Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-12-28
Gather in Annual Session
At New York.
Several Organizations Are Rep
resented at Meeting.
Prominent Men Discuss Subjects Of
Vital Moment,

New York. Dec 21.-The cOnccntra-
ton If wealth in the hands Of compar-
ativciy few persons was vigorously de-
nolInctd and juSc rs earnestly defend
ed today.,at the opening session of the
51th annual meeting of the American
Association for the Advancement of
Science In paper on THE Conccntra-
ton of Wealth." Henry Laurcns Call
right of John d. Rockefeller to his for
tune, asserting that it was not the re-
suit Cf natural causes. but had been
created through the activity of cornor-
alton which the speaker termed ''vi-
ciuuS."
During a subsequent discussion of the
Evolution of PROPERTY Louis G. Nc
Phcrson. assistant to the late Samuel
Spencer as president OF the Southern
Raiiway took occasion to reply to Mr..
Call. He declared that Mr.. Rockefeller
had mad his financial struggles and had
done much good which WAS scnerallE
lost sight of in the criticism which sue
cess brought. lie told of Mr. Rockefel-
lcr'S carly attempt to secure $4,000
with which TO construct pipe line for
oil. The man who refused aid met the
fnancier when the pipe line had been
laid To him Mr.. Rockefeller said:
II built that pipe lne 10 make OIL
chcarer and | succeeded. l cut the cost
more than half, and yet they find fault"
Mr.. Mcpherson then less seriously told
of a dinner party several years ago at
the Rockefeller home when Mrs. Rookie
Teller explained the absence of oysters
hut
poor to have them"
This was to illustrate Mr.. McPhcrson's
poin. that man might be worth $780,
OOcO0O and still he short of ready cash
if he kept his factories in operation.
Wealth and railroads were but two of
many subjects discussed by wcll-known
writer's and speakers.
After converting at Columbia Univer-
sity where they were welcomed by Pres
ident Nicholas Murray Butler. the sew
eral hundred scientists separated into va
rous groups where as many subjects
were discussed.
DE-. w. II. Welch of Johns Hopkins
University, Baltimore, the new head of
the association, talked on medicines:
Charles A. Conant of this city and John
VIM. NJ. Rice on geology; Richard 7. Col
burr of this city on price fluctuations,
while others spoke informally.
New York, Dec 27.-Fiftccn hundred
persons members of the american
Association for the Advancement of
Science and its il affiliated societies.
gathered at Columbia University today
for their annual meeting.
The association is divided into 10
sections. Each Of these will have its
own set of lectures until the end of
the session on Jan. >. There will also
be an unvciIing of buStS OF famous sci
entists ut the Museum of Natural His
tory on Saturday, at which J. p. Nor
gan will reside.
Most interesting perhaps among the
several meetings was that Of the eco
nomicS session of the section of social
and economic science. Charles A. CO.
nant vice president OF the Morton
Trust CO. Of this city. who presided as
vice president Of the section, deliv-
cred an address on ASPECTS of the
Currency Question:
Mr.. COnant said there never was
time when people We're more interested
than now in reform. Though it was
too much to expect both houses of
Congress 10 pass a satisfactory meas
urc in due time sound legislation must
result.
Mr.. Conant said n flexible currency
was desirable and that the banks were
not asking any actual privileges, but
that the government was being looked
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