The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-04
NATIONAL LIFE SAVERS MEET.
REFORMERS GREAT AND SMALL
AT ROBERT HUNTERS CONFAB.
Rich Ones Like Joe Medili Patterson and
j. G. Phelps Stokes Mix Their Brain
Throbs with Poor Ones-Literary Per.
sons There-An Sweet on Socialism.

the country residence Of Robert Hunters
f~ather-in-law, Anson Phelps Stokes. 1t Is
not all sooialistio, either, but something
like 1t. There are, besides Socialists,
single takers, plain reformers and persons
who write exposures for the magazines.
Some of the guests are staying with
Mr.. Hunter and j. G. Phelps Stokes at
the Stokes residence and others are running
up from New York. The debate began
yesterday, but to-day was the heaviest day
of the conference, and tomorrow will be
its greatest feast. Of reason, for those who
write exposes for the m magazines will then
assemble and find out what Is the matter
with the Government.
Friends Of the republic" Mr.. Hunter
calls his guests, and the subject Of the
conference Is "What shall we do to save
the ~republio?"
Mr.. Hunter held such a conference last
year with a smaller and less distinguished
attendance. The Socialists among the
guests take it for a good sign that. while
last year socialism was mildly knocked,
nearly every one present this year is at
least a mild Socialist.
The city guests arrived early this morning
I'M driving rainstorm and went by omnibus
to the Stokes house. Among those present
were Morris Hilqui t, the scholar OF the
Socialist movement in New York: Leonard
Abbott and Victor l.. Berger, Socialist
leaders: John Spargo, another Socialist:
Gaylord Wiltshire, editor Of Wishire's
Socialist Magazine; Prof. Franklin H. Gid
dings of Columbia, David Graham Phillips
and Ray Stannard Baker, magazine ex-
posers; State Senator Everett Colby Of
New Jersey, reformer: Ernest Crosby,
single taxer; Arthur Brisbane, George
Fred Williams, William Kent, j.. G. Phelps
Stokes, ex-senator John Ford, John Brls-
ben Walker, Hamilton Holt, E. j. Ridg-
way Of Eperybodv's Magazine; Ernest
Poole, John Dewitt Warner, Joseph Medili
Patterson of Chicago and A. j. Boulton.
A number of other who's-whosers of the
radical wing had been invited, but sent
r~egrets-among them Edwin Markham, Jack
London, Tom Watson, Senator La Toilette,
Joseph Folk, Brand Whitlock and Tom
johnson.
Mr.. Hunter started of proceedings by
informing the company that they were
there to determine what the republic should
do to be saved. Should they depend upon
purifying the older parties, should they
form a new party, or should they come
out for straight socialism?
The Socialist delegates called his atten-
tion at once to the fact that they would
stand for no parties, old or new, but the
Socialist party. AS there seemed to be no
other way to get at it, Mr.. Hunter invited
the Socialists to state their views for the
enlightenment of those friends of the re-
public who didn't understand socialism.
Morris Hilquit, who lectures on socialism
ayary pinbt ~ b;u lifa pfa rtaI f~ a~rlain
Socialist doctrines from the beginning,
assisted at intervals by Mr.. Hunter. When
he tired, Prof. Giddings took it up. By
the time he had finished luncheon was
ready and the friends of liberty adjourned
from the grand drawing room of the Stokes
house, where they had been meeting, to
the dining room. Mrs. j. G. Phelps Stokes
and Mrs. Hunter were at the luncheon, but
kept out Of the debate.
After a few remarks by Mr.. Hunter,
Senator Colby talked from the point of
view of a mar who doesn't take much stock
in socialism, but does think that something
ought to be lone about reform. Assisted
by Mr.. Hunter, he laid before the con-
ferees the state of the republic in the grasp
Of graft. David Graham Phillips, the
scourge of the Senate, added a little, as
sisted by Mr.. Hunter.
When Phillips had finished, MIR. Hunter
said that he wanted to hear from a con-
sentative man who had the interests of the
re public at heart and was as yet not posi-
lively identified with any radical party.
Therefore, he took great pleasure in calling
on Mr.. Ridgway.
Mr.. Ridgway said that he was nightly
interested. The exposures of Mr.. Steffens
in politics and Of Mr.. Lawson in finance
had persuaded him that something should
be done. A great many persons-he enum-
Grated Upton Sinclair and Jack London
had tried to explain socialism to him, but
he had never understood how it could be
made to work. He would like instruction.
Five Socialists got on their feet at once,
struggling to instruct Mr.. Ridgway. Mr..
Hunter was obliged to rap hard for order.
All this time the greatest secrecy had
been maintained about the conference.
The curious folk of Noroton, who hardly
ever see so many visitors at once this time
of year, pumped Bill, the bus driver, in
vain. Bill said that they didn't look like
the regular party people, Had too many
whiskers, Bill said. In the late afternoon
Bill splashed with a party Of reporters
through the two miles of slusff that lay
between Noroton and the Stokes place.
1t is a noble Italian villa standing in
wide grounds, dotted with Conservatives
and things, on the shores Of the bay. The
reporters unloaded and rang the door bell.
The servant at the door took their names
and announced hat Mr.. Stokes and Mr..
Hunter were seeing no one. Under pres
sure, he took in their names and brought
back the message that Mr.. Stokes was busy
with friends and begged to be excused.
The boy held the door open as he said this,
and through it hoated a fragment Of oratory
as follows:
Then the republic is not to endure.
gentlemen, not to endure" Great app
Mr.. Ridgway was instructed and the
adjourned; with some closing
by MIR. Hunter, at half past 5, and
most of the guests took the omnibus
through the rain to Noroton station. In
the haste OF breaking up and getting the
q O'Clock train they clean forgot to deter
mine whether the radical strength Of the
was to be thrown in with one Of