The Forrest City times., 1899-09-29
ANTITRUST CONFERENCE.
The Gathering of Governors and
Attorneys General at ST. Louis
to Discuss Trusts.
UNITED ACTION WAS THE KEYNOTE.
Ten states Were Represented mt the
Meeting, seven by Governors and
the Others by Attorneys General
or other Accredited Dele gates
The Proceedings.

The Proceedings.
ST. Louis, Sept. 21.-The conference
OF governors and attorneys general
called by Gov. Sayers of Texas, 10
meet in ST. Louis, assembled in parlor
b, of the Planters hotel, yesterday.
First Days Proceedings Called to
Order.
Att'y-Gen. f. c. Crow of Missouri
called the conference TO order at IL a. IN.
Seven governors and seven attorney
generals answered to their names, and
little later two others, representing their
respective states, were admitted.
The governors present were: Savers of
Texas, Jones of Arkansas. McMillin OF
Tennessee, Thomas of Colorado, Pingree
of Michigan, Shaw of Iowa, and Stephens
OF Missouri.
The attorney generals were: Smith OF
Texas. Davis of Arkansas. Crow OF Mis-
souri,, Nolan of Montana, Taylor of In
diana, Campbell of Colorado. and Oren
of Michigan.
c. G. Hemner, insurance commissioner
of Washington, brought credentials with
him from the attorney general of that
state. authorizing him TO represent 1t.
He was admitted by an unanimous vote.
Monroe McClurg, democratic nominee for
attorney general of Mississippi, was adj
mitted to a seat to represent that state,
so, in all. l6 were present.
The parlor was crowded to it's limit, and
standing-room was hard to obtain when
the conference was called to order. 4 his
duty had been assigned to Atty. Gen.
Crow at q short conference held in adj
vance. Among some of those present
were Congressman Bailey. of Texas; VIII
w. l.. Bass. of Brooklyn, N. Y. writer
on economic questions, who attended the
Chicago meeting and large number Of
Missouri politicians, including Sam b.
Cook A M DnrkarV nd
j. ii. Whitecotton.
Two addresses were read at the fore
noon session, one by Gov. Sayers of Tex
as, and the other by Gov. Stephens OF
Missouri, Both elected much applause,
and evidently met with the approval of
most of those present.
In calling the conference to order. Atty
Gen. Crow said that he had attended the
Chicago meeting. and had participated in
It's deliberations. 1t had been called for
educational purposes. he said, while the
present gathering was one representing
Gov. sayers was elected permanent
chairman. and Paul b. Moore, of Mis-
souri,, secretary.
Governor sayers' Speech.
Gov. sayers spoke for half an hour
Among other things, he said:
"At the very threshold of the proceed
ing upon which we are about to enter 1t
Will not be improper to briefly state the
reasons that induced me to suggest this
conference.
mo motive prompted my action other
than the desire to induce, II possible, con-
cert OF action among such governors and
attorney generals of all the states as
evil which has become gigantic in proper
lions, and which, in the opinion of q very
large number of good and patriotic citi-
Gems of the republic, threatens the most
serious and disastrous consequences to
the country.
1T is true that, in some sections, money
Is plentiful trade active, speculation rife
and that certain products have largely
and rapidly increased in selling value.
This prosperity, however, is born, in a
great measure, of war, and is largely at
tributable to the enormous expenditures
that have been and are now being made
by the general government for special
purposes, and in particular localities !;
and, SO long as war shall continue this
unusual activity will be maintained Con-
sidering the situation conservatively, i'm :
partially. and with the assistance of an
intelligent experience. IL can not be rea-
sonably expected that the present pros
perity will long survive the settlement of
our foreign difficulties, and the restora-
tion of peace,
Every combination and association of
any magnitude In this country under the
name or suise of trust, almost without
exception, owes its existence TO a gov
eminent grant of privilege, exemption and
power. In this form of business activity,
the individual very rarely, If ever, VEN
shields himself under the protecting ad-
vantage and immunity of a corporate ex
tstence created by statute.
The character of our government in
ereases the difficulty of prompt and
proper solution. Constitutional obstacles
lie in the way, and the evil can not b.
eradicated by either federal or state au-
thority acting singly. There must be CO.
operation between both governments-gen-
eral and local--each working earnestly
and sincerely within its own sphere. The
causes of the evil must be sought for, and
when found must be removed. There APP
pears To be difference among intelligent
and patriotic men as to how the subject
should be dealt with. One class of think
ers attributes the trust to federal legisla-
ton only. and contends that relief is to
be found exclusively In the halls of con-
gress. Another class acribes il to the pol
ley of the state in the too liberal allow
ance of chartered rights and privileges
for purposes that can not be considered
public in their nature.
My own opinion is that both govern
ments may be rightfully held responsible
for the existence of the trust. The tariff
which operates, In a great measure, to the
exclusion of foreign competition; the
form of currency upon which the country
is required to depend, making ii impossi-
BILE to secure to the people. through proper
distribution, an amount adequate to their
need. and the method of charges by rail-
ways upon the shipment of freights-aIl
are within the Jurisdiction of the federal
government, and are answerable, 10 q
great extent, for the trust
These subjects are indiSputably within
the domain of federal legislation, and as
TO them an earnest and immediate appeal
should be taken TO congress.
The conclusion. 1t occurs to me. Is in
eyitable that In order to successfully meet
this threatening danger both the con-
gress and the egislature-suppleme
by the active, earnest and sincere efforts
of executive authority, and of able, pa.
triotic and incorruptible judiciary-must
be called into contribution. and each must
be required to do its part under consti-
tutional limitations, and entire harmony
with the other.
I'm making the few, who are SO stu
ated as to central large aggregations of
money, to know that such control shall
not be exercised to the injury of the peo-
PIE, and of their Institutions war is not
declared against capital
"fhe opposition TO this conference is
strong indeed. Division of sentiment is
most earnestly desired and confidently ex-
pected. / sincerely trust that all will
work together in harmony, and for the
good of the people"
Two Committees Named.
On the suggestion of Atty.-Gen Smitl.
OF Texas, two committees were named
one on order OF business. and the other on
resc buttons. The committees follow:
on Order of NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Jones
of Arkansas Thomas of Colorado Shaw
of Iowa. Pingree of Michigan. and At
torney Generals Nolan, of Montana Nc
Clurg of Mississippi. and Taylor OF In
diana.
observation-disclosures Generals Davtsos