The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-11-21
Resolution Adopted by Industrial
Representatives After Spirited
All-Day Meeting at Planters.
E. c. SIMMONS. WlTHDRAWs.
Head of the Big Hardware House
Declared He Would Rather
Abolish the Interstate Com
mission - Officers Named.

The League OF National Association of
Industrial and Commercial Organizations ad-
journed last night. having adopted mem
orial TO Congress asking for the early pas
sage of the CUllom amendments TO the inter-
, state commerce law. The convention was in
session the greater portion of the day. and
considerable feeling was aroused by certain
delegates who did not coincide in their
views with those who had called the meet
ing.
An effort was made In the afternoon to
have y. G. Cochran, general solicitor of the
Missouri Pacific. address the gathering. but
it was voted down. a majority declaring the
convention had been called for one purpose.
Z. c. Simmons of St. Louis astounded the
committee meeting in the morning by TAX
ing stand against the Cullom amendments.
The convention was called to order in the
morning by President E. z. Bacon of Mil
waukee. He named various committees and
an adjournment was taken. The Committee
on Memorial and Resolutions began Its
lahors in parlor Is at the Planters hotel,
where the convention was held.
h. B. ThurZer OF New York made speech
advising the committee that the amend
ments sought to delegate the power of max
ing railroad rates to the Interstate Com
merce Commission. MIR. Thureer was fol-
lowed by t. c. Simmons, delegate from the
Merchants Exchange of ST. Louis. Mr..
Simmons declared that he was opposed 20
the Cullom bill, and that the Representatives
present We're making a mistake in their
advocacy of such measure. He said his
! firm had suffered at the hands of the Inter
state Commerce Commission, and that he
thought to abolish the commission would
be a preferable way out of the difficulty.
l.. ID. Boswell Of Quincy. ILL.,. called Mr..
Simmons TO task for arguing the question
in u convention called for the express pur-
pose of indorsing the bill.
Mr.. Simmons secured the floor and thanked
Mr.. Boswell TOR calling his attention to the
specific object OF the meeting ana declared
that, while he did not expect to change his
views. he would withdraw.
Didn't Propose to Yield.
But Go not propose to yield my opinion
on this subject" ne continued. Il think
you are mistaken in urging the passage of
these amendments. l have always been op-
posed to them. and expect to continue my
opposition to the end. When you reach
Washington and continue 10 urge the pas
sage OF the bill you will ino us luere oppos-
inS your measure"
Mr.. Simmons withdrew from the room;
but not before Presiden; Bacon requested
him TO remain, which he refused to do
under the circumstances. The committee
adjourned until o'clock in the afternoon.
At the afternoon session the Committee on
ported. The latter report showed thirty,
seven distinct organizations represented
with proper credentials
Z. o. Stanard OF st. Louis was made presi-
Dent of the meeting ana Frank Berry of
Milwaukee secretary. +. p. bacon Of Mil
waukee. chairman of the Committee on
1t was taken up by sections and adopted
seriatinl. Martin S. Decker. assistant sec
se,ary s;d OF the interstate e. cPmntercs Commits;
to answer questions regarding the proposed
amendments. which 1t is said were drafted
by one Of the meubers OF the commission.
Trade, inquired OF Mr.. Decker If the law
as Interpreted conferred upon the Commits
sioners the right OF making rates.
1T does not" said Mr. Decker. THE In
terstate Commerce Commission cannot take
step on its own motion or make an order
which "a carrier is forced to obey. These
amendments seek TO give 1t the power"
Mr.. Bacons Speech.
Mr. Bacon then made short speech,
earnestly advocating the passage OIL the
amendments. He declared that 1t would
Commission to reduce injurious rates on
complaint, and that there was recourse for
the carrier In the courts. He declared that
the railroads frequently crushed out small
shippers. and, by favorable rates built up
other shippers. which is contrary to justice.
He declared that the question OF ciassifca-
ton. which was also affected, would serve
to place well-deseryed power in the hands
Of the commission and through expert rate
clerks of its own it could do the work as
we'll as the forces of the railroads them
selves with equality for all and no dis
elimination.
F. B. Thurber of New York, who was
known to be antagonisuc to the Cullom
amendments. secured the floor. He declared
that there was fear among the officers of
swayed by political and sectional infinences.
This Is the reason. he said, why the carriers
Of the country are opposed to the amend
mentsl
August!n Gallagher OF ST. Louis read a
portion of the Congressional Record. show
Ing that the bill did not seek to make rates
Mr.. Wrape Of the Tight Barrel Assoc,a-
ton moved that A. G. Cochran OF ST. Louis,
representing the railroads. be permitted to
Toledo. O.. objected, claiming that it would
prolong the session. Breediove Smith of the
New Orleans Chamber of Commerce. urged
II was but a fair thing to do and that his
time gould be limited. 8. H. Cowan of
Fort Worth argued that as a matter of
courtesy he should ba heard.
Meeting Not a Court.
I'VE are not trying the case here" de-
In a moment. 1T has been fought through
the Supreme Court before. There is no
doubt the railroads are against us. and 1
think all Senators are more or less tnfiu-
enced against us by the interests they hold
in railroad projects" The. matter was put
to vote. and the convention stood q to l6
against hearing Mr.. Cochran.
The memorial adopted urges Congress to
pass the Cullom bill soon possible.
An Executive Committee of five was au-
thorized to devise ways and means for Sc
curing its passage. Each commercial and
industrial organization in the country is
asked to send a representative to Washing
ton. when Congress convenes. to work fSr
the passage OF the measure, and the Ex-
ecutive Committee is instructed to employ
competent person who shall remain in
Washington and take charge of the work.
The Executive Committee was named by
President Stanard as follows: f. p. Bacon
of Milwaukee, C. II. Seybt of ST Louis. S.
H: Cowan of Fort Worth. J. E Howard of
Wichita. Kas.. and II. S. Lyon of Chicago.
Vice presidents. as far as selected, are:
NJ. H. Davis of Shelby. O.; C. T. Ballard of
Louisville Ky; G. C. Warren OF Saginaw.
Mich; E: P. Bronson of Nashville, Tenn;
T. G.. Weber of Salt Lake City, Utah: f. l..
Kelly of Ninita. l. T.; F. L. Kaufman of
St. Louis: P. j. Kleburg of Fort Worth.
Tex; A. Fassler of Topeka. Kas.; L. b.
Boswell of Quincy, Ill; c. B. Cole of Ches-
ter, H.; Rreedlove Smith of New Orleans,
La: F. H. Magdeberg OF Milwaukee, Wis;
l. NJ. Langley of New York City; n. b.
Kelly of Philadelphia: E. H. Evans of In
dianapolis, Ind