The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-06-26
PLANS 70 aOIODT TRUSTS.


AUSTIN, Tex, June ae-tStsn Corre-
spondence Chicago Tribune.f-The anti
trust conference Of governors and Atfor-
nsys general Of states. conceived and
planned By Gov. Eayers OF Texas and
scheduled Tor September 80 in st. Louis. ~
already making stir IN the land Today.
three months In advance OF the meeting,
Governor 9ayers holds In mis- hands enough
gubernatoFiai acceptances TO insure an i'm
Doftant occasion. whatever may be the out
come Of the deliberations
That the meeting viii attract no enG OF
attention goes without saying. that II viii
prove perpiexfng enigma to some Of the
governors 10 equally certain. For exam
pie. the indications are that the governor
OF New Jersey viii not be in Ct. Louis on
the day Ia question. nor will the governor
OF Washington find IL convenient to be On
hand. Gov. John Riley Tanner of lii
nols. who. according to his letter. is an
open enemy OF trusts, VIII be present and
participate. The proceedings win be
watched by the trusts and by the people
OF the country as well.
In suggesting the conference Gov Sayers
had no purpose In view other than
that distinctly announced In his circular
Letters. and he hopes that there will be a
general attendance without reference 20
the views entertained by any one upon
this or any other question. No thought
OK personal or party advantage influenced
him in the step which he has taken. and
he wishes his letter to be distinctly under
stood by all az suggestive only. Whether
the idea originated with him or with any
one else Is a matter OF no moment The
same letter has been addressed to the gov
ernor and attorney general OF every state
and territory. No one has been omitted.
Expects Mach FrOm Marmony.
1t In Gov. Savers opinion that with har-
mony OF action much good can be accom-
piished and with united effort on the part
VIII not be doubtful. He has decided views
as To what should be done at the confer
ence, but feels that any expression by him
z. inis ume would be inopportune and
might be misconstrued. There is no dis
position on his part TO thrust himself TO
the front He Will be content 10 let Others
lead There has been and will be no cor
respondence whatever between any ether
governor or attorney general aud himself
that has been or will be kept from the
public, nor does he expect TO do more prior
70 the conference than what has already
been done. Leaving 10 each governor and
attorney general the unquestioned right
TO act on the suggestion of a conference
as ne may deem most advantageous to the
what he believes to be his right and I'M
portant public duty. Gov. Sayers will
quietly await the result Of the action he
has already taken.
Ever since Gov Sayers Issued his invi-
tation he has been deiuged with kilograms
asking why he called the conference and
what hi5 views are on the trust question,
ana to what extent, Ii any, politics has
entered into the matter. He has thus far
declined to discuss the question, bat he
Y opposed to trusts and he would do any
OF existence. He has given the matter
great deal OF thought. hut here is the story
OF how the projected meeting originated:
One day in the spring. when the Texas
fH = tytpx, Itv,.~
question. Gov. Sayerx saw IN a Texas pa
per statement In effect that the attorney
general of the United States had said:
power to make and enforce Legislation cal
culated to abolish the trusts''
Gov. Sayers read the statement and
reached the conclusion that II the general
government had not the power to abolish
the trusts. then the states had II. The au-
thorffy must be reposed somewhere. and IL
must be In the states. so he struck the idea
OF getting the governors and attorneys gen.
eraf together. with view OF securing con-
cert OF action. He Decided 10 take the in
iua,ive to bring II about The invitation
Now the governor. being man OF IDEAS
and convictions. is not going TO ST. Louis
emp'y-hsndsd In the way of antitrust ma
ticn with him Willingly or unwillnEiy.
he has made himself the leader In the
movement. and 40 his views are OF more
moment at this tuncture than those OF any
other governor or any other six governors
He II pioneer. pathfinder, in this new
departure.
Bill Pssaed by Legislature.
The Texas legislature. which adjourned
the other day. passed bill relative 10
trusts. which has been approved by Gov
Sayers. The measure Is strong one
This Texas law Is a mosaic production,
made up OF the Arkansas law and some
new features of fit local conditions II
met with the approval Of Attorney General
Smith and committee composed of five
lawyers from the senate and an equal
number from the house