Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-09-21
ANTITRUST MEN
Struggle With the Weighty Question and Make
But Little Roadway.

St. Louis. Mo. Sept pa number
of additional governors and attorney
generals arrived here. today, on the
invitation of GOV. Savers Of Texas, to
hold a conference for the discussion Of
the trust question ana to take such ac-
ton as may be deemed necessary.
GOV. Hazen s. Pingree and Attorney
General Oren of Michigan. We're among
the first arrivals at the Planters hotel,
where the sessions of the conference
will be held
The conference has attracted a large
number Of politicians from this and
other states. prominent among them
being Congressman Bailey of Texas
Attorney General Crow of Missouri,
called the conference to order. Mr..
crow made a short address welcoming
those present. GOV. Stevens of Mis-
souri,. nominated Gov. Sayers Of Texas.
as permanent chairman and he was
unanimously chosen. GOV. Savers was
greeted with hearty applause when ne
assumed the chair. He read a some
what lengthy address setting forth his
views on the question of trusts. which
was frequently applauded.
GOV. Stephens followed Governor
Sayers in an address in which he told
what had been done in Missouri to
fight the trusts. Gov. Stephens then
caused somewhat of a sensation among
the Republican state officials present
by denouncing the national admins
tration and its war policy and dec!ar-
ing that trusts and imperalsts go
hand in hand. 1t is limited strongly
that the Republicans attending the
conference may return home as the
result Of this outbreak of partisan
rancor and leave the Democrats to con-
tinue the conference alone.
The committee on order of business
was selected as follows: Governors
Jones. Thomas, Shaw and Pingree and
Attorney General Nolan and Taylor
ana McClurg.
Committee on resolutions: Governors
Stephens. McMillin and Attorney Gen
erals Davis. Campbell, Oren. Nolan,
Smith and McClurg. A recess was
taken until p. NJ.
When the conference resumed its
sittings at 8 o'clock the attendance was
undiminished A telegram from Gov
McLaurin of Mississippi said that
| business necessitated his absence but
| tndt any dtllol lcilulIlS " tIlc Vl
! ton of trusts and combines would re
ceive his support.
Attorney General Smith of Texas.
presented resolutions favoring legisla-
ton that would do away with trusts
and combinations. They were refer
! red to the committee.
\ Speeches being called for, Gov. G. s.
Thomas of Colorado, was the first to re-
spond. He contended that the consolida
ton of business combinations in a few
hands was injurious to the people as a
whole. He argued that concurrent action
between the states and the national gov
eminent was necessary to control the OPP
eratons of the so called trusts. He made
a vigorous attack upon the Standard Oil
co. He hoped the trust question would
be kept out of the domain of partisan
politics and that it would be considered
from the lofty standpoint of American
citizenship.
Gov. Leslie Shaw of Iowa then took the
floor. and. as it seemed to many, derided
the remarks of Gov. Stephens at the
morning session. Before delivering his
address he made motion that the gov
ernors of Missouri. Tennessee and Texas
be appointed to draft and formulate a bill
such as in their opinion might safely and
| advantageousy be passed by the Legis
latures of the several states and which
would in their opinion. as far possible
remedy the evil so universally acknowl
edged. The motion was tabled.
Gov. Shaw in his address made facetious
remarks about the governors of Missouri
and Tennessee and also in part said: III
the committee when appointed shall draft
an anti trust bill which seems to me
comprehensive and effective | will very
gladly recommend ii; but | have no sym
pathy with any combination of capital
which results in monopoly
Gov. Daniels w. Jones of Arkansas
| vigorously scored Gov. Shaw for his
faoetiousness, saying that this was no