Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-13
TRUSTS UNDER FIRE
Conference Called by Civic Federation
Convenes in Chicago.
MANY PROMINENT men PRESENT
After Opening Formalities Dele
gates Settle Down to Business.
PROFESSOR ADAMS SPEECH

CHICAGO. September 13.-The civic fed
Grafton conference on uses and abuses of
trusts and combinations with representa-
tive men from nearly every state in attend
ance opened here today. Central Music
Hall was packed with the 200 delegates and
hundreds of spectators.
The meeting was called to order by Chair
man Franklin II. Head
Mr.. Head was followed by DR.. Howard
S. Taylor. who, the representative of
Mayor Harrison, welcomed the delegates
to Chicago.
Attorney General E. C. Akin. acting for
Governor Tanner. who was too Ill to at
tend. delivered an address of welcome for
the people of Illinois
The first taste of the real business con-
fronting the delegates came In the papers
delivered by Prof. j. W. jerks and Prof.
Henry Carter Adams, both under the cap
tion Problems before the conference.
Prof Adams speech was in part as fol-
lows:
industrial combinations, whatever their
form, whatever their purpose, whatever
their explanation are matters of public
concern. 1t Is said we do not know enough
of this new form of industrial organiza-
ton to judge properly respecting It, II
this be true. and If on this account trusts
are to be allowed probationary existence,
it is the plain duty of government to hold
them meantime to strict account. If trusts
are what they claim, that is to say, the
vanguards of a new Industrial organization
which holds within itself great Industrial
benefits, the sooner this fact is recognized
by the public the better for all concerned.
Rights of the Government.
If on the other hand, there is danger in
the extreme application of this form Of or
ganization, the government certainly has q
right to possess itself of all facts neces-
sary for judicial opinion and for effective
legislation. Where competition controls
the government may safely refrain from In
reference, but where competition is ex-
cluded or where the conditions OF Its ex-
ercise are such as to give one competitor
an advantage over another nothing re-
mains but public supervision. 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 authority
over the auditing departments Of these in
dustrial associations.
John Graham Brooks of Cambridge
Mass. lecturer on Social Economics at
Harvard University. read a paper under
the head. Are the New Combinations So
cially Dangerous
The roll call disclosed the fact that the
greater part of the delegates are yet to
arrive. The responses as name after name
was read We're few and lar between Gov
Pingree 1t was annour would arrive
tonight. and SeWetaEN -tiey said large
numbers of delegates would arrive tonight
and tomorrow. The New York delegation,
headed by Bourke Cochran, will be repre-
ssnted.
Resolution Starts Debate.
A resolution was adopted that commit
tee to con iuct the business of the confer
ence after today be made up of one repre-
sentative of each state delegation and each
delegation representing national organiza-
tion. Delegates representing local organ
izations from various cities, 1t was decided,
should have hand in the selection of the
committeeman of the delegation from their
state.
Trouble started Immediately after the
motion was carried that the conference ap
point a committee on program and rules
to manage the session composed of one
member from each state represented. the
states to select their own committeeman
Secretary John w. Hayes of the knights
of Labor announced that he did not pro-
pose to be associated in any way with the
New Jersey delegation. This announce
ment was vigorously applauded by some of
the delegates. August Cans of Chicago Sc
cured the floor before the vote was an
nounced. and moved that the Knights of
Labor and other labor organizations be rec
ognized on the same basis a state. After
a good deal of caustic discussion the mo-
ton was carried. At o clock a recess was
taken until 3 pm.