The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-09-27
THE TRUST CONFERENCE.
Representative Public Men Hold a
Convention in Chicago.
DISCUSS TRADE COMBINATIONS
The Conference Attended by Delegates
From Every State-AmusIng Scene
Between Bourke Cochran and q Labor
Man-An Organization Afected-Pur ur.
pose of tho Conference.

CHICAGO Especially The conference or
the uses and abuses OF trusts and combina.
tions began here with less than half the
delegates appointed by the various States
in attendance. New York, headed by W
Bourke Cochran, and Wisconsin were most
numerously represented.
The meeting was held in Central Music
Hall and was called to order at 1880 O'Clock
by franklin H. Head. the Temporary Chair
man appointed by the Civic Federation
The delegates listened to an address OIL
welcome to Illinois by Attorney General
Akin on behalf OF Governor Tanner. who
by illness was prevented from appearing In
person. Mr.. Akin was followed by DR..
Taylor who welcomed the delegates to
Chicago on behali Of Mayor Harrison.
Among those present were: W. Bourke
Cochran, Albert Shaw, OF the Review OF
Reviews; Governor Atkinson, of West Vir.
glnia; Ex-Governor Foster, OF Ohio; Pro.
fessor John B. Clarke, of Columbia Uni
verslty; Attornev-Gsnsral T. s. Smith, OF
Texas; F. B. Thurber, OF New York; Pro.
fessor Henry Carter Adams, OF the Univer.
sity OF Michigan; Professor J. W. jerks, OF
Cornell University; Professor John Ora
ham Brooks, Lecturer on Political Economy
In the University Of Chicago: Profess or
Bemis, Lisutenant-Governor Jones, OF
Ohio; Professor r. r. Ely, OF the Unfver.
sity Of Wisconsin, and Attorney General
Smythe, Of Nebraska.
Chairman Head delivered an address In
explanation of the call for the conference.
He said In part:
"This Is not trust or an antitrust con-
ference, but conference in search OF
k.,,k nri,E fl,f II -,tA
the attendance has been solicited of men
OF every shade OF opinion on the general
subject, from the men who regard trusts
and trade combinations as the standing
menace to our National prosperity, and
even to the perpetuity OF our system Of
government, to those who feel that trade
combinations and large aggregations of &C.
tive capital are simply an active evolution
In the development OF our industrial and
commercial life. and that such aggrega-
tions are absolutely necessary to compete
with the vast accumulations and expert
ence Of rhe older nations, and their almost
total control, outside OF food products, Of
the markets Of the world"
The attempt to round the delegates into
working form resulted In much disorder.
Suggestions for the makeup Of commit
tee to arrange programme to be followed
BY the conference popped from every part
Of the house with such rapidity that 1t was
with difficulty that the Temporary Chair.
man extracted the basis for resolutions
which were finally adopted.
This was not accomplished till Bourke
Cochran and August Cans, delegate rep
resenting the Knights OF Labor, had be-
come the centre OF scene which provoked
great laughter. The head Of the New York
contingent arose while Mr.. Cans, In very
loud tone OF voice, was declaring that his
delegation was OF more Importance than
that OF any State. When the New Yorker
began speaking the labor delegate flshed
from hip pocket a pair OF opera glasses
and at short range contemplated the
speaker, commenting occasionally. with
great vehemence.
The Committee on Permanent Organiza-
tion met after the afternoon adjournment
OF the conference. The committee con-
sisted Of one delegate from each State
represented and each organization OF gen.
eral scope.
William Writ Howe was selected Chair.
man Of the meeting, and after long dis
cussidn was elected Permanent Chairman
OF the conference, though three Vice. Chair
men, each to preside during one day, were
selected. It was happy solution OF what
at one time promised to be q serious prob
lem. The Chairman and Vice.Chairmen
method Of disposing OF the question was
hailed with applause. The Vice-Chsirmen
selected were: Thursday-D udley Wooten:
FrIday-H. B. Johnson; Saturdays. Z.
Corliss.
Ralph N. Easley was selected as Perma-
nent Secretary.
A meeting OF antitrust delegates to the
conference was held In the club-rooms OF
the Sherman House, under the auspices OF
the local committee, which has perfected
an organization for the purpose OF bring
ing together the delegates opposed to
trusts.
Speeches were made by Judge W. n.
Clagett, OF Boise City, Idaho, NJ, L. Lock.
wood, OF Zelienople, Penn, President Of
Wooten, OF Texas; Judge Fleming. OF hen-
tuckv, and others.