The Topeka state journal., 1899-09-20
SAYER'S KEY NOTE.
Opposition to Trusts, the Feat
ure at ST. Louis.
Conference Differs From One at
Chicago.
NOT FOR ARGUMENT.
But to Devise Ways of DemOl-
ishing the Octopus.
Governor of Texas Starts the
Ball A-rOlling.

ernors and attorney generals who have
come here on the invitation of Governor
Sayers of Texas, to hold a conference
for the discussion of the trust question
and to take such action as may be
deemed necessary. The indications are
that at least nine states will be repre-
sented at the conference.
Governor Hazen S. Pingree and At
torney General Oren of Michigan were
among the first arrivals Both regis
tered at the Planters hotel where the
sessions of the conference will be held
The governor said he had not come
prepared to say much, but rather to
listen and learn; for every one knew
where he stood on the trust question.
He did not believe in tempOrizing with
the evil and declared that the trusts
should be wiped out unconditionally. 1t
was a sad state Of affairs, the governor
said, when such big concerns as now
exist have so monopolized all branches
of business that the young men of the
country with ambition but little capital
are crowded to the wall and have no
opportunity to make a beginning.
Governor Pingree said he thought
this question was the most vital one
now before the American people and he
believed such gatherings as that held
recently at Chicago and the one about
to be held here would do much good
in bringing before the thinking people
of the country the serious aspect of
affairs.
Among the other arrivals today are
Attorney General W. L. Taylor of In
diana; Governor Benton McMillin of
Tennessee; Attorney General Nolan of
Montana; Governor c. S. Thomas of
Colorado, and Governor Leslie Shaw
and Z. r. Brown of Iowa.
All are registered at the Planters.
The conference has attracted a large
number of politicians from this and
other states. Prominent among those
who thronged the corridors of the hotel
was Congressman Joseph Bailey of
Texas, who says he is on his way home
r1lrx vrr1a he has
! looking after some private business.
Before the conference began Attor-
ney General Monroe McClurg of Mis-
sissippi arrived. He stated that Gov
ernor McLaurin was detained at home
on important business.
Promptly at IL o'clock Attorney Cen
eral Grove of Missouri called the con-
ference to order in the ladies ordinary
of the Planters hotel He made a short
address welcoming the people to Mis-
souri,. Mention was made of the Chi
cago trust conference recently held at
Chicago. He said it was educational
in it's results and expressed the hope
that the present conference would re-
suit in much profit. He then announc-
ed that it was in order to elect chair
man of the conference. Governor Lon
V. Stephens made a motion that Gov
ernor Sayers of Texas be elected per-
manent chairman and he was unani-
mOusly chosen.
Paul B. Moore, private secretary of
Governor Stephens of Missouri was
!
Governor Sayers was greeted with
! hearty applause when he assumed the
chair He read a somewhat lengthy
address setting forth his views on the
question of trusts which was frequent
Z ly applauded.
Governor Sayers said: "At the very
threshold of the proceedings, upon
which we are about to enter. it will not
be improper to briefly state the reasons
that induced me to suggest this confer
ence.
mo motive prompted my action 9TH
eF than the desire to induce if possible,
concert of action among such governors
and attorney generals of all the states
as might attend in effort to sup
press an evil, which has become g1gan-
tic in proportions and which in the
opinion of a very large number of good
and patriotic citizens of the republic,
threatens the most serious and disas-
trOus consequences to the country.
ut is true that in some sections,
money is plentiful trade active, specu-
latiOn rife and that certain products
have largely and rapidly increased in
selling value This prosperity however,
is born in a great measure of war and
is largely attributable to the enormous
expenditures that have been and are
now being made by the general govern
ment for special purposes and in par
ticular localities and so long. as war
shall continue this unusual activity will
be maintained Considering the sltua-
ton cOnSerVatiVely, 1mparttally and
with the assistance Of intelligent eX-
perience, it cannot be reasonably ex-
pected that the present prosperity Will
long survive the settlement of our for
eign difficulties and the restoration of
peace.
cidents directly connected with it, the
wonderful revolution that has occurred
in business life is calculated to arouse
the gravest anxiety in all thoughtful
minds. For the past quarter of a CEN
tury we have heard much of trust form
alton 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 prev
iOusly but a shadow on the horizon has
| become a dark and portentous cloud,
/ and on every side and from every
! quarter are heard warnings of imminent
danger that should no longer pass un-
/ needed"
The speaker quoted from a writer
1 who enumerated some of the largest
/ trusts in order to illustrate the gravity
| of the situation in this respect and then
went on to say:
The aggregations of capital in such
| extraordinary and unprecedented
| amounts controlling as they do the pro-
] duction, distribution and sale of COM
modities in universal use, all under the
I management and direction of a few
| persons, can not be excite the graveSt
apprehensiOnS in the mind of every
/ thoughtful and patriotic citizen. The
/ power which such associations can and
Il 10 exert QOe5 HOT dCCuI0 with the spirit
/ and policy free of institutions. The
] possession of extensive authority, sup
/ plemented with the means of it's ar
/ bitrary and unrestrained exercise, is al
/ ways denied in every just anj we'll reg
| ulated government. This principle
/ holds equally good in matters affecting
/ industrial and economic life, where
| government has conceded privileges to
! one or few individuals that are not en-
| joyed by ALL Every combination and
association of any magnitude in this
l country under the name or guise of a