The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-10-26
CLASH EXPECTED
 IN CHICAGO TODAY Claim Convention is Packed
 With Railroad Men MAY ENDORSE ROOSEVELT One Faction Wants to Endorse Inter- state Commerce Commission Policy
 of the President-Pollce
 May Be Necessary.
MAY ENDORSE ROOSEVELT

CnlcdsO, aOctODer zo-fOllce may pc necessary to prevent a clash between the two factions of delegates to the inter state commerce law convention, which will begin a two-days' session In Stein way hall at 1 o'clock tomorrow. The of ficers of the organization assert that the railroads have brought hundreds of dele- gates to Chicago from all sections of the country for the purpose of packing the convention and preventing an endorse ment of President Roosevelt's plan of governmental regulation of freight rates commerce commission.
 The executive committee of the inter- state commerce law association also met this afternoon to arrange the prelimi- naries for the meeting to be held to- morrow After much debate 1t was de- cided that 1t would be unfair to the pusi- ness interests of the country, who are unaware of the attempts which the mem bers of the committee declare VIII DC made to pack the convention to allow any delegates to participate Ill cohVeh- tion with the purposes of which they are manifestly at variance. IhereIore' u was decided to have blanks prepared py Inc secretary containing the following ex- tract from the Presidents last message to Congress as the sole subject to be ois- cussed and considered at the conventions
 Quotes Roosevelt's Words.
 "rhe interstate commerce commission should be vested with the power, where d given rate has been challenged, and ai- for full hearing found to be unreasonaple to decide, subject to judicial review, what shall be a reasonable rate to take its place: the ruling of the commission to take effect immediately and to obtain uh- iii it is reversed by the court or re- view" .,.,.s to participation in the proceedings of the convention. these blanks will be offered, and such as refuse to sign them VIII he declared ineligible. The executive com mittee declared; m
 .It is not the intention to shut off or curtail the free discussion of all ques- lions as to the best method of securing legislation in accord with the fresldeht recommendations, but those who are not in favor of such legislation have, as a matter of course, the great American prIviIege of hiring a hall and holding a meeting of their own.'
 Judge S. H. Cowan of Forth Wirth, Tex. chairman of the executive commit tee said tonight:
 Called for Specified Purpose.
 ''The call for the convention was issued for a specified purpose-to endorse Pres ident Roosevelt's interstate commerce commission policy, as expressed in his last message to Congress. We have been informed and are certain that men have been sent here in the interests of rail- roads and their expenses have been paid by the railroads It is clearly expressed in the call for the convention that the meeting was called by and for the friends of the Presidents policy, and we do not propose to allow the convention to be packed or stampeded by men who we know are working in the interests of the railroads, and against the very purpose of the convention. But l do not believe that they will be able to do anything of the kind, and in my opinion it would be most injudicious for them to attempt It.
 D. M Parry, president of the National Manufacturers association, who is lead Ing the opposition faction, said:
 Parry Makes Statement.
 This convention will be composed of fair-minded and conservative business men from all parts of the country, who are regularly appointed under the invi- tation and the call for the convention Many of them are opposed to the pro- posed remedy of President Roosevelt for the abatement or the rate evil, and they have right to be heard. They are op- posed to the government going into the business of making railroad rates and think complaints against a railroad should be made to the courts. We will demand admission on our credentials. and if this Is denied we will insist upon our rights. We want free speech and fair discus sion of the question on the floor of the convention. without the application of gag rule
 The matter of credentials. on which
 (Continued on Tenth paoe1