The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-10-30
WOULD NOT BE GAGGED
MIR. WALKER TALKS or CHICAGO
 RATE CONvENTION.
Alabama BusIness. Men. Would. Not Agree to Bind Themselves to En- Ndorsement of Roosevelt's Rail- road Policies.

The delegates appointed by the Mont gomery Commercial and Industrial As> sociation to attend the Interstate Com merce Law Convention. held in Chica- go october 26 and e7. returned home yesterday morning. John T. Walker. viewed at his home last night, where he talked Interestingly of the Convention. MT. walker said that pursuant to tho call of E. P. Bacon, Chairman of the In- terstate Commerce Law Convention. he. together with other delegates from commercial. industrial trade and pro- ducing organizations, presented proper credentials from the organizations rep- resented. but upon making application for admission to the convention, which was to be held in Steinway Hall. each delegate was required to sign . declar- ation endorsing the policy as outlined by MT. Bacon and his associates, which policy was that certain resolutions to Congress and the President of the Unit ed States. declaring it to be the sense of such delegates that the Interstate Commission be empowered to absolute iy name rates of freight to be charged by transportation companies all over the country.
 Would Not be @Gagged.~
 A great number of delegates refused to obligate themselves along that line. preferring, rather. as expected under the call as issued, to hear discussion of the matter and being permitted to vote for or against any resolution which might be offered.
 "The refusal of the Baconites to ad- init such delegates upon the floor of the Convention" said MT. Walker. brought about a Convention of the advocates of free speech The Stakeholder Music Hall was procured. and to that place such delegates as were refused seats In the Steinway Hall assembled and or- ganized themselves. The number en- rolled was 462, representing every State and Territory in the Union, with possibly one or two exceptions. Tho personnel of the Free Speech Conven- tion was of the highest type, business men of every section of the country. representing organizations of every character.
 Mobile, Montgomery, Huntsville, Tuscumbia and both Decaturs were represented by delegates from tho sev- eral commercial organizations of those cities. David M. Parry of Indianapolis. who was a leading light in the Fres Speech Convention, in a very strong speech decrytng the gag rule which had been evidenced by the political faction at Steinway Hall. declared his unquestioning faith in the wisdom. in. tegrity and high purposes of the Presi- dent, but said that the business inter- ests of the entire country were unalter- ably opposed to conferring the power to prescribe rates by any appointive agency of the Government, upon the ground that such action would be a dam gerous experiment. inimical to the best interests of the country.
 "A Committee on Credentials was chosen, of which Capt. John Craft Of Mobile was a member.
 'Col. Charles P. Lane of Huntsville I@ aAt the railroads of the country were devel- opers of the country, and should not be deterred from further development. as would result if the right to adjust their tariffs in an amicable manner as conditions Justified. He urged, how ever. that the Interstate Commerce Commission be clothed with the power to prevent unjust discriminations as between cities and localities and that every facility be given them to facili- tate matters coming before It."
 ..- Resolutions Adopted. ..--s
 Committee on Resolutions was ap- pointed. and reported the following resolutions, which MT. Walker says were unanimously adopted:
 We declare. as a fundamental basis of our deliberations and of our pur- pose, an unquestioning faith in the wisdom, integrity and high purposes of President Theodore Roosevelt, our ap- preciatfOn or h1S innuence, which per- meates every branch of government, every industry, and all development of the entire nation, and our confidence in his leadership.
 eve recommend definite action by this convention looking to the estab- lishment of a permanent organization. which shall be representative of every State and territory in the Union, and shall be the nucleus for all future work that shall become necessary hereafter to carry out the expressed will of this association.
 "To that end we suggest the selec- tion of a general committee which shall be charged with the duty of transmitting to congressional commit tees on interstate and foreign com merce during the next session of Con- gress, the action of this convention.
 We are unalterably opposed to con ferring upon the Interstate Commerce Commission or any other appointive agency the power to prescribe rates for transportation, believing that such action would prove a dangerous ex- pertinent, inimical to the best interests of commerce and the continued devel- opment of this country.
 Recognizing existing evils connect ed with the transportation interests of the country viz, all forms of rebate or favoritism extended to one individual or locality to the disadvantage and detriment of others, or effected through private car lines, industrial, terminal