Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-09-14
DISCUSSING TRUSTS,
The Uses and Abuses Of Such
Combinations,
CONFERENCE At CHICAGO.
Less Than Half The Appointed Dele
gates in Attendance.
STIRRING SPEECH FROM A TEXAN.
Ii Hammers the Corporate MOnopo-
lies in MerciIess Manner and
ArOuses Great Enthusiasm-W. w.
Howe, of Louisiana, Chairman.
STIRRING SPEECH FROM A TEXAN
1t Hammers the Corporate Monopo
Howe, Of Louisiana, Chairman.

ence on the uses and abuses of trusts ana
combinations began here to-day, 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 took place In
Central Music Hail. and was called 10 or
der at 1890 by Franklin II. Head, the
temporary chairman, appointed by the
Civic Federation, on whose call the con-
ference was arranged.
The delegates listened to an address OF
welcome by Attorney-General-of
Aiken, representing Governor Tanner
who, by reason of illness, was prevented
from appearing in person. Mr.. Aiken
was followed by DR.. Taylor, who well
coined the delegation; also. Mayor Harri-
son.
With the progress Of the speaking 1t
became evident that many Of the dele
gates had come with firm convictions for
or against trade combinations. The speech
of Mr.. Wooten OF Texas. delivered du-
ring the afternoon, and hammering the
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 customers generally smiled
critically and kept their arms folded.
THE PROGRAMME.
The attempt to round the somewhat
shapeless mass of delegates into working
form resulted in considerable disorder.
This was resolved finally-that the Civic
Federation, through its chairman, Mr..
Head, should conduct the meeting to-
day. and that committee on programme,
consisting of one man from east state
delegation, and one from each organiza-
ton national in its scope, should be APP
pointed. Local organizations in attend
ance were given a voice in the committee
by being allowed 10 vote on the commit
teemen with the delegations from their
States. The labor organizations did not
secure recognition until vigorous speech
es had been made by August Cans, rep
resenting the knights OF Labor, and John
W. Hayes, also a Knight OF LABOR dele
gate.
The non-attendance Of many delegates
was not unexpected, and Secretary
Easley announced that probably a nun
bred of the tardy ones, including Cover
nor Pingree, Of Michigan, would be pres
ent at to-morrows session.
DISTINGUISHED DELEGATES.
Among those present We're w. Bourke
Cochran, Albert Shaw, of the Review
of Reviews; Governor Atkinson, Of West
Virginia; Ex-Governor Foster, of Ohio;
Professor John b. Clarke, Of Col
umbia University; Attorney-General
r.. S. Smith, of Texas; f. b.
Thurber, Of New York; Professor
Henry c. Adams. of the University of
Michigan; Professor j. w. jerks. of Cor
nell University; Professor John G.
Brooks, Of Cambridge, Mass. lecturer on
political economy in the University of
Chicago; Professor Bemiss Of Massa-
chusetts; ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Jones, Of
Ohio; Professor r. T. Ely, Of the Univer-
sity Of Wisconsin, and Attorney General
Smythe. of Nebraska. William j. Bryan
was absent but it is believed he will APP
pear later in the conference.
Chairman Head delivered an address in
explanation of the call for the confer
ence. Professor jerks followed with a
paper under the caption, Problems Be
fore the Conference" The afternoon ses-
sion was opened by a paper from Profess
of his predecessor, Mr.. jerks.
WOOTEN'S ROUSING SPEECH.
These addresses were received atten-
lively, but it remained for Dudley Woot-
en-. of the Texas delegation, 10 stir up
enthusiasm of the camp-meeting variety.
He was frequently interrupted by cheer
ing. He spoke, in part, as follows:
Accepting in good faith that amend
ment which the heroic legions of the
\ 4. "A
battle-felds, we believe that neither
slavery nor involuntary servitude, except
as punishment for crime, shall exist
within the United States, or any place
subject to their Jurisdiction and We con-
Evidently assert that the commercial and
Industrial bondage being rapidly imposed
upon the toll and talents of 70,0O0.000
American citizens by the syndicated
wealth of a few great corporate mono
poles. is more dire and dangerous than
the slavery which bowed the heads and
burdened the backs of 100000 southern
black men.
"And above and beyond these great
written guarantees of equality and jus
dee. we look TO the lessons of history
and appeal to the authority and expert
ence. WhSn we are told that commercial
combination promises golden rewards 10
the present tendencies OF our economic
system we remember that no republic
has ever survived the mercenary despot-
ism of merchants and money-changers."
John Graham Brooks, Of Cambridge,
Mass. in sticking closely to facts" as
he prefaced his address, was received
with considerable applause. His subject
was. Are the New Combinations Social
~ Dangerous
William Fortune, president of the In
diana State Board of Commerce, also
spoke. ..,,..r.1,>.
The Committee on Permanent Organiza-
tion met after the adjournment OF the
conference. The committee, consisting OF
one delegate from each represented State
and each organization OF general scope,
was In part as follows: Texas, Hon. j.
r Davidson; Florida Franklin Forbes;
Nest Virginia, ]. h. Harris; South Caro-
lima H. C. Hartmann Mississippi. w.
culver. Louisiana, w w. Howe.
William Writ Howe was selected chair
man OF the meeting, and after hot dis
cnssion. was elected permanent chairman
Of the conference. though three vice.
chairmen. each TO preside during one DAY
were also elected. II was happy soiu-
lion of what, at one time, promised TO
be a split. No one was willing 10 ahow a
permanent chairman to be appointed 10
preside at all sessions, lest ne shouid
favor some faction.
THE yice-chairmen selected were:
rhursday-Dudley Wooten, or Texas.
E,riday-H h. Johnson, OF Colorado;
saturdays p. Corliss, OF New YORK.
Pelnh NJ Easley was selected as per-
1870 .~o.atory A eub-cqmmlttee on