The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-09-21
Gov. PINCREE
LACKS FAITH.
Doesn't Believe In Bryan's
Trust Relief.
Tells the st. Louis Conference
the On.y Remedy
FOR THE TRUST EVIL
Is to Stamp Them Out Root
and Branch.
Prevent Monopoly and Trusts
Will Die.

st. Louis, No, Sept. 21.-When the
antitrust conference resumed its sit
ting at O'Clock yesterday. afternoon
the crowd in attendance in the morn
ing was undiminished. A telegram
from Governor A. J. McLaurin, of Mis-
sissippf. said that business necessitated
his absence and that any action tending
to eradication of trusts and combines
would receive his support.
The committee on rules and order re-
ported and the report was adopted, rec
ommending the following order:
Reception of reports of committees,
reception and discussion of motions and
resolutions, and that Cushing's manual
shall govern the proceedings of the con-
ference.
Attorney General Smith, of Texas.
presented some resolutions favoring
legislation that would do away with
trusts and combinations. They were
appropriately referred.
Governor McMillin, chairman of the
committee on resolutions, reported that
the committee had only met to organize
and was not yet ready to report. A
meeting of the committee would be held
at night he said. There being no furth-
er business before the conference,
speeches were called for.
Governor c. S. Thomas, of Colorado,
was the first to respond. He prefaced
his remarks by saying emphatically
that he did not agree with the express
sions voiced by Governors Stephens
and Sayers at the morning session and
then launched out on a discussion of
the trust proposition. He cOntended
that the consolidation of business COM
binations in a few hands was injurious
to the people as a. whole. He assumed
that the question of the threatening
character of these gigantic cOmbina-
lions pOrtended evil for the people and
said it was time to call a halt. He
argued that concurrent action between
the states and the national government
was necessary to control the operations
of the socaIled trusts. He concluded
his remarks with a vigorous attack
upon the Standard Oil company, exem-
plifying his onslaught by the recital of
a number of specific cases coming un-
der his observations wherein the oil
company made enormous profits on its
product in Colorado and adjacent states
to the detTiment of the consumer. He
said the company avoided taxation on
its property and business in colorado
and paid dividends in New YORK PUP
lie opinion, he said, governs this coun-
try and when it is finally awakened to
the evil of the trusts, then the public
opinion is going to have its way He
hoped that the trust question would
be kept out of the dominion of partisan
politics and that it would be considered
from the lofty standpoint of American
citizenship. If this question. he said,
is not met properly, the result will not
only be a menace to the people of this
but the next generation.
Governor Leslie Shaw of Iowa, then
took the floor and, as seemed to many
facetiously derided the remarks of Gov
ernor Stephens at the morning session.
Before delving into his subject he
paused and made motion that the
governors of Missouri, Tennessee and
Texas. be appointed to draft and form
ulate a bill such as, in their opinion
may safely and advantageously be
passed by the legislatures of the several
states and which will, in their opinion,
as far as possible remedy the evil so
universally acknowledged The motion
was tabled
Governor Daniel w. Jones. of Arkan-
sas, being called on, in vigorous terms
scored Governor Shaw for his face
tiousness, saying this was no time and
place for remarks not tending to
furtherance of the business before the
conference. He then made a speech
against the monsters" termed trusts,
he having felt their power among his
people In his opinion. the trusts should
be annihilated.
Governor Jones was followed by At
torney General Edward G. Crow, of
Missouri, who spoke to the question
from the view point of lawyer.
He favored the enacting of a law in
every state so that when trusts are or
ganized the equality of the law shall
prevail.
l. w. Taylor. attorney general of In
diana, followed.
Attorney General Nolan OF Montana
then took the floor.
Attorney General Oren. of Michigan,
being called on, devoted the main part
of his address to eXemplifying Mlch1-
gan'S methods for controlling corpora
tons He severely criticised New Jer-
sey and Delaware for their lax incor-
poration laws. Uniform laws, in his
opinion. should be enacted by the states
to control corporations.
Attorney General Smith, of Texas,