Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1899-09-16
| THE DANGERS N TRUSTS
Civic Federation Opens Up
the Much Talked of Con-
ference in Chicago.
GOV. PINGREE PRESENT.
Uses and Abuses of the Big Organi-
cations Before the Meeting
For Discussion.

For Discussion.
Represented-Music Hall Packed
With Delegates - Interesting Pa
pers Read BY Men of Prominence.
What Combinations DO.
Chicago, Sept. 15.-The Civic Fedora
ton Conference on the uses and abuses
of trusts and combinations, with repre-
sentative men from nearly every state
in attendance, has opened here. Cen
Ual Music Hall was packed with the
tators.
The meeting was called to order by
Chairman Franklin H. Head.
Gov. Pingree, of Michigan is present.
and the New York delegation, headed
by w. Bourke Cochran, is well repre-
scented.
Mr.. Head was followed by Dr. How
ard s. Taylor. who. as the representa-
tive of Mayor Harrison, welcomed the
delegates to Chicago. Attorney Gen
ersl E. G. Akin. acting for Gov. Tan.
ner. who was too i'll to attend. deliver
ed an address of welcome for the peo-
pie of Illinois.
The first real business confronting
the delegates came in the papers de-
iivered by Prof. j. w. jerks and Prof.
Henry Carter Adams. both under the
CAPTION Problems Before the Con-
ference"
Prof. Adams, of the University OF
Michigan. said in part:
"Industrial combinations. whatever
their form. whatever their purpose.
whatever their explanation are mat.
tiers of public concern. 1t is said we
do not know enough of this new form
of industrial organization to judge
properly respecting it.
IF this be true, and If on this ac-
count trusts are to be allowed proba-
tionary existence. it is the plain duty
of Government to hold them mean
time to strict account. If trusts arr
what they claim-that is to say. tn.
yanguards of new Industrial organi-
cation. which holds. within itself great
Industrial benefits sooner this fact
Is recognized by the public the better
for all concerned.
IF on the other hand there Is
danger i'm the extreme application OF
this form of organization. the Govern
ment certainly has a right to possess u
self of all facts necessary for judicial
opinion. and for effective legislation.
where competition controls. the gov
eminent may safely refrain from inter-
ference, but where competition Is eN
cluded. or where the conditions of it's
xercise are such as to give one com.
petitor an advantage over another.
nothing remains but public supervi-
sion: and the most important. indeed
the essential agency for legislation or
for administrative supervision, Is a
thoroughly organized bureau of stats.
tics and accounts. clothed with author
ity over the auditing departments Of
these industrial associations.
''rhe question before this convention
is indeed great question. 1t moves in
many directions and embraces many
considerations 1t is at bottom a ques-
ton of social theories and social ideas.
''Its vastness will be appreciated
when it is observed that it's judicious
treatment will result in securing for
the people the advantages of the indus
trial development of the past century.
while TO ignore or to fail in its solution
would result in prostituting the wealth
created by a hundred years of phe.
nomenal development to the service Of
class
John Graham Brooks. of Cambridge.
Mass. lecturer on social economics ut
the Harvard Union, read paper under
the head. Are the New Combinations
Dangerous?' He spoke in part as fol-
lows:
1--WE do not say corporation Is good
or bad until we know what the corpora
ton is or does. If the business is prop
erly Safeguarded the corporation reu.
ders social service as essential as
the college. the library or the church.
If the larger combinations now under
discussion can be so far controlled as
the Boston Street Railway, and indeed
most in Massachusetts are controlled.
] should say the trust is not to be fear
ed but to he welcomed. The supreme
question that confronts us is that of
possible regulation.
Il submit that the time is at hand for
some kind of wise, thorough and eff
fective organization. Nor do | believe
II open to doubt that the immense pres
sure of this necessity is producing the
so-called trust.
II believe 1t to be the beginning of
practical sense TO understand that the
new combinations can in no sense
be permanently smashed. The party
which proposes to do this, in the sense
of absolutely checking them, will have
plenty Of leisure TO regret it. The real
problem, Immediately and imperious, Is
how TO regulate and guide the new
force that stands merely for the las-
est stage of industrial growth. If the
combinations are to work for the pub
lie, as well as for private good, three
things two of Thorn now largely under