The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-09-21

all. Every combination and association OF
any magnitude IN this country under the
name or guise OF a trust almost without
exception yves its existence 10 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 II the i'm
perative cuty Of the government to protect
the people against any abuse or misuse of
its opportunities 10 the detriment of the
general welfare. This Is. In my opinion, a
might be urged against yernmentS inter.
ference TO restrain. and. II need be, to en-
tfrely destroy the trust power whenever 1t
shall become hurtfui or perilous."
Governor Sayers declared that in none OF
the generally accepted authorities upon
finance. commerce or mechanic and agri-
cultural Industry can there be found a ra-
tionai defense of the system that has SO
suddenly and so firmly fixed its iron grasp
upon the material interests of the country.
The gravity Of the situation. the speaker
declared. could not be overestimated nor
permitted to pass unchallenged by those
charged with important and responsible pub
lie duties 1t was not the time for evasion
Dor was il a subject worthy only Of discus
sion. Action. careful. thoughtful. intelli-
gent and courageous action, he said. was
the hours greatest need. Constitutional OBJ
stacles lie in the way and the evil cannot
be eradicated by either federal or state au-
fhority acting separately. the Governor con-
.tinued- There must be cooperation between
both governments. general and Local, each
working earnestly and sincerely within its
sphere. In the speakers opinion both gov
ernments may be rightfully held responsible
for the existence of the trust, and the SUBJ
iect was indisputably within the domain of
federal legislation.
Governor Stephens followed Governor
Sayers and caused somewhat of a sensation
among some Of the Republican state OFF,
Gals present by denouncing the national ad-
ministration and its war policy and declar-
ing that trusts and Imperialism go hand in
hand 1t Is limited strongly that the Repub-
home as the result Of this speech and leave
the Democrats TO continue the conference
alone In any event 1t Is stated Govern
Iowa. will leave. the former being called
away by pressing business. Governor Shaw
Is In the midst or a campaign and his
TO remain longer, 1t is stated.
, After a recess Governor Thomas made a
speech. in which he said he did not agree
with the expressions voiced by Governors
Stephens and Sayers. He then launched out
IA a discussion of the trust proposition.
out Of the domain OF partisan politics and
that Ii would be considered from the lofty
standpoint OF American citizenship. IL this
question:; he said, Is not met properly the
result will not only be a menace TO the peo-
pie Of this. but the next generation
SHAW WAKES UP DEMOCRATS.
Governor Leslie Shaw. OF Iowa. then took
the floor and. as 1t seemed to many, de-
rided the remarks OF Governor Stephens
at the morning session. Before delving into
his subject he paused and made a motion
that the Governors of Missouri. Tennessee
and Texas be appointed to draft and formu-
late a bill such as. in their opinion. may
safely and a-dvantageously be passed by the
legislatures Of the several States and which
will in their opinion as far as possible
remedy the evil so universally acknowl-
edged. The motion was tabled. Governor
Shaw said in part:
II regret that the call for this conference
did not include all that IS in the mind OF
him who issued Ii. 1t was evidently the
purpose TO make Ii not only an antitrust
conference. but an ~anti-expansion and q
say evidently the purpose from the tone
of the remarks OF the chairman and from
the speech of the Governor of Missouri
Had this been done, it is quite possible q
larger attendance would have been secured
for certainly Ii would have then embraced
subjects on which there are greater differ
ences Of opinion than upon the question OF
trusts alone 1 was interested and diverted
by the address from the Governor OF Mis-
souri, - interested. for he stated that his
State had triumphantly exterminated the
octopus. / was diverted as he told of ths
downfall Of Rome. caused from evils such
that in the expansion policy of old Rome
she did not acquire some territory as pro
ductive of statesmen as the louisiana, pur
chase and which might have then produced
q Governor Of sufficient foresight, a Legis
lature of sufficient wisdom. an attorney
court Ss@Tta Of o. su If%eisns er rUhttss and and fairness f Z e
have successfully COPIED with multi-million
aires and bankers which, 1T was claimed
infested the empire to the great damage
of the common people.
Il prefer a formulated bill, such as
may safely submit to the General Assem-
bly, of my State, rather than resolutions
! think / am politician enough TO draf,
set OF resolutions SO drastic that. IL needed
all trusts and combinations would imme
monweaith OF which 1 have the honor t.
be chief executive, but i am not so con
fident that / am statesman enough 10 draf
exit. providing they are determined TO stay
II the committee, when appointed, shall
draft a bill which seems 10 me compEe
recommend II, for i desire here and nov
TO say that I have no sympathy with an.
combination of capital which results II
monopoly.
"I desire thai the Governor of Missouri
shall serve upon this committee for the rea
son that he reports the statste or MS stat
and 1 hope, If he shall consider II essentia
TO this end. that he incorporate the Law
recently approved Dy niE, Wnlcn, III Il ma,
trust the verbal testimony Of citizens Of hi
State. permitted the competing lines o
street railways in this city to combine. An
I desire that the Governor of Tennessee ma,
serve on this COMMITTEES. for In private con
versation he advised me, with evident pride
/ thought. hat very extensive deposits o
phosphate had been discovered in his Stat
from which great fortunes are now beinl
made and he reported that many of tn
producers of phosphate had been thereb,
driven from the market. I desire him TO in
corporate in the bill, IL he shall deem IL ad
visable. such provisions as will prohibit cap