St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-05-11
TO DEAL The DEATH
To All Combines, Trusts and
Conspiraeies to Keep Up
Prices.
Gov. Nelson Issues a Call
for the Convention OF
the States.
All But Four Of the States
Signify Their Intention to
Join In.
The Blow Will Be Struck at
Music Hall, Chicago,
June 5.

out the nation. The exciting ana SUR
ring scenes and incidents that attended
the work of the coal combine investi-
eating committee are still fresh in the
minds of every reader of the GLOBE.
The evidence that was adduced during
the progress of the investigation fur
nished conclusive proof of a gigantic
combine spreading from Minnesota to
the mines in Pennsylvania. and even
including the common carriers.
The day subsequent to the submis-
sion of tine report to the legislature by
the committee-the full text of which
appeared in these columns the next
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Dounelly introduced
a Joint resolution, which was unan-
imously and enthusiastically passed by
both branches Of the legislature under
suspension of the rules.
Ex-senator Donnellyimade the occasion
memorable by one of his most powerful
speeches of toe session, and by an elo-
uuent plea to the members of the legis-
lature to do everything that it was pos
sible for the body to do to bring the vio-
lators of the law before the bar OF
Justice upon charge of conspiracy.
The Joint resolution follows. 1t is in
the pungent style of the inimitable
Sage of Ninnlnger:
The Senate Resolution.
Whereas. Certain railroad corpora
tons and coal mine owners i'll PennSyl-
vania and other states have united In an
unlawful combination or trust to pre-
vent competition and maintain the
prices of coal at an unreas enable rate,
and have, for that purpose, spread their
monopoly over all the northern states OF
this Union, plundering the people
thereof of millions Of dollars annually.
And whereas, 1t is difficult tor any
with this gigantic interstate conspiracy
and fully overthrow such a widespread
evil, but the powers of all the states and
of the national government must be in
voked for the protection of the people
of the entire country.
Therefore, be 1t resolved, by the legis-
lature of the state of Minnesota, that
the governor of Minnesota is respect
fully requested to correspond with the
governors of all the states of the United
States of America and to request them
to appoint commissioners to meet on
the first Monday of June of this year,
at such place as the said governors may
agree upon, to confer tOgetheI and to
formulate such remedial measures as
may be necessary to abate this great
evil, and submit the same to their re-
spective states and to the next congress
OF the United States for their considera-
ton and action, and to take all other
steps which they may deem wise and
proper for the prosecution OF the men,
u berS of said unlawful combination in
their respective states.
And be it further resolved, that the
governor of this state is hereby request
ed and authorized TO appoint ten com
missioners, citizens of this state, who
will represent this state at such con-
ference.
They shall be entitled to receive their
actual expenses, to be paid upon vouch-
ers submitted by the governor to the
state treasurer upon the warrants OF
appropriated out OF any money in the
treasury not otherwise appropriated,
the sum of $1,000 to pay the expenses of
said commissioners.
And be it further resolved, that in
case all the governors of the states re-
ferred to neglect or decline to appoint
any such commissioners, that then the
commissioners appointed by and for
this state shall meet and propose such
measures as they may think proper for
the consideration and action Of con-
greSS.
The governor has complied in every
respect with the requests of the resolu-
ton. He lost no time in opening up
correspondence with the chief eXecu-
tives of every state in the Union. Fol-
lowing is the form of the letter he sent
out:
Gov. NELSON'S Letter.
have the honor to submit to you the
enclosed copy of joint resolution of
the legislature of the state of Minnesota
i'll reference to proposed interstate
conference touching widespread evils
resulting from the unlawful combina-
ton or combinations whereby the own
ers of coal lands, acting in coli JUNCTION
with certain railroad corporations, have
put up the price of coal, precluded COM
petition, monopolized the markets and
inflicted great injuries upon the con-
sumerS of this article, either for do.
nestle use or manufacturing purposes.
These evils have reached such proper
tons that no one state is able successful
ly to grapple with them; and the state
of Minnesota, and, may say, It's whole
people, are earnestly in favor of such a
meeting of delegates at some central
and convenient point. to consider the
whole subject and suggest remedial
measures to the legislatures of the re-
spective states and to the congress of
the United States.
81 would therefore respectfully urge
the matter upon your attention, and
earnestly request that you will, as soon
as convenient, designate ten commits
sioners from and On behalf of your
state to meet with the ten commission
ers of Minnesota on the first Monday of
June next, at such place as may be
mutually satisfactory to the governors
of the different states. While our peo-
pie will feel honored if the capital of
this state should be agreed upon-and
the question of climate and temperature
at that time of the year are worth con-
sidering-nevertheless, any other point
Will be satisfactory to me and the COM
miSsioners of this state.
''lf you do not feel at liberty, for any
cause, to appoint enicommissioners, a
smaller number might represent your
state and cast an equal vote with the
IeSt. LII ease you uO HOG lulLk you nave
tbs power to make any such appoint
ments, have no doubt the conference
would be most happy to have you attend
in person on benalf of your state. 1t
has bean suggested that if there are any
objections to ST. Paul. the conference
might be held at Chicago, rs many cti-
zens of your state will doubtless desire
to be present at that time at the worlds
fair, and you will therefore have no
trouble in obtaining, if necessary, the
voluntary service of delegates satlsfac-
tory to you.
There can be no doubt that if con-
ference Of 440 delegates assemble for
the purpose herein proposed, represent
ing all the states of the Union, its de-
alterations and conclusions will attract
the attention Of the whole world, and
it will do great deal to break down
the gigantic coal combination WEIGH is
now bringing suffering to million fire.
sides In Our land. besides arousing a
concerted public sentiment upon a,,.i
other trusts and rings which Cypress the
people. as--y 4-.,- -.s,srs''
i sincerely trust that in such a great
Interstate conference your state will be