The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-02-16

Chicago. February l3.-The commit
tee on resolutions Of the national anti
trust conference tonight. after q
stormy meeting, finally agreed upon a
report which will be submitted TO the
conference for adoption tomorrow
morning. The discussion was caused
by a difference OF opinion among the
members as 10 the details OF how the
government should obtain control of
the railroad, telegraph and
lines.
A faction, led by Tom L. Johnson
Louis Post and other single-tax advo-
Gates, insisted that the value OF fran
lchlse IN assuming control should be
ignored. They thought the govern
iInent should take the property without
paying compensation TO the owners.
John p. Altgeld, George F. Williams.
Governor Lee and ex-Attorney Gen
leral Monnett of Ohio We're for govern
lment ownership of these utilities.
but thought the cause would be in
1ured by advocating practical confsca-
ton at his time. Finally. John p.
Altgeld suggested a compromise
which brought the warning factions to-
lgether and prevented a fight on the
moor or the later.
The provision denying the value of
franchise right was stricken out and
an amendment substituted. declaring
that the owners should receive lust
compensation for all property taken.
irrespective of watered stock or other
hctltlous securities. This appeared to
satisfy the radicals and was adopted.
The committee also unanimously ia
vored direct popular legislation to OBJ
tain the result.
The platform unanimously adopted
by the committee declares for govern
ment ownership of all public utilities
and natural monopolies, government
money, the referendum and direct leg
Iislation, n the withdrawal of all pro-
Elective tariffs from all articles con-
Itrolled by a trust. Among other things
after urging organization to deprive
trusts of their power, it says:
w make no assault upon business
combinations, for diminishing produc-
tive cost or augmenting productive eff
lflclency. What We attack is combina-
lions for coercing producers and les
SEEMING production. 1t is such combi-
nations that constitute the trust evil
and them we would abolish root and
branch.
when oppressive trusts are examin-
led they are found to be combinations,
mot for a~ugmenting wealth, but for
~hampering its production; not for
making things plentiful and cheap, but
for making them scarce and dear.
Their strength lies in a more intense
concentration of monopoly privileges.
In some instances these privileges are
owned by the trust itself. In some they
result from conditions produced by
public policy. In others they are
Harmed out in more or less secret ways
by the principal beneficiaries to sub
lSidiary trusts"
The platform particularly attacks the
standard Oil trust, to which it says
MISUNDERSTANDING laws have COM
mitted the regulation of the peoples
needs n rights in one department of
Industry. Their needs and rights in
another have been by similar laws
committed to the beef trust"
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 n brought ont some
of the strongest speakers among the
delegates, including Joh 2. Aliseld,
IF. S. Monnett, Samuel NJ. Jones, John
S. Crosby, George Fred Williams and
Tom l.. Johnson.
Resolutions introduced by Judge
FLEMING, of Kentucky, were adopted by
a rising vote, strongly c~ondemning the
Icurrency bill now before congress.
A committee to prepare a memorial
to the United States senate against the
bill was provided for and the people
Iof the country urged to gather at court
houses, school houses and other public
places to protest against the measure.
Immediately, Amasi Thornton, of
New York, notified the presiding off,
Ger that he would refus, to deliver
the speech for which he was schedul-
led today.
II an interview later he explained
Itnat he had been assured that this was
to be a non-partisan gathering, that
assurance being over the signature Of
president Lockwood, whom he believed
does not approve of tie partisan reso-
luton against the currency bill.