Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-10-26
Exciting Scenes Attend
Opening of Impor-
tant Session.
POLICE GUARD DOOR
Opponents of Rate Revision
Hold Rump Meeting Under
Parry's Lead.

gates who would subscribe TO a pledge
TO support President Roosevelts pro
gram for railway rate reform were ad-
mitted TO the interstate commerce law
convention which was scheduled to
meet at Steinway hall at 10 O'Clock this
morning The officers charged that the
railroads had brought hundreds of del
egates TO Chicago for the purpose of
packing the convention and they were
determined to prevent it.
Held Early Meeting.
The railway faction or advocates of
free speech" as they styled them
selves. held a meeting early in the day
at the Auditorium Annex. where they
were joined by the coal dealers who
are in sympathy with the railroads.
II was voted 10 go to the conven-
tion as individuals and demand admit
tance and each delegate was given a
badge which said Interstate Law Con
vention. Supervision. Not CONNER
cial Revolution.
Headed by Parry.
Wearing the badges conspicuously.
all the delegates at the meeting headed
by ID. NJ. Parry and Robert Lake of
Michigan. marched in a body to Stein
way hall where the so-called Bacon
or Regular" delegates were assembled
with the doors guarded by uniformed
police to prevent the admission of the
alleged representatives. of the rail
roads.
PInn of Executive Committee.
Following a plan decided upon by the
executive committee TO avoid a clash
with the dissenting or Parry faction.
no delegate had been admitted TO the
convention, except those who subscrih-
ed TO what the officers of the organiza-
tion called the creed and articles of
facts" which endorsed President
Roosevelt's message asking enabling
legislation by congress charging the
powers OF the interstate commerce
commission so that it may regulate
freight rates subject TO judicial re-
view.
Backed by "Regulars.''
In addition TO the police. half dozen
regular" delegates guarded every door
leading 10 the hall. and all who had
not signed the Endorsement of President
RoOseve,ts message We're denied ad-
mission
Among the first delegates to sub
scribe 10 the principles OF the conven-
tion and gain admittance was l.. W.
Noyes. representing the Illinois Manu-
facturer's association.
Called to Order.
In the absence of f. c. Bacon. chair
man of the executive committee. who
is ill. Judge s. f. Cowan. of Texas.
called the convention to order.
II know the delegates who are here
will abide by the action of the execu
tive committee and indoTse the rail
road rate legislation advocated by our
great president" said Cowan. I'VE
might have had more delegates had we
means 10 bring them here. We paid
our own expenses. and we have a thor
oughly representative body present
hope the convention will be peaceful.
and that its deliberations will result
in much good
AppInus~ for Roosevelt.
Mention of RooSevelts name was
greeted with long continued applause.
Il. w Higbee. OF New York. was chos-
en- chairman of the convention.
Meanwhile the Parry procession of
delegates were making application al
the doors for admittance. but were in
turn being refused unless they signed
the pledge already prepared. Each re-
fused to comply with this restriction.
and finally when all. about 200 in
number. had been denied admission to
the convention room. they marched in
body To Studebaker hall and held
so-called "rump' convention. F. J.
Bradley OF Haverhill Mass, was elect
ed temporary chairman.
The Steinway hall convention took
a recess after hearing several address
es and appointing committees