New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-14
ANTI. TRUST AGITA TON.
CHICAGO CONFERENCE WILL FAVOR
GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP OF
RAILROADS AND OTHER
PITBLIC UTILITIES
PUBLIC UTILITIES.

port, which will be submitted TO the conference for
adoption tomorrow morning The discussion was
caused by difference of opn'~- among the mem
bers as to the details how the government should
obtain control of railroad, telegraph and telephone
lines faction, led by Tom L. Johnson Louis Post
and other single tax advocates insisted that the
value OF the franchise in assuming control should
be ignored They thought the Government should
take the property without paying compensation to
the owners.
John P. AItgeld, George Fred williams Gov
ernor Lee and ex-Attorney- General Monnett were
Tor Government ownership of these utilities but
thought the cause would be injured by advocating
practical confscation at this time. Finally exGov
ernor Altgeld suggested a compromise which
brought the warning factions together and pre-
vented fight on the floor of the convention later.
The provision denying the value OF franchise right
was stricken out and amendment substituted de-
carng that the owners should receive just compen-
saton for all property taken without payment for
watered stock other fictitious securities. This
appeared to satisfy the radicals. and adopted.
The platform declared for Government ownership
of all public utilities and natural mOnopolies Gov
eminent money. the referendum and direct legisla-
tion and the withdrawal OF all protective tariffs
from all articles controlled by trust.
The discussion in the committee room far out
ranked the deliberations of the main body Of the
conference. Ignatius Donnely. John P. Altgeld A.
P. McQuirk, OF Iowa, and George Fred WILL
Jams urged the committee to strike from the
buttons proposed a statement that any payment for
railroads should be exclusive OF franchise value
This is a long fight" said Mr. Atgeld, and It
will be years before come to the actual dis
cussion of the proposition which to base
payment Let us not cucumber the discussion with
1t now"
IF lad encountered the proposition TO free
slaves with a statement Of what would do with
them we would never have freed them" said Mr..
Donnelly
Henry George Jr.. however. took the other side of
the question.
I'VE going before the people" he said. LET
us go with the whole. plain truth, and let them
Judge Of t."
Jerry Simpson also favored this view, declaring
that he mad had years of experience with this
question in Kansas. His declaration brought a
warm tiff with Representative McQuirk.
You are not the only who has had expert
ence." said the latter.
We'll, I'm spring chicken anyway" replied
the Kansas statesman
Your feathers have all been pIucked already"
retorted his Iowa opponent to which Mr. Simpson
replied with the old answer TO the conundrum about
building dams by mill site.
Many startling statements were made before the
committee among them by the president, NJ
L. lockwood in which he said that before the
government ownership finally secured it would
be necessary to impeach least one justice of
the Federal Supreme Court, The committee also
considered proposition to recommend to the at
tenton of Congress Senator Pettigrew's bill for
Government ownership of railroads. but it was
voted down
A number of set speeches were heard at the
morning and afternoon sessions of the conference
The night session was in the form of a mass
meeting, which was held at the Auditorium and
brought out some of the strongest speakers among
the delegates. including John p. Altgeld F. s.
Monnett Samuel NJ Jones. John 6. Crosby, George
Fred Williams and Tom L. JoNr5on,
President Lockwood Of the Antitrust League
said tonight:
This is a remarkable gathering in many respects
Every delegate paid his own railroad fare here
and the speakers are all volunteers, The League
The delegates travelled many miles for a purely
yenton we have no Promises S to make P' or oces
p ge belize ARE tbat here ERE to ght for I
of movement which will wipe every malevolent
unfair to charge that this is a political scheme
Of canddates We have members of ali parties and
classes In our ranks. and we are all working with
unselish motives for the betterment OF mankind.
President Lockwood regrets that w. ]. Bryans
name was mentioned in the discussions, and de-
clares 1t his intention to keep politics out of
the conference. 1t has been decided to limit all
future addresses in the conference TO twenty min
utes in order 10 get through with the programme.
Resolutions introduced by Judge Fleming, of Ken
lucky, and adopted by rising vote, strongly con-
demned the currency bill now before Congress. The
resolution declared that the BILL II passed will
"enthrone the money oIgarchy, establish CONT
mental bank trust enslave the people and destroy
the Republic to the end that free government may
perish from the earth"
committee TO prepare memorial to the United
States Senate against the bill provided for,
court-h houses schoolhouses and other public places
to protest against the measure
Immediately after the adoption OF the Fleming
resolutions Amasa Thornton. of New-York. in
formed the presiding officer that he would refuse
to deliver the speech for which he scheduled
to-day. Mr. Thornton made statement on the
floor of the conference regarding this matter. but
refusing to take further part In the conference.
the signature Of President Lockwood of the Anti
Trust League and l am certain that he does not
rency bill Mr.. Lockwood was not present when
the resolutions We're adopted and If he had been
viii NOT he further identined with n ae n6rsJ dI
Tom l. Johnson. OF Ohio. chairman of the Com
aT6r Of on Frank s Monne Feported in
eraI Of Ohio. for permanent chairman of the con-
ference and permanent presidents representing
mended and approved by the convention Mr. Mon
nett was escorted the chair. He spoke briedV
scented the following resolutions. which were rnani-
mously adopted:
Whereas, This Government in the past has granted
pors lions, and is to-day granting the right OF Wa,
through Government lands to railroad corporations
Whereas This conference believes in the princirla
equal rights to all, with special privileges TO
Whereas, The Republican, Democratic and pom
ulst National conventions of 1896 promised fpao
homes TO the settlers upon Government lands:
Resolved. That It is the desire OF this conferapce
that Congress extend the settlers upon GoverU
ment lands the same advantages that have been
given TO railroad corporations and grant TO said
the free homes bin now pending in Congress- -
Among the permanent vice-presidents recon-
mended and approved b. the convention were the
following:
Arkansas j. r. Sovereign: California 1,,a