Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-01-21
BELMONT CENTRAL BODY
WELL ATTENDED SESSION
YESTERDAY.
DEBATE ON THE TRUST SUBJECT
With Prominent Delegates to the
Body Sustaining the Affirmative
and Negative Sides-Some Very In
geniOus Arguments Advanced.
Other Proceedings o. the Body.

At the meeting of the Belmont Gen.
trail Trades and Labor Union at
Bridgeport, yesterday afternoon, an
unusual interest was taken and the
meeting at several times during the
debate, showed that the delegates were
sincere in their desire to be enlight-
ened on the trust question, which was
the subject of discussion The at
tendance was not as large as at the
last meeting, but many new delegates
added to the number. To the satisfac-
ton Of all, the hall was very comfort
able and in a splendid condition. a
noticeable improvement being that
the floor had been covered with heavy
duck, with padding underneath, which
deadens the sound of those walking
ABOUT the room. The hall at present
is certainly as comfortable one as
could be asked for. After the opening
exercises and the minutes Of the pre-
vious meeting had been read, the fol-
lowing credentials of newly elected
delegates was read and the new dele
gates obligated: Bellaire BARRIERS
Union. F. o. Brooks, S. Green and
Charles Montgomery. Martins Ferry,
u NJ. w. of A. delegates, Herman
Willie, E. B. Woods and William Lark
ford. Bellaire, U. NJ. w. of A. dele
gate, Thomas Thornton. Bellaire
Painters and Decorators of America,
delegates, J. B. O'Toole, A. r. Heather
ington, and c. M. Potts.
The arbitration committee reported
that they had been unable to arbitrate
the milk mems trouble at Martins
Ferry, and that they had exhausted
their means and could do no more.
The unfair list remained the same
The organization committee had no
report. The special committee in re-
gard to the butchers trouble at Mar
tins Ferry reported no progress.
President Edward Parsons named
the following committees: Legislature,
Thomas l.. Lewis, ]. S. Crow Charles
j. Ladue, Simon Armstrong, G.. A.
Miller and E. Bawer arbitration,
Baker Boyd, Harry Joseph, Lewis Bek-
er, E. Brown, F. Brooks, w. Jewel,
VIM. Morris; organization, H. J. Cecil,
Louis Summers, Henry Nolte, John H.
Johnson and Edward Rodewig
At this time the question of debate
was in order, as it had been laid over
at the previous meeting. The ques-
ton was, Resolved, That the Trusts
are not beneficial to the laboring
class the principals being William
Morris, affirmative, and Edward Par
sons, negative Mr.. Parsons opened,
and said that for the last few years
we had heard much Of trusts and COM
! binations of capital, but it had prin-
cipally emanated through politics, and
that trusts had existed as far back as
the Grecian empire and also in the
| Roman empire. But to-day, under this
head, we might class as the largest
trust or combination of capital the
| Standard Oil Company, and that dur
| ing its eXistenCs both the national ana
State governments had tried to control
| it. In the State of Ohio, Attorney Gen
eral Monnett had carried it to the Su-
I preme Court OF the State and tried to
prove that it was contrary to the laws
OF the State; but that it was thrown
| out of court and not one labor union
had raised it's voice in behalf of Mr.
Monnett. Therefore, silence gave con-
sent, and Mr.. Monnett was wrong as
| far as labor was concerned. When this
| trust was formed oil was selling at 40
I to Is cents per gallon; tallow candles
| from 80 to 40 cents per pound. But
| to-day this gigantic trust was selling
| the best refined oil at IL cents, and
| that they paid the highest price for
common labor, being S1.75 day.
| People did not talk of trusts until the
campaign of 1896, when the people
were told that if certain people were
| elected mOnsTOuS combinations Of
capital would be formed. He said
| 1892 was a prosperous year, but the
! laboring men Gid not uphold capital,
and in 1895 capital had to have protec-
ton and combined to make profit and
shut off competition; that once a small
manufacturer could do business, bu1
| to-day 1t required enormous wealth.
| We do not know what the outcome of
the trusts will be, but what should
| benefit one should benefit others; that
he believed trusts were a good thing.
He was told that the panic OF 1893 was
| due to Cver-production but now these
trusts controlled the production and
had entered the foreign markets with
their goods. Capital has set the pace;
let the laboring man follow. Capital
had formed a complete organization,
but labor had not and the reason was
they could not trust each other, and
that up to date the trusts had benefit
ted the laboring classes.
Mr. Morris, in reply, said that Mr..
Parsons exalted trusts because they
were an old thing: but that We had old
adages that would not do to live up TO
at the present time, as they were
wrong. SO were the trusts. The defin-
itiOn by Webster was, in part, Conf
dence, reliance on the integrity of JUS
| tice; confidence, or an organization
| formed to regulate the supply and
price of commodities. How many la
boring men have confidence in the
trusts and rely on them? II trusts
were not the right name, then the
name must be Monopoly" the defni-
ton being, in part, Exclusive power
in controlling a commodity, or exclu-
| sive possession He said that all
knew that the Constitution of Ohio for
bids monopolies. and that in the case
of Monnett the people were blinded
| nv nOIiticS and that he was helDless.