The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-09-21

have then embraced subjects upon which
there are greater differences of opinion
than upon the question of trusts alone. L
was interested and diverted by the ad-
dress of the governor of Missouri, indeed,
for he stated that his state had triumph
antly eXterminated the octopus. l was d.
Verted as he told of the downfall of Rome
caused from evils such us now confront
us. | was made to regret that in the ex-
panston policy of old Rome she did not
acquire some territory as productive or
statesmen as the Louisiana purchaSe and
which might then have produced a gov
ernment of sufficient foresight, legis-
lature of sufficient wisdom, an attorney
general of sufficient courage and SUI
preme court of sufficient erudition and
fairness to have successfully coped with
multi-mllionaires and bankers which 1t
was claimed infested the empire to the
| great damage of the common people.
THE remedy suggested by implication
| in the two speeches of the forenoon ses-
| sion-that of the repeal of all tariff pro.
visions and through the free coinage of
! Stlve, would, in my opinion, effectually
break the back of every trust in the Unit
e1 States. 1t would accomplish this much
in the same way that a fire in wheat
field temporarily destroys Canada this
| ties, but have learned from observation
| that these pests will spring up again as
soon as conditions are favorable to the
growth of another crop of wheat. l had
some method of effectively dealing with
the evil without resorting to a prairie
| fire so soon upon the heels Of the last.
eff bill should be formulated l shall
give it most careful consideration, and II
l consider it feasible, recommend its
| adoption in my state.
IOWA EXECUTIVE REBUKEO
Gov. Daniel W. Jones, of Arkansas,
| being called on, arose, and in vigorous
| tones scored Gov. Shaw for his facetious-
ness, 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 annihtlated.
| He said in part:
81 protest against anything like parti-
san politics in this conference. No man
who loves his couatry can fui n.sh any
defense of these trusts. ! cannot see
how any man who loves his country ard
the blessings of liberty, would make any
| defense of the trusts, and still more,
why any man should indulge in anything
| like irony and sarcasm. l would as soon
| laugh over the grave OF my fr nd; as
| soon make merriment in the house of
| mourning.
These gentlemen come here to confer
| as to what can be done for our country.
| l can add nothing to what the governor
of Texas said this morning nor a word
oraGo. I can see but one result, because
| when the money of the country combines g
| to reduce the price of labor and put up
the price of the products of the combine
tom I cannot see why there should be
| any difference Of opinion But, bevond
that, deeper and broader, is the destcuc-
cause 1t is proposed to make machines Of
men. When it is proposed to reduce men
| to penury and want, 1t Is time to ac-
| knowledge the condition OF affairs. This
serious consideration; I have not come
to the conclusion that the American peo
| Pile have created a civilization which they
| cannot control, and the man. who 50 cen
! tends does not know what he is talking
| about. If we have built 10 c0rporltions
through the insttuT entaltty Of our ad-
come destructive Of our form of govern
ment it is time to shear them of their
power, even to destroying them.
81 came here to consult with you gem
! tlemen as to what is best j propose 10
| go as far as I can, rot only In ragulat-
ing. but in absolutely annihilating these
trusts.
Gov Jones was followed by Attorney
| General Edgar c. Crow Of Missouri, VINO
spoke to the question from the view
point of "a lawyer. He favored the en-
acting of law in every state, so that
when trusts are organized the quality Of
the law shall prevail
TRUSTS STIFLE INDIVIDUALISM
w L. Taylor, attorney general of IN
w
81 do not join in the sentiment that the
general government and the states cam
not control combinations of capital Sue
a sentiment is a reflection On the ability
of the American people for s2lf-gol e n
ment There is an abundant virtue in the
people to elect legislatures that will ell
. act ample laws to regulate. or destroy
| trusts. The American Judiciary can e
relied upon to faithfully construe legis-
| lation along constitutional lines.
We are here by INVITATION, to de.vf e
| such laws and to suggest such legiS a.
ton as will control or prevent the M
binations of capital to the detrimeat of
| the people, and that will preserve to Ike
! people the benefits of competition We
anti-eNpansion, protection or free trade,
! the gold stadard or the retiring issue Of
This country of ours is not on the de-
cline. The prophets of evil are Use
| prophets-they are yellow with tie po t
ical malaria of the swamps-th7y ne d
| tatrs. The people are not In the swami
! today. Never in the history of this ON
! try has prosperity been SO ger eral or o
| generous. This has come not from t. u is,
! but in spite of tlusts-not from comb la-
tbons of capital but in spite Of such C M
! binations
/ destroy the opportunity 70, i-diY;dual eff
! fort and enterprise. TIE 1mesti: COR
poration is coaXed or driven from tt e
| field of competition. All thes evils ce
| be and should be remedicG by legisla-
ton"
Attorney General Oren of Michigan, be-
ing called on, devoted the main part of his
address in exemplifying Michigan meth
DDS for controlling corporations. Attor-
ney General Smi h, of Texas, then took
the floor and edited the conference with d
recital of his experience in handling trusts
| in the Lone Star state
GOV. PINGREE TALKS.
At the evening session Gov. Hazen S.
Pingree Of Michigan delivered an ad-
dress which was closely lis ened to and
frequently applauded. Gov. Ffngree said
in part:
THE Chicago trust conference was of
| great value because it separated the chan
| from the wheat. 1t did much to clarity
! the subjec 1t was CT educational value,
but its principal benefit to my mind was
| the revelations it gave us of the position
| which the advocates of the trus, or rather
| the trusts themselves would take.
1.-The trust is a nOnstroUS commercial
defoEmity. l; overth1rows all the laws Of
political economy by the crushing force Of
| immense resources. 1t has no conscience.
In dealing with the trust, therefore, let
us face raj copditions. The evils of the
bitrarily. The quality of the product is
poorer 1t shuts up factories and throws
! employees out of employment under the
! guise of economy 1t drives The small
! manufacturer and merchant out of busi-
ness It compels the grower and producer
of raw material, the farmer, to sell at its
securities on the market, and prices go up
| and wages go down in order to pay inter-
est and dividends on excessive capitaliza-
| ton. It treats man as an, indus rial slave,
! and thus saps the strength of our demo-
! cracy and citizenship. 1t corrupts poll
| tics legislatures, municipal councils, pub
! lie Office. s, he press and even the courts.
! The remedy is what we are now seeking
! "Ihe trust can be abolished BY law.