The Lamar register., 1893-06-10
ANTITRUST CONVENTION.
Representatives OF Thirty-Four States
Assemble at Chicago.


An antitrust convention met In Chicago on
the 5th
The convention was called by Governor
Knute Nelson, of Minnesota, who, in obedi-
enee to a resolution passed by the legislature
of his state, issued an invitation to all the
states of the Union to take part and devise
means to abolish trusts and combines Thirty
four states responded by appointing delegates
and nearly that many states were represented
when the convention was called to order by
Governor Nelson, who read an address, In
which he gave history OF the antitrust
movement in Minnesota. which had resulted
In the call for the convention. General Nell
son dssected the Sherman antitrust law,
which, he said, was but an experimental one,
which had resulted in no practical good. The
law is weak, he said. because it does not de
fine the crime. "Whst Is needed said the
governor, "is law which will enumerate the
acts of the trust which are Illegal 1t ought
to prescribe a short aud simple form OF in
dictment. The legislatures OF the various
states must be looked to for relief"
The question of credentials occupied much
OF the conventions time. The committee on
permanent officers recommended Governor
Nelson as permanent chairman, Edward 5.
Morton Of Kentucky for assistant secretary.
Iguatius Donneilv came into the conyen-
tion with series of resolutions which he will
ask IT to adopt as declaration against trusts,
Governor Nelson listened 10 the various
resolutions which were introduced and re
ferred them to the committee without com
ment.
Davis of Minnesota submitted a resolution
for the form alton of permanent association
with three committees. This is the Que that
win probably be adopted
Curtis Of iowa read a resolution demand
ing a national Investigation Of trusts.
When Governor Nelson Of Minnesota called
the antitrust convention to order Tuesday, it
was expected that the first fight of the session
would begin, for it was generally known that
the Donnelly, or the radical faction, had been
beaten in the committee on resolutions and
would carry the fght to the floor of the con
vention. Chairman RoseEater OF the con-
mlttee on resolutions soon read the preamble,
when Donnelly moved a substitute a de-
mand for government purchase Of anthracite
coal lands. Henry d. Lloyd OF Chicago
wanted bituminous lands also purchased, and
a fight on those two amendments lasted two
hours, after which Mr.. RoseEaier moved the
previous question. aud the committee report
was carried. The fight was kept up all day.
however, by the extremists, but they were
outvoted at every turn.
The resolutions adopted set forth at length
the evils of the trust system as at present
maintained, and call upon the convention TO
create permanent association, to be known
as the Antitrust Association OF the United
States, consisting OF three representatives
from each state and territory; also organ
ization Of antitrust associations in each state
and territory TO aid the national association
In securing uniform legislation and rigid exe-
cutlon OF the law. The resolutions declare
over-capitallLation OF the corporate power TO
be largely responsible for the breaking down
OF credit and financial distress nov prevailing
and recommend stringent national and state
legislation and supervision tG limit the bond
ing of corporate property and issue OF stocks
representing same TO actual value. Il 4. rec
commended that each member Of the eonven-
tion use all honorable means for the election
10 office, whether local, state or federal, Of
those only who are exponents Of this anti
trust sentiment Ii Is recommended also that
legislatures OF the various states enact such
legislation as will make 1t unlawful for any
corporation to enter into any trust or com
bination detrimental to trade or commerce
and Injurious to public welfare
The resolutions were not radical enough to
suit the Donnelly aud Weaver element and
they gave notice of another meeting at the
Palmer House tonight. Before the close OF
the Cenual Hall meeting, J. NJ Quinn of the
Butte, Montana, Miner offered a free coinage
resolution which was passed by small ma
jority.
Thirty members OF the antitrust eonven-
tlon, representing thirteen states, bolted from
the regular meeting and organized tonight.
All the boilers were Populists General j. B.
Weaver of Iowa was elected chairman and
Mr. Mcclellan OF Kansas, secretary. Igna-
thus Donnelly and others made speeches and
a resolution was adopted calling upon the bl-
metallic league to convene an Industrial con-
vention sometime in the fall in Chicago for
tine purpose OF a thorough political organiza-
ton TO aver the principles of the Floyd reso-
lutions.