The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-03-05
NO TWO REFORM
PLANS ARE ALIKE.
Every Panacea Offered to Save the
Masses Crates on Some
Nerve.
Millionaires and Reformers With
out a Cent Meet and
Fall Out.

journal Special Service
New York March 5.-The three-day
congress of political reformers at the
country residence of j. G. Phelps Stokes
at Noroton Point, Conn.,, broke up last
\ night, failure in its intended pur-
pose.
The primary object, to hit upon some
grasp Of political vultures,O fell thru
because there were too many divergent
ideas as to how things ought to be.
worked.
Those responsible for the conference,
of whom Mr.. Stokes was one Of the
most conservative, had an inkhng be-
new party could be put in the field that
would come closer to the plain people.
It was agreed that the republican and
democratic parties were stepped IN the
depths of political crookedness and
that the only salvation for the COM
protection of movement fashioned
somewhat after the socialist and mu-
nicipal ownership creeds.
Wide Scope of Opinion.
So as to afford wide scope Of opin-
ion, great latitude was exercised in the
sending of invitations. Radical social
lists, single takers, halfway socialists
and just plain reformers Of the every
day type were invited. Beside these,
a few cards were sent to well-knoWn
writers on political topics whose opin-
ions, it was inferred, might be Of some
value. - . .'-..
The socialists were represented by
several of their most able leaders,
among them Morris. Hilquit, Leonard
Abbott, Victor Berger and Gay
cialist Magazine. Then there were some
rabid municipal ownership adherents,
and Arthur Brisbane. Others in the
throng were Corporation Counsel George
Record Of Jersey City, John Spargo,
Professor Franklin 81. Giddings Of Co
stannard Baker, State Senator Everett
liams. william Kent, a Chicago mil
lianaire, John .Brisben Walker, E.. j..
Ridgeway Of Everybody IS Magazine,
Ernest Poole, John Dewitt Warner, a.
J. Bou1ton, Joseph Medill Patterson, the
Chicago millionaire who turned social
ist last week, and Robert Hunter.
Trusts and Political Tyranny.
The deliberations were presided over
by Mr.. Stokes, who told the. guests
that the plain people of America are
fairly screaming for deliverance from
political bondage. He gave the trusts
some hard raps and said it is evident
that something must be done to check
the spread of political tyranny. He
suggested that the thinkers air their
views. -
One of the socialists said he agreed
with Mr.. Stokes about the greed of
trusts, and added with spirit that the
socialist party had. been fighting them
CT and t111a ia m
face to face. He thought the only
way to arrive at the state Of bliss indi
Gated by Mr.. Stokes was for the Amert
J can people, to embrace socialism.
The speech was not received will
outbursts of cheers, Mr.. Colby break
ing the silence to say that the repuo
considerable work right now in the di
rection indicated by the socialists, ant
/ that a party working on the lines Of the
reorganized republicanism Of New Jer
sey might be useful thing for tn
whole country. He was not at all en-
thusiastic about casting his lot with tn
socialist party, but was willing to d
+ all he could to help spread the Jerse.
brand of reform. ..- sg.r-
/ @.a>a M. o. as a Way Out.
Then a municipal ownership man, VIII.
= did not like the trend Of things, tool
] the floor. He said he thought som
Z kind Of an amalgamation of the indie
II; ate dash of socialism thrown in, woul'
N do the trick. He did not feel like com
hitting the NJ O.'s to- socialism, bu
/ was willing to take chance on mil
degree of sociaistic doctrine.
Things went from bad to worse. MI
Berger, the socialist leader, who has
most energetic way of talking, said:
tha n dpl1Vpra
out of bondage, they don't have to loo
IL far to find the way out. The socialis
party is at their command. -
"That is all very good,' said M
- Colby, tbut the way to accomplish any
thing is to get the votes. We NIGH
talk all the rest of our lives about wha
course we thought the people ought t
take, but the test is whether we can &C
f. the vote. That is what counts.
Small Chance of Agreement.
It was getting painfully evident tina
i there was small chance Of locating tn
common ground. Each speaker had
/ decided idea about how to proceed
Mr., Stokes suggested that the abus
of the money power is the great ev
of today, and that some way to cur
1t might be devised.
~ do not object to accumulations Q
wealth so long as the rights OF th
masses are not trampled upon, =
said. But when the necessities
life are placed in control of great con
binations of capital and the people al
made to suffer in consequence, it is tim
to do something's
eyes, that IS right asserted one {
the thinkers. 81 guess I know som
thing about it. I work for my hvin
and get $40 week. have hard tut
sic, too. I'd like to- know how to reg,
late this thing SO we working fellow
can get a square DEAL That's all al
after. ;
In this strain the argument drifte
The chances for delivering the peop
ii grew smaller as the hours passed. Son
Il Of the gathering, convinced that not
ing would come Of it, left on late train
+ The others started in again to see
L they could not agree on some form
{ lction, but it was hopeless task.