The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-10-28
Pledge to Support Roose-
yeIt's Rate Policy.
SUCH is THE DEMAND
Not We, Retort Half the Delegates to
The interstate Commerce Law Con-
vention. They are Charged With
Trying to Pack the Con.
vention.
(By the Associated Press.D

Chicago, Oct 26.-Refusing to
promise Endorsement of President
Roosevelt's policy for the regulation
of railroad rates, about half of the
800 delegates to the Interstate Com
MERGE Law Convention today We're
barred from the convention and there
upon held a separate meeting to give
expression to their ideas on rate leg
islation. The original convention was
held in Steinway Hall while the anti
convention met in Studebaker Hall.
Alleged attempts to thwart the pur-
pose OF the convention caused the
delegates at Steinway Hall to refuse to
admit delegates, although properly ac-
credited, unless they would agree tn
support the Presidents rate plan.
Many delegates objected to this pro-
cedure, demanding that they be given
the right of free speech.
The other delegates charged that
the so-called "anti's" were sent by the
railroads and other alleged unfair in
terests to pack the convention. a
number of exciting scenes followed
before the two meetings were called to
order.
Speeches, organization, and rcsolu-
tons including one which was pre-
sented I'm the Studebaker Hall conven-
ton asking the President to settle
the dispute as to which was the reg
ular convention but upon which no
action was taken, occupied the time
of the first meetings of the conven-
tions. The conventions will continue
in session tomorrow when resolutions
will be adopted by the Steinway Hall
convention in favor of the Presidents
policy.
Proceedings of the Conventions
Judge s. H. Cowan, of Texts. call
ed the Steinway Hall convention to or
der in brief speech. Then the
Studebaker Hall delegates appeared
and were refused admission. When
they had withdrawn Mayor Dunno
made an address OF welcome. He
was followed by former Governor
J. T. Campbell, of Ohio, and John w
Kern of indiana, both of whom de-
clared themselves in favor of the
Presidents policy. Former Cover
nor S. r. Van SAINT, of Minnesota,
made an address in which he said:
Let it be definitely and immediate
~ understoond whether the people
exist for the railroads or the rail-
roads for the people. In word let
it be forever determined whether this
is a government by the people or a
government by the corporations. The
President is right. a free people will
not long submit to the tyranny of it's
creatures
The time has come to call d halt"
The convention electe dthe fol-
lowing officers:
Chairman, w. E. Hughes, Col
orado. Vice President, John w. Kern,
Indiana; Secretary, p. e. Goodrich,
iIndiana Assistant Secretary, G. A.
Shrouder, Wisconsin.
The roll call Of the "anti' con-
vention of the delegates whose Gre
dentiaIs were accepted that 435 dele
gates were in attendance.
The "antfs" elected the following
ohIcers:
Chairman. n. w. Mcleod, of st.
Louis; Vice-Chairman, G. x. Wend-
cling, California. and r. j. Bradley,
Massachusetts,; Secretary. L. B. Aid
rich.
A feature of the "anti'' convention
was an adrdess by j. M. Parry OF
of Indianapolis. against the govern
ment rate making proposition. He
said that eff YOU favor government
rate making you abandon the princi-
pie of individual freedom and private
ownership of capital and align your
selves with the socialists who would
confisticate the returns on capital