The San Francisco call., 1899-09-15
GOV. PINGREE IS
AGAINST TRUSTS
In Favor of Their Com
plete Annihilation.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

CHICAGO. Sept. Enthusiastic inter-
est and a crowded hall put to-night's
session Of the conference on trusts sharp
Iy in contrast with the forenoon and aft
ernoon gatherings. Central Music Hall
was packed with an audience that repre-
sented nearly every class Of people. Gov
eruor Pingree of Michigan was the star
attraction. The Governor was received
with applause so fervent that it was some
minutes before he could proceed with hts
address. He was obliged to rise several
times after taking his seat and bow ac-
acknowledgement before the audience would
allow the chairman TO introduce the next
speaker.
The house was divided against itself
during the address Of the next speaker
ex-Secretary OF the Treasury Charles
Foster. The audience finally became so
demonstrative in interrupting the speaker
with questions and remarks that q dele
gate asked the chairman to clear the gal
leries unless the interruption ceased
Governor Pingree's subject was The
Effect OF Trusts on Our National Life and
Citizenship"
He began by mildly crtticlzing the Civic
Federation OF Chicago. declaring that in
all Of the sixty-nine questions distributed
by the Federation broadcast over the
country, as a means of gathering mater
iaI for the use Of the conference, only one
question related in any way to the effect
Of trusts upon society. He deplored the
fact that in all the discussion, business
conside eraiOns-the almighty dollar
seemed TO be uppernost.
While It is a popular faIllacy to deny t5ty
country, he said. It IS nevertheless in
disputabIe that well defined classes di-
vide our society. The strength OF the re-
public, he said, rests in the great mid
die class, the manufacturers. JoboeFs
middle men. commercial travellers and
business men. generally and II would be
little short Of calamity TO encourage any
industrial development that would arect
unfavorably this important class Close
70 them and another strong element are
the skilled mechanics and artisans.
Il was the effect Of the trust upon the
classes. Governor Ptngree maintained,
that should be Erst ConsldeTeu. As ne
viewed the situation, the tendency or the
trusts was % drive these men into the
service OF the great combinations Where
their identity would be lost and where
they would become mere COgs and little
wheels in q great complicated machine.
Ambition and perhaps inventive genius
would be GeadeGed and killed, tnde-
pendeuCa would be lost and a sort of in
ciaI feudaLism. he said, is the logical out
come Of the trust, the trust manager be-
coming the feudal baron. Commercial
advantages and disadvantages might be
argued he said. but II would not be
honest 10 the people either in this con-
ference or in legislative assemblies, II
the effect Of the trust upon our national
life md citizenship be not considered.
Governor Pingree believed il would be
better 10 be forever poor, but Indepen-
dent and happy as individuals, than TO
lay the foundations tor lndustrlaI slavery
and granny. Equality of opportunity TO
all men would be better than the control
Of the worlds trade.
i. favor complete. and prompt ami
Pingree. with due regard for property
rights. Of course"