St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-06-06
FOES OF COMBINES.
Antitrust Delegates Full Of
Enthusiasm and Deter
mination.
Gov. Nelson, Of Minnesota,
Permanent Chairman Of
the Convention.
Ignatius Donnelly Introduces
q Series Of Resolutions
Against Trusts.
Combinations Protected by
Judges in Encroaehments
on the People.

convention, which met at Apollo
Music hall today, was not imposing as to
numbers. but it was a representative
one, and its members were full of en-
thusiasm and determination. The con-
vention was called by Gov. Knute Mel
son, who. in obedience to resolution
passed by the legislature of his state,
issued an invitation to all the states of
the Union to take part in conference
to devise means to abolish trusts and
combines. Thirty-fonr states responded
by appointing delegates, and nearly
that many states were represented
today. 1t was expected that Senator
Sherman, of Ohio, who was appointed
delegate by Gov. Mckinley. would be
present. but he did not put in an ap.
pearance.
Minnesota was represented by it's gov
ernor, Knute Nelson; Ignatius DON
nelly, Frank F. Davis, James A. Taw-
ney, M. ID. Shaver. H. B. Strait, j. F.
jacobson, A. q. Rice. j. B. Wakefield,
G. A. Gilman and w. P. Murray. From
the other states were D. l.. Dell, l..
d. Harris, ]. E. Taylor and E. Whittier,
Michigan; Marcellus p. Thornton. North
Carolina; Justin Wells. Iowa; w. Ii.
Wakefield, Kansas; H. 6. Shurtleff and
n. &. Brewer, Iowa; N. G. Carr and l..
N. Walker, Pennsylvania; G. l.. Cleve-
land, Kansas; j. II. Brinker. Missouri;
John A. Hubbard. Louisiana; John P.
Selle, James Nj. Washburne, S. S.
Boyce, w. G. Eggleston, J. NJ. Thomp-
son, Henry D. Lloyd, E. o. Brown.
H. w. ClendennIn, Illinois; Frank
RAIDER and Ii. F. Newell. California: G.
E. Martin. Kentucky; j. K. Bymaters,
Texas; Dewitt G. Dewitt, Pennsylva-
MIA; Gen. J. Fl. Brinker, Missssippi; j.
G. Hodgson, II. P. Pinkham. North Da-
kota; G. w. Brain. Ohio; L. V. Halv-
ston, Idaho; E. Rosewater, N. Charl-
ton. J. D. Howe, B. j. Hilson, Ne
braska; ]. B. DAILY, Oregon; P. Cor
coran. W. D. Roberts. Utah; G. Ted
man. Missouri; Col. w. R. McEldowney.
West Virginia; N. B. Loughlin. J. G..
Carrear. New Mexico; 5. c. Crocker.
A. c. Cott, Oklahoma; A. H. Mitchell.
j. H. Quinn, Montana; j. R. Kinnear.
E. S. Meaney, P. w. Rochester, Wash
ington; John Hanlon, D. o. Boyd,
Frank A. McLister. W. r. Callicotte,
Frank Moody, J. S. Berry, Colorado.
Called to Order by Nelson
The convention was called to order
by Gov. Nelson, who read an address In
which he gave a history of the anti
trust movement in Minnesota which
had resulted in the call for the conven-
ton. The legislature. Gov. Nelson
said. made searching investigation of
the coal trust which existed in Mime
sofa, and the lumber trusts which -four
ish there. The evidence brought out in
the Investigation was conclusive, and
clearly showed the nature of the COM
blnes, but the remedy was not so ap-
parent. The legislature, therefore. de-
Onion TO help devise remedy.
1.-The operations of the trusts" said
the speaker. "are so intricate and secret
that the courts refuse to define them
except in general terms. The present
laws declare them illegal, but fail to
provide punishment. Relief can only be
obtained through statutory enactmentS
which will be sweeping and searching.
1t is for this convention to take some
action which will lead to the enactment
of efficient laws"
Gov. Nelson then dissected the Sher-
man antitrust law, which. he said, was
but an experiment, and one which had
resulted in no practical good. The law
is weak, he said, because it does not
define the crime. 1t is almost impossi-
BILE for prosecutors to draw up indict-
ments under it which will hold In the
courts. In every case brought under
the Sherman act the prosecution had
failed, because the pleadiugs were too
indefinite. In no case has there been a
conviction. and no case was ever tried
on its merits.
"What Is needed" said the governor,
.sis a law which will enumerate the acts
of the trusts which are Illegal. 1t ought
to prescribe short and simple form of
Indictment. In order to simplify the
rules of evidence In such cases the law
should provide that certain visible acts
of the trusts and their agents should be
accepted as prima facie evidence of an
Illegal combine. The laws should be
made to clearly define what is monOp-
DIV of trade. Legislatures of the various
states must be looked to for relief. While
the Sherman law is an experiment, it
will do as
An Entering Wedge.
ssIt Is for us to enlarge upon 1t. 1t Is
for us to devise a plan to right this
worst form of the modern anti-chrlst.
What is necessary is concerted action
between the federal and state authori-
ties. suggest that this convention ap-
point permanent committee ON legls-
lasion, whose duty IL will be to devise
suitable laws and devise means to have
them passed"
Gov. Nelson, at the conclusion of his
speech, moved that temporary chair
man be appointed and the convention
organized at once, the motion resulting
in the selection of Henry d. Lloyd, of
Chicago, as presiding officer for the
time being. Mir. Lloyd, ON taking the
chair, said that he felt the greatest favor
of his life had been conferred upon
him. Then he attacked the trusts, as
| the speakers preceding him had done.
"Gov. Nelson is right" he said, Gin
fpsssng 5pss as ct 9f Ss'S h fhe @ @gany who fGa
animates them is born of greed and
rapacity., It's the sR.rit OF the thief
and fraud. It'll different spirit that
| animates US. We are here for honesty
| and tair play, for freedom. l am glad
to tell you that In Chicago public opin.
ion is In favor Of this movement. The
press is unanimously against the trusts,
recognizing that this movement is one
for new union of states. The time is
| ripe for it, and let us take advantage of