The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-02-15
THERE OTHERS
Chairman Monett of the Anti
Trust Convention
Points Out That Republicans
as Well as Democrats
Favor Public Ownership of Pub
lie Utilities.
Nj EXITING ADJOURNS
After a Narrow Escape From
Collapse In a Row.
Address of Prof. Thomas E.
Will, of Kansas.
MEETING ADJOURNS

Chicago, Feb 15-Stormy scenes
characterized the sessions of the ma
tional antitrust conference preceding
the final adjournment last night. The
climax came when Delegate Joseph
Parker, a middle-of- the-road Popunst,
surprised the conference with a resolu-
ton pledging the delegates to vote for
no party that does not stand for gov
eminent ownership and the principles
of direct legislation. The Democratic
leaders interpreted this as an attack
upon w. ]. Bryan, and were on their
feet in an instant to block the move.
score of delegates took the floor, and
all tried to talk at the same time.
"You must not stide free speech
here" was shouted
Everybody must be heard" was q.
warning that came from a delegate in
the gallery.
Chairman Monet was in doubt as to
what to do Disorder reigned for ten
minutes, and then Chairman Monet
used the gavel and temporarily ad-
journed the convention.
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 prln-
ciples calling for the repeal Of all laws
sustaining the right of citizens to pri-
waite property, with a view to giving
every citizen a free home. A long
wrangle ensued over the disposition of
the amendment. Captain w. P. Black,
Tom L. Johnson and others appealed to
Quinn to withdraw the amendment, but
he refused. After much discussion, dur
ing which Quinn was denounced as a
diSturber by delegates on the stage,
Chairman Monet put the motion to
adopt the report. He was in doubt,
and two ballots were taken. Finally
he declared the report of the committee
H.
der of disapprovaL Delegate Quinn
during the uproar appealed from the de-
cision of the chair, and his motion
was seconded. The vote was put and
Chairman Monett was sustained by
large majority.
A strong attempt was made at the
conference to offset the partisan effect
of the resolution adopted denouncing
the pending currency bill Frank s.
Monet, 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-f1ve per cent. of the public utili-
ties are owned by the public, whereas
in the many southern Democratic
states less than five per cent. are so
owned.
''I would remind the convention that
Ohio, which is the state of the presi-
dent, is also the state of the author of
the Sherman antitrust act. If we have
an Attorney General Griggs, we also
have an Attorney General Olney."
The convention was enlivened also by
an attack by Prof. Benis on "univer-
stiles whose endowments come from
trlkst rnagnates.''
The professors in these institutions
said the ex-professor of political econ
omy at Chicago University, do their
best, but cannot overcome this handi-
cap. AS remedy, he advocated the
estabI shment through the state legis-
lature of chairs in state universities de-
voted to the study of the trust ques-
ton.
A number of set speeches were heard
at the morning and afternoon sessions,
and the night session, which wound up
the three days conference, heard as
many of the remaining speeches as
could be read in the time that was left.
NJ L. Lockwood of Pennsylvania, was
unanimously elected president of the
national organization, Franklin H.
Wentworth, of Chicago, was chosen sec
rotary. C. Z. Bride, of Washington, D.
c., was elected treasurer, and w. 3.
Fleming, of Kentucky, financial secre-
t2s-v.
The following committee was ap-
pointed to bear the protest of the con-
Vertion against the passage of the cur
rency bill to Washington; w. B. Flem-
ing, William Sulzer. George Fred Will
liams, Mrs. Helen Gouger, E. R. Ridge
ly, Willis J. Abbott, T. Carl Spelling,
Judge William Prentiss, J. B. Weaver,
J. r. Sovereign, W. H. Harvey, J. B.
Romans, J. w. Wilson, John ]. Lent,
NJ. C. Wettmore and c. A. Towne.
The committee decided to meet at
Washington next Monday afternoon.
The list of vice presidents and COM
mittee was adopted without reading.
At the night session of the conference
a resolution by Congressman Sulzer,
pledging the members of the league to
hOvcOtt goods sold nv trusts was read
Congressman Ridgely and others OBJ
jected to the resolution. They thought
the boycott undignifed, but did not OBJ
ject to the members giving moral sup
port to those firms not identified with
trusts. To meet these objections, the
resolution was amended ana passed in
the following form:
Resolved, That the members of the
antitrust league shall give practical eff
feet to their antagonism to trusts by