The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-03-02
TRUSTS FORCED WAR
PROF. HEBRON CHARGES THAT
THEY CONsPIRED TO CAUSE
CONFLICT
CLAIMS TO HAVE CONTRACT
by the Terms, He Alleges, Men
Who Would Profit by Govern
ment Contracts Contributed
Money to Promote HostiIities and
fhen Divided the PrOfits-De-
clines to Make Names Public.

CHICAGO. March, 1.-The Chicago
Chronicle prints the following story
under display head lines:
Did American trusts and contractors
conspire to embroil the United States
in the war with Spain, in the hope of
profiting to the extent of millions?
Prof. George D. Heron, instructor of
sociology and economics at Iowa coll
1ege, makes public profession that they
did. Furthermore. Prof. Heron claims
to possess a copy Of the compact
drawn up by these conspirators and
promises to present it to the American
public when the present international
disturbances have become Quieted
Prof. Heron first made public an
nouncement of his possession Of the
knowledge in question at the meeting
of the National Citizenship league IN
Central Music hall. The statement
was made during the course of Pror.
Herron'S lecture upon Municipal
Ownership" So little stress was laid
upon it by the speaker that its utter
ance attracted little or no attention at
the time
But later consideration given the
address in the manuscript revealed the
Importance of the charge made by the
speaker. Prof. Herron's position as a
student of economics did not permit
of light dismissal of the charges,
and he was asked for further light
upon the matter. Prof. Heron said
that he was perfectly willing to stand
by the charges made, and then went
on to tell as much as he would con-
cerning the accusations and his basis
for them.
CHARGE REITERATED.
Il derived my information" Prof.
Heron explained, from a man prom
tnent in public life to whom l stand In
a relationship akin 70 that of a father
cOnfessor. From what he has told ne
and from documents which 1 row pos.
sess L know many terrible things. l
can state positively that cur being
plunged into a war with Spain was
brought about by a conspiracy of the
nlen who would profit most by such a
national calamity.
The conspirator met in one of our
great cities and made pleas for sub
sidiZing important newspa oers, for
corrupting congressman, for furnishing
munitions to Cuban insurgents and for
other purposes which would in all like
Hbood bring about the results which
they so much desired. The expenses
We're borne by all. The profits were to
be derived from government contracts
and in other ways. l think that it would
be a safe and conservative statement
to say that they profited to the extent
OF fnllV $40 O0O (CO I q ~
the contract which was drawn up by
them"
WILL TELL IN DUE TIME
Prof. Heron was asked If he would
permit the publication of the text of
the contract and Of the list of the
names of the signers. In answer to
this request Prof Heron replied:
LAS 1 told you in the beginning, I
derived this information by virtue of
my position as a confidant. I cannot
disclose it's details until permission is
granted, but 1 am certain that my in
formant will give me the desired priv
ilege as soon as we have as a nation,
entered again upon a peaceful state,
possibly when the presidents war in
vestigating committee has finished its
work.
Prof. Herron's questioner asked
whether any of the conspirators were
Chicago packers, inasmuch as many Of
them had profited greatly by the war
Again Prof Heron declined to COM
nit himself but repeated the assurance
that he would tell all at the proper
time, and he said that the time might
come soon.