Evening star., 1899-09-20
MENACED BY TRUSTS
Gov. Sayers Considers Them Dan.
gerous to Country as War.
SPEECH At st. LOUIS CONFERENCE
Back Of Them, He Declares, is
Special Privilege.
DUTY TO CHECK THEM

ST. LOUIS, Mo. Sep ember 2o.-Promptly
at II o'clock Attorney General Crow of
Missouri called to order In the la lies ordi-
nary of the Planters Hotel the antitrust
conference originated by Governor Sayers
of leXas. Mr.. Crow made short addre Q,
welcoming those present to Missouri.
Gov. Lon V. Stephens of Missouri nom.
mated Gov. J. d. Sayers of Texas perna-
nent chairman and he was unanimously
chosen.
Paul b. Moore, private secretary of Gov
ernor Stephens, was chosen secretary Of
the conference.
Governor Sayers was greeted wi h hearty
applause when he assumed tie char. He
read someT nat lengthy addl ess, setting
forth his views the question of trusts.
which was Frequently applauded.
Governor Sayers said in part:
No motive prompted my action in sug-
Sesilng this conference other than the de-
sire to I.iduce. If possible, concert of action
among such governors and attorneys gen.
eral OF all the states that might aid in an
effort to suppress an evil, which has be-
come gigantic in proportions and which, in
the opinion of a very large number of good
and patriotic citizens of the repuoiic.
threatens the most serious and disastrous
consequences to the country.
Prosperity Due to War;
is plentiful, trade active, speculation rife.
and that certain products have largely and
rapidly increased in selling value.
''rais prosperity, however. is born, in a
great measure, of and is largely attrib-
utabie To the enormous expenditures that
lave been and are now beng made by the
general government for special purposes
and in particular localities, and so ong as
war shall continue this unusual activity
Will be med. Considering he
ton conservatively, impartialiy and with
the assistance of an Intelligent experience,
1t cannot be reasonably expected that the
present prosperity viii long survive the
sett ement OF our foreign difficulties and
the restoration Of peace.
Next TO the war itself, and to the Incl
dents directly connected with it, the Won
derful revolution that has occurred in busi-
ness life is calculated to arouse the gravest
anxiety in all thoughtful minds. For the
past quarter of century we have heard
much of trust formation, and notes of
alarm have been sounded again and again
to warn the people of the danger that
threatened them in that direction. But
during the past two years that which was
previously but shadow on the horizon
mas become dark and portentious cloud.
and on every side and from every quarter
are heard warnings OF imminent danger
that should no longer pass unheeded.
Hacked by Special Privilege.
Every combination and associa ton Of
any magnitude in this country under the
name or guise of a trust, almost without
exception, owes its existence to a govern-
mental grant of privilege, exemption and
power. The fact that the trust almost uni
VerSally owes its very life to the creative
power of public authority, makes il the
imperative duty of government to protect
the people against any abuse or misuse of
ITS opportunities to the detriment of the
& neral welfare. This, in my opinion, is
complete answer to any objection that
might be urged against governmental in
reference to restrain and, if needs be, 10
entirely destroy the trust power whenever
1t shall become hurtful perilous.
There must be cooperation between
beth governments, general and local. each
working earne stly and sincerely within its
sphere
In the speakers opinion both govern
r1ents may be rightfuly held responsible
for the existence of the trust, and the sub
ject was indisputably within the domain Of
federal legislation.