Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-09-18
LESS THAN HALF OF THE DELE
GATES PRESENT.
RICHARD r. ELY PRESENT
Dudley Wooten of Texas Stirs Up
Much Enthusiasm Among Labor
Delegates by Bitter Attack on
Trusts-Wirthowe of New York
Elected Permanent Chairman.

Chicago, Sept. 14.-The great con-
ference on the uses and abuses of
trusts and combinations began
Wednesday with less than half the
delegates in attendance. New York,
headed by Bourke Cochran and Wis
consin were the most numerOusly rep
resented. The meeting took place in
Central Music hall and was called to
order at 1910 a. M. by Franklin II.
Head, appointed by the civic fedora
ton on whose call the conference was
arranged for. Attorney General Akin
welcomed the delegates to Illinois on
behalf of Governor Tanner, who by
illness was prevented from appearing
in person. DR.. Taylor welcomed the
delegates on behalf of Mayor Harri-
son. The speech of Wooten of Texas,
hammering the trusts in a merc1less
manner, aroused the widest enthusi-
assn in the ranks of the labor repre-
sentatives and delegates from many
western and southern states, while the
fasteners generally smiled critically,
but made no demonstration. The non
attendance of many of the delegates
was not unexpected. Secretary Easley
announced that probably one hundred
tardy ones, including Governor Pin
gree of Michigan, would be present at
today's session. Among those present
Wednesday were Bourke Cochran, Al
bert Shaw of the Review of Reviews
and Prof. r. T. Ely of the university
Of Wisconsin. William J. Bryan was
absent, but it is believed he will APP
pear later in the conference. An at
tempt to round the somewhat shape
less mass of delegates into working
form resulted in considerable disorder.
It was finally resolved that the civic
federation, through it's chairman,
should conduct the meeting and that
committee on program be named con-
sisting of one man from each state
delegation and one from each organi-
cation national in it's scope. Labor
organizations did not secure recogni-
ton as entitled to committeeman until
| vigorous speeches had been made by
August Cans and John Hays, Knights
of Labor delegates. Hayes created
something of a sensation by declaring
in language as scOrnful as it was Wig
orous that he did not intend to be
classed with the New Jersey delega-
tion, even if he did vote in that cradle
of trusts" Prof jerks followed Head
with paper on Problems Before the
Conference The afternoon session
opened with a paper by Prof. FL. Z.
Adams of the university Of Michigan
on the same subject.
These addresses were received at
tentively, but it remained for Dudley
Wooten of Texas to stir up enthusi-
asm of the camp meeting variety. He
was frequently interrupted by cheer
ing. He said in part: Accepting III
good faith that amendment which the
heroic legion of the south resisted I'M
to death on battle fields, we believe
that neither slavery nor involuntary
servitude, except as punishment for
crime. should exist within the United
States or any place subject to it's jur-
isdiction. And we confidently assert
that the commercial and industrial
bondage being rapidly imposed upon
the toll and talents of the 100000
Americans by the syndicated wealth
of a few great corporate monopolies is
more dire and dangerous than slavery |
which bowed the heads and burdened |
the backs of 4,OOOO,00O southern black
men. And above and beyond these |
great written guarantees of equality
and justice, we look to the lessons of
history and appeal to the authority of
experience. When we are told that
the spirit of commercial combination
promises golden rewards to the pres
ent tendencies of our economic system,
we remember that no republic has ever
survived a mercenary despOtism.
Prof. John Graham Brooks of Cam
bridge, Mass, and William Fortune,
president of the Indiana boards of
commerce." also spoke.
The committee on permanent organ
ization met after the afternoon adj
iournment of the conference. The