St. Paul daily globe., 1893-06-12
NELSON AND THE TRUSTS.

The GLOBE is delighted to read the
vigorous sentences in which Gov. MEL
SON denounced the persons and cor
porations which have pooled their issues
in the various trusts and combinations
which dominate so many branches of
the manufacture of articles needful TO
the suStenance or enjoyment of life. 1t
joins in the clapping Of hands which
followed his assertion that the trust is
an antichrist. The GLOBE loves to
hear these rotund sentences launched
in the cause of humanity, by whomso-
ever uttered but when they come with
such bold impetuoSity from the lips OF
the chief executive of the state, the
man to whom the people look to see
that the laws of the state are every
where impartially put into operation
against their intringers, it is especially
gratifed.
To be sure, these sentiments Which
our governor poured into the ears Of the
representatives of an indignant people
are not new to him. The GLOBE recalls
that five years ago, come this blessed fall.
Governor, then Congressman NELSON,
said to the people of this state ''we will
down GROVER CLEVELAND first, and
then we will 90 for the trusts and COM
bines." Unfortunately for the state, the
congressman retired soon afterwards,
with Mr.. CLEVELAND, from position
where he could go for. the trusts
or anything else, to a position
where it was no more his duty
than that of any other citizen
to see the dignity of the law maintained.
But the same election which returned
Mr.. CLEVELAND to the presidency
made Mr.. NELSON governor of this
state, and with it the duty of directing
the prosecution of parties disobeying
the laws of the state. The trainers of
the constitution of the state foreSaw
that the people might some day by mis-
chance elect governor who might think
this no part of his duties-as below the
dignity of the Office to which lie had
been elevated-so they put into section
of article 3 of that organic act the in
junction that the governor ''shall take
care that the laws be faithfully exc
cuted," and then they provided that he
should take an oath to discharge faith
fully the duties of his Office. The
GLOBE refers to all these matters for
the sole purpose of sinforming the peo
pie who do not know them, 50 that when
the governor takes off his coat and goes
for the trusts and combines which are
blooming right under his official nose,
they will not think that he is merely
one of those pestiferous demagogues
who is forever pokiEg his fingers into
other peoples pie.
On two occasions heretofore the
GLOBE has directed the attention of
Gov. NELSON to two trusts formed and
now existing in his bailiwick, and gave
him the specific information it had
gathered relating to them. We regret
that he has exhibited so far only a
mastery inactivity, and until this Chi
cago antitrust convention we really
feared that his promise of 1888 to go for
the trusts was only one of those empty
campaign slogans designed to catch
votes, and of no use when its purpose is
accomplished. But that convention.
and especially the leading part taken in
it by our governor, reassures US. In fact,
we feel so confident that we assure the
people of the state tnat the governor
will Immediately institute proceedings
to drive the antichriSts out of his juris-
diction. Meanwhile the GLOBE is gath
ering facts relative to another trust
operating in this state which it hopes to
lay before the governor soon, but for
which he need not wait the enforce
ment of the laws against the lumber
trusts