
are William J. Bryan and Governor PIN
gree OF Michigan.