The evening times., 1899-06-28

Buffalo, N. ", June 2S.-On the top
floor of the De Morgan building. at Main
and Huron streets, the National Social and
| Political conference began it's first session
at $3.50 o'clock this morning. The confer
ence is to continue daily until the even
ing Of July 5. The other name of the body
OF men and women who will constitute
the conference is the National Reform As
| sociation. The stated purposes Of the con-
ference are sufficiently vague to arouse sus-
picion Of existence OF invisible plans to
form new party. Many of those who are
announced to attend 1t are SO we'll known
and Of such widely different veiws on many
political questions as to make any plans
for political afhliation appear almost as a
paradox Comparatively few of the famous
personages arrived last night, but those
who came said the others would follow
today and there would be a galaxy Of stars
such as rarely have been seen In any hall
at one time.
One OF the oldest reformers who arrived
yesterday was DIR. William K Skillman,
of Philadelphia, the associate editor of the
Weekly City and State" ITO tell YOU
the truth" he said. the present gather
Ing seems to have had no origin Four
years ago the Rev. B. Fay Mills, called a
number OF persons together and we had a
refreshing series of meetings known as the
Glen Falls gathering. The next year a
still larger number led by Mr.. Mills and
+. IL. Crosby, of New York, about thirty in
all. met at what was known as the Crosby
Side gathering. 1t was delightful con-
vention of cranks Of all kinds each with
MS own views and tolerate audience
and 1t did me great good. Then the project
iapsed for two years and then along came
this gathering which if it can be called as
coming from anything. unconsciously is
an offspring Of those gatherings of three or
four years ago."
So much for its origin Now for its
purpose. Joseph r. Buchanan. of New
York, is the official fountainhead of he in
formation. 1T is a heterogeneous gather
ing OF refOrmers of all kinds said Mr.
Buchanan. There is no plot to .orm a
new party; the idea is to get all the lead
Ing reformers representing all the reforms
of the present day and have them discuss
matters chiefly with view of reaching, IL
possible. basis of uniiication whereby the
leaders OF the numerous reforms and their
followers can unite or can act unitedIy and
with consolidated power
Many visitors say that il savors a bit of
a reform trust or gigantic pool of hob
bies. but its formation is by no means GER
tain. The one official of the conference
apart from the members of the committees
seems TO be a smooth shaven. affable young
man named Eltweed Pomeroy. who brought
with him from Newark, n. j.. a big trunk.
and who is President of the National Direct
Legislation League. He opened headquar-
ters soon after his arrival yesterday in
(,anaGEaa al In Nd
other reformers appeared during the day.
The Genessee Hotel was filled with reform
ers lobbyists, philosophers and others last
night. The single takers, municipal own
ership apostles, profit -sharers national pa
per money advocates. direct legislationists
proportional representationists. permanent
international tribunalists. anti -mllitarists
and others revel in argument and discus
sion. One enthusiast on national PAPER
money unrolled big chart six feet long on
the floor Of the red parlor and spent an
hour explaining it TO professional persons
and Others.
Tomorrow political reforms are to be dis /
cussed. followed by Reform Through Par
ty Action" Friday and Saturday will be
devoted to speechmaking by men ;elected
to present various plans of the next thing
to do.
Sunday a number of the ministers at the |
VIII pltdti III tIuTGHts.
and on Monday will discuss What 10 Do |
Next"
Edwin d. Mead, of Boston. called the /
to order this morning. He said /
ii was a friendly gathering of an educa- |
tional character. He introduced n. o. Mel /
son. Of St Louis. a manufacturer, as chair |
man. Mr.. Nelson at once assailed the |
trusts. He said they were dangerous TO !
the country. Willis T. W. Abbott, formerly /
of the New York Journal spoke for 1
twenty minutes on industrial monopolies.
Among the reformers present are Mayor
Sam Jones, of Toledo; James R. Sovereign.
Of Knights of Labor fame, and Frank W.
State Bank Examiner, of
Kansas.
Many of the prominent antitrust men of
the country are not coming. Governor
PingIee, of Michigan. has sent word that
he will not be here. Sam Gompers will
lot be here, either. 1t is the belief today
hat not one-third of the men who were
booked to attend the conference will be
here