The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-15
octopus FIGHTERS WRANGLE.
prT THE PLATFORM WAS ADOPT
ED AS SCHEDULED.


nil Denounced-Protest Against
currency Eli Sent to Washington.
DonneIIy Wanted New Party,
and suIzer Attacked Him Warmly.
chicago, Feb. 14.-Stormy scenes char
.,terized the sessions of the National An
f-Trust Conference preceding the final
adjournment tonight.
TIE climax came when Delegate Joseph
parker, middle-of-the-road Populist sur
nrised the conference with resolution
Hedging the delegates to vote for no party
that does not stand for government owner
ship and the principle OF direct legisla-
lion.
The Democratic leaders interpreted this
as an attack on w. j. Bryan and were on
their feet in an instant to block the move
A score of delegates took the floor and all
tried to talk-at the same time.
you must not stife free speech here
was shouted.
Everybody must be heard" was the
warning that came from delegate in the
gallery.
Chairman Monnett was in doubt as TO
what to do Disorder reigned for ten
minutes and then Chairman Monnett used
the gavel and temporarily adjourned the
convention.
Right to Private Property.
Another whirl of excitement took place
after the reading of the report of the
Committee on Resolutions when Delegate
Quinn of Illinois offered an amendment
to the declaration of principles, calling
for che repeal of all laws sustaining the
right of citizens to private property with
view to giving every citizen a free home
long wrangle ensued over the dispo-
siton of the amendment Capt W. p
Black Tom L. Johnson and others ap-
pealed to Quinn to withdraw the amend
nent, but he refused. After much dis
cusson, during which Quinn was de-
nounced as a disturber by delegates on
the floor, Chairman Monnett put the mo-
ton to adopt the report He was in doubt,
and two ballots were taken.
Finally he declared the report of the
committee adopted and the ruling caused
a thunder of disapproval. Delegate Quinn
during the uproar appealed from the de-
cison of the chair and his motion was
seconded. The vote was put and Chairman
Monnett was sustained by large major
ity.
A word for the Republicans.
A strong attempt was made at the con-
ference to-day to offset the partisan eff
feet of the resolutions adopted yesterday,
denouncing the pending currency bill.
Frank S. Monnett, permanent chairman
of the conference, made a speech in which
he declared that the movement for public
ownership of public utilities was being
carried on by the Republican party as
well as by the Democratic party.
In the Republican Northwest" he
said, ''sixty-five per cent. of the public
utilities are owned by the public, whereas
in many Southern Democratic states less
than per cent. are so owned
The convention was enlivened also by an
attack by Prof. Bemis on universities
whose endowments come from trust mag
nates.''
The professor in these institutions, said
the eX-profeSSOr of political economy of
Chicago University, do their best, but can
not overcome this handicap. As a rem
edy, he advocated the establishment
through the state Legislature of chairs in
state universities devoted to the study of
the trust question:
A number of set speeches were heard at
the three sessions to-day, which wound
up the three days conference.
Prof. John R. Commons of New York,
w. H. Osgood of Massachusetts and Prof.
Edward w. Bemls of New York made
speeches.
Platform Was Adopted.
in favor of the ordinary parliamentary
rules was unanimously adopted. Louis f.
Post of Chicago reported from the Com
mittee on Platform and Resolutions He
said the report of the committee had been
unanimously agreed upon and introduced
Prof. Wills, VINO read the report.
An address to the American people on
the trust question, formulated by the Res
olutions Committee, was read by Prof.
Wills.
The Committee on National Organization
reported that it had considered the ques-
ton of national organization and pre-
sented detailed outline for the same.
After protracted debate the address
to the public on the report of the Reso-
buttons Committee was declared adopted.
Called Trust Measure.
j. r. Sovereign, Arkansas, presented
resolution which was adopted denouncing
the anti-scalping bill as a trust measure
which was discriminating and unjust.
Mr.. Parker of Kentucky, presented
resolution declaring that all members of
the conference pledge themselves not to
support any political party which fails to
declare itself for the principles of direct
legislation and government ownership of
railroads and telegraph. This precipitated
a wordy war between the opposing fac
tons in the conference. The debate was
cut off by recess
DonnelIy Wanted New Party.
At the afternoon session the national or
ganization report was the privileged bust
ness.
Gen. Weaver moved the adoption of the
report. Ignatius Donnelly got the floor
and pleaded with the delegates to do
something tangible, Tine desired move
ment, he said, could not be brought about
by leagues. He called on the conference
to now form party and call for a
national convention. Unless that was
done, he asserted, the conference would
not amount to as much as a last years
birds nest
The middie-ot-the-road Popullst faction
in the convention cheered these sentiments
wildly
Time was called, but Mr.. Donnelly was
given FIVE minutes more
Jerry Simpson of Kansas followed. He
challenged the statement of Mre~Parker of
tI,as. - Il