The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-09-16
MORNING SESSION
or the Conference Devoted to Labor
and Industrial speakers-H Hayes
and Gompers State Their Views.

or the Conference Devoted to Labor
and Industrial speakers- Hayes
and Gompers State Their Views.
CHICAGO, Sept, l5.-working men.
Socialists, advocates Of the single tax
theory and students Of political econ
omy were heard to-day at the Civic
Federation conference on trusts and
combinations.
A majority Of the speakers vigorously
opposed industrial. financial and trans
portatlon combinations. The problem
In Its relation to the working man was
discussed In all It's phases.
Louis F. Post, the New York advocate
OF the single tax, was the first speaker
to-day. HIS address was enthusiastic
nlly cheered.
Thomas ]. Morgan, Of Chicago. FOL
lowed on "The Trust From the Socialist
Point OF View"
Henry White. secretary Of the United
Garment Workers Of America, toI-
lowed.
Il. A. Garland, billed to speak on
IAN Iron and Steel Workers View OF
Combinations" and e. 2. Clark, grand
chief OF the order Of railway conduc-
tors, We're not present when Chairman
Howe called their names, and John W.
Hayes, secretary Of the knights OF La
bor. was called. He said:
II maintain that these great COM
blnltIons nFe an assault upon the inner
ent and constitutional rights OF the
citizen; that the renl and Vital adVan,,
tage to be gained Is the despotlc control
over labor. :.
violence is not the only means OF
making conQuests and enslavlng me
people, and It can be proved Deyonu
any question that the methods OF the
trusts are the methods OF the invader,
and the ends TO be accomplished py
the Instlgators Of the trusts are exae[Iy y,
those intended to- be accomplished Dy
arms directed by military genius. TAX
ing this view Of the trusts, assert
that they are the enemies OF society
and as such should be destroyed,
"The trust being an aggressive COM
bInation for purely selfish objects. at
tacks the Individual and by overthrow
ing his mutual rights seized upon his
deid Of opportunity and production.
This field having been conquered ana
the trusts strengthened In Its financial
mower. the aggressive spirit OF seliisn
rread looks for conQuestS In allied
| fields. which nre soon invaded ana
ypopopolIzel, or other combinations
seeing the success Of the first attempt
cntsr upon the, same campaign OF con-
quest. Soon the Individual is over
whelmed, and every field OF production
is ,nonopolIzed by trust"
Samue. GOmpers, president OF the
American Federation OF Labor follow
cd Secretary Hayes. He denied that
orcanIzed Labor Is a trust, and contin-
ned; "The only practical use OF the an
ti-trust and Interstate commerce laws
has been to take from us the right OF
trial by jliry and to tmprts0Fi working
men for conspiracy.
q believe that Instead Of trusts and
combinations Of capital opposing ana
nntagnnlzinE the labor movement. they
should take more comprehensive view
OF the situation, and try TO make better
friends OF the organized wage earners
than they have In the past.
"In the midst Of the greater concen-
tratIon Of wealth. and the v7st develop
mens Of Industry. It behooves the work.
ers to more ceaselessly than ever de-
vote their energies to organized laoor'
nnd countract the effect which other
wise their helpless and unprotected con-
dtIon would have upon them.
"Organized and alert, the workers
cannot fail to tighten toll and shorten
hours. and fcngthcn life by constant
md persistent efforts, and make the
world better for our having lived In
Mr.. Gompers was loudly applauded.
The conference then recessed until 3
atal9aly