The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-09-21
GOVERNORS IN ST. LOUIS
For the Discussion of the Trust
Problem.
CROWDED TO THE WALL
Pingree Says the Young Man of To-Day
Has No Opportunity - Governor
Sayers OF Texas Is After
Concert OF Action.


trains brought in a number of addition
al governors 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 take such action as
may be deemed necessary. The indica-
tions are that at least nine states will
be represented 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
session will be held. The governor said
he had not come prepared to say much
eryone knew where he stood on the
trust question. He did not believe in
temporizing with the evil and declared
that trusts should be wiped out uncon-
ditionally. 1t was a sad state of affairs,
the governor said, when such big con-
Germs as now exist have SO monopo-
lized all branches of business that the
young men of the country with am
bition but little capital are crowded to
the wall and have no opportunity to
make beginning
this question was the most vital one now
before the American people, and he be-
lieved such gatherings as that recently
held 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 af-
fairs.
Among the other arrivals to-day are
Attorney General W. l.. Taylor of In
diana, Governor Benton McMillin of
Tennessee, Attorney General Nolan #
Montana, Governor c. S. Thomas of
Colorado and Governor Leslie Z. Shaw
and Il. r. Brown of Iowa, all register
ed at the Planters.
Many Politicians.
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 Congress
man Joseph Bailey of Texas, who says
| he is on his way home from Kentucky,
where he has been looking after some
| private business.
Before the conference began Attorney
| General Monroe G. McClurg of Mis-
sissippi arrived. He stated that Gov
| ernor McLaurin was detained at home
on important business. Promptly at II
20 clock Attorney General Grow of Mis-
| souri, called the conference to order in
| the ladies' ordinary of the Planters
| hotel, welcoming those present to Mis-
/ souri,. On motion of Governor Lon V.
| Stephens of Missouri Governor j. D
! Sayers of Texas was elected perman-
| ent chairman.
Paul p. Moore private secretary of
| Governor Stephens of Missouri, was
chosen secretary of the conference.
| Governor Sayers read somewhat
lengthy address setting forth his views
on the question of trusts, which was
frequently applaaded. Governor Say
ers said, regarding the calling of the
| conference:
No motive prompted my action 9TH
| er than the desire to- induce, if possible.
concert of action among such governors
| and attorney generals of all states as
might attend in an effort to suppress
| the evil which has become gigantic in
| proportions and which in the opinion OF
a very large number of good and patr-
otic citizens of the republic threatens
| the most esrious and disastrous conse-
| quences to the country.
| War Prosperity.
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, how
| ever is born in a great measure of war,
|
| Gus expenditures that have been made
| and are now being made by the general
| government for special purposes and in
! particular localities, and so long as
| war shall continue this unusual ac-
| tivfty will be maintained. Consider
| ing the situation conservatively, i'm
! partially and with the assistance of in
| telligent experience, it cannot be reaS'
| onably expected that the prosperity
| will long survive the settlement of our
! foreign difficulties and the restoration
| of peace.
| Next to the war itself and to the in
| cdents directly connected with it, the
wonderful revolution that has occurred
| in business life Is calculated to arouse
| the gravest anxiety in business life
| the gravest anxiety in all thoughtful
| minds For the past quarter of CEN
| tury we have heard much of trust for
nation and notes of alarm have been
| been sounded again and again to warn
| the people of the danger that threat
ened them in that direction. But dur
| ing the past two years that which was
| previously but a shadow on the horizon
| has become a dark and portentious
| cloud and on every side and from eV-
cry quarter are heard warnings of I'M
minent danger that should no longer
pass unheeded.
The speaker quoted from a writer
who enumerated some of the largest
trusts in order to illustrate the graV-
ity of the situation in this respect, and
then went on to say:
A Grave Danger.
"These aggregations of capital in
such extraordinary and unprecedented
amounts contrilling, as they do, the
production, distribution and sale OF
commodities in universal use, all un-
der the management and direction of
a few persons, cannot but excite the
gravest apprehensions in the minds of
every thoughtful and patriotic citizen.
The power which such associations can
and do exert does not accord with the
spirit and policy of free institutions.
The possession of extensive author
ity supplemented with the means of
it's arbitrary and unrestrained exer-
else, is always denied in every just and
well regulated government This prin-
ciple holds equally good in matters af-
fecting industrial and economic life,
where government has conceded privi-
leges to one or a few individuals that
ara nnt enjoyed by all