The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1899-09-14
THE TRUST CONFERENCE
Delegates Went to Chicago With
Their Minds Made Up,
A TEXAN AROUsBs ENTHUSIASM.

MS Hammerlng of the Trusts PIeases
Labor Delegates and Southern aud
Western Mon, But the Eastern Men
Smiled Critically.
Chicago. Sept. 1.-THE conference
on the uses and abuses OF trusts and
combinations began here yesterday
with less than half the delegates APP
pointed by the various states in at
tendance. New York. headed by w.
Bourke Cochran, and Wisconsin we're
most numerously represented.
The meeting took place in Central
Music Hall and was called TO order
by Franklin II. Head, the temporary
chairman appointed by the Civic Fed
Grafton. The delegates listened to an
address Of welcome TO Illinois by At
torney General Akin on behalf Of Gov
ernor Tanner. who by Illness was pre-
vented from appearing in person. Nj.
Akin was followed by DR.. Taylor, who
welcomed the delegates to Chicago on
behalf of Mayor Harrison.
With the progress of the speaking Il
became evident that many of the dele
cations had come with firm convictions
for or against trade combinations. The
speech of Mr. Wooten, of Texas, deliv-
cred during the afternoon, and ham
mering trusts in a merciless manner,
aroused the widest enthusiasm in the
ranks OF the labor representatives and
the delegations from many western
and southern states. while the eastern
ers generally smiled critically and kept
their arms folded.
The attempt to round the somewhat
5hapeless mass of delegates into work
ing form resulted in considerable dis
order Suggestions for the makeup Of
a committee to arrange a program to
be followed the next three days of the
conference popped from every part
Of the house with such rapidity that
It was with difficulty that the tempor
airy chairman extracted the basis for
resolutions which were finally adopted.
This was not accomplished till w.
Bourke Cochran and August Cans, a
delegate representing the knights Of
Labor, had become the center of a
scene which provoked unrestrained
laughter, Mr.. Cochran joining.
The head of the New York contin-
gent, in an endeavor to bring a little
order out of chaos, arose while Mr..
Cans, in a very loud tone of oratory,
was declaring that his delegation was
of more Importance than that OF anv
state. When the New Yorker begun
speaking the labor delegate fished from
his hip pocket a pair OF opera glasses,
and at a short range contemplated the
speaker, commenting occasionally in
such way that the merriment at
tanned a volume which drowned the
voice of the eastern orator.
1t was resolved finally that the Civic
Federation, through its chairman, Mr.
Head, should conduct yesterdays meet
Ing and that a committee on program
consisting of one man from each state
! delegation and one from each or
| ganization national in its scope should
| be appointed. The labor organizations
did not secure recognition until Wig
orous speeches had been made by Mr.
Cans and John w. Hayes, also a
Knights of Labor delegate. Mr.. Hayes
created something of a sensation by
declaring in language as scornful as 1t
was vigorous that "he didn't want to
| be classed with the New Jersey dele
| cation. even if he did vote in that
cradle of trusts"
William Writ Howe was selected
lAAuA4 man VI tAlb LlCGlluBS anu dllGl a
| hot discussion was elected permanent
| chairman of the conference, though
three vice chairmen,' each to preside
| during one day, were selected. 1t was
a happy solution of what at one time
promised to be a split. No one was
| willing to allow a permanent chairman
| 10 be appointed to preside at all ses-
! sions, lest he should favor some fac
tion. The chairman and vice chair
man method of disposing of the ques.
ton was hailed with applause. The
vice chairmen selected were: Thurs
day, Dudley Wooten, Texas; Friday,
Mayor H. B. Johnson, Colorado; Sat-
urday, S. p, Corliss, New York Ralph
NJ. Easley was selected as permanent
| secretary.
Yesterdays speakers were Professors
jerks and Adams. Dudley Wooten Of
| Texas, J. G. Brooke of Cambridge,
Mass, and William Fortune of Indi-
ana. At the evening session the
! speakers were Governor Atkinson of
West Virginia, p. e. Dove, president
Of the Commercial Travellers league,
F. B. Thurber of New York, Joseph
Nimmo, Jr., of Washington, and E. c.
Grow, attorney general of Missouri.