The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1899-05-13
A spECIAL MESSAGE.
Gov. stephens Calls Attention to h
Trusts, DenOuncing Them as .
Menace to Commerce.

Gov. Stephens recently sent the fol-
lowing special message, urging hostile
legislation against the trusts, to the
general assembly, and it was read in
both houses:
To the Senate and House of Representa-
tiyes: The present antitrust laws of Mis-
souri, are fairly well designed to control
combines and trusts, which seek 10 nx and
maintain prices only. The legal means 70
enforce these laws are not in as good
ahape as they should be, but the present
antitrust laws of our state are inadequate
80 reach these combinations or trusts
which attempt to crush competition by the
members of the trust boycotung nom
members.
There has been introduced in the senate,
and passed by the antitrust law known
as the Whaley bill. 1t is said by compe-
tent lawyers to be a splendid measure,
completely adapted to speedily reach a.
amendment to the bill was offered in tho
house by Mr.. Hamilton, chairman OF the
committee on criminal Jurisprudence, so
as to reach trusts that control compete
ton by means of a boycott. The amend
ment was adopted, and is so adopted as.
not to interfere with any organization carr
ryinS on a legitimate business. II asso-
Citations and organizations are not con-
trolling the competition the amendment
will not affect them. If they are engaged
in combining to limit competition, such
organization should be anlenable to the
antitrust laws of Missouri.
There is, l am informed, a representa-
tiv" of an organization operating at the.
stock yards at Kansas City, here opposing
the bill as amended.
If the organization he represents does,
not control competition the measure Will
nor reach said association. But if the as
ISOLATION he belongs to does limit competi-
ton, then such association should be sub
tecS to the antitrust laws the same as any
other trust
But the general assembly can not. in my
opinion, afford to adjourn without. enact
ing a law on his subject embodying the
principles and remedies embodied in the
Whaley bill. The public mind IS all di-
reCted toward the enactment and CnforCe-
ment of antitrust laws. The state of Mis-
souri,, occupying as prominent a position
as IL does in the Union, can not afford to.
not have on its statute books ample REM
edies to protect its citizens in pursuing
any legitimate calling they may wish 10
follow to procure Il livelihood for them
selves and families. free from restraints
and boycotts and imposition by trusts and
The recent decisions of the supreme
court Of the United States show clearly
that by reason of limited powers of thu
federal government, it is unable to COM
pete with these commercial vampires
The sovereign states alone possessing all
the reserved powers of the people have
the authority to regulate and control these
matters.
The aggregation of capital with the view
OF creating a practical monopoly is thu
most prominent feature of the Industrial
conditions of the present.
The closing decades of the century VIII
so into history as the trust period, as tina
time ut which the trust took form anu as
5Cmed its gigantic proportions
The maSsing of capital and of business
ORGANIZATIONS has created a revolution in
the business of the country.
One of the effects of this change IS a
large increase in the prOductivenesS OF
capital thus employed, while the profits Of
the small, producers are propor:ionately
diminished.
II makes a servant and employe of the
former Independent.
Its tendency is to degenerate the great
middle class of our people, which conSti-
tutes the strength and stability of our
political institutions, to the position OF
employees.
\ system adapted to unduly increase the.
wealth of the rich and unjustiy diminish
ing the resources of the masses is Il ma
tional evil. This trust system will soon:
wipe out commercial freedom and enact
In its place commercial slavery of tho
masses. Personal freedom and human
liberty can not long exist where CONNER
cia! slavery reigrs supreme.
Tn following well-considered thoughts
from an article in a law periodical are
very timely:
whetted their swords to meet this ques--
ton. We are confronted with a new mon
ster a thousand times more terrible. Ev-
cry student Knows how corporations have.
grown from a monastic Institution TO the
predomfnance they now occupy in the
business world, but American ingenuity
al iHNeIltu u ieSdl Hdcnlne winch MAJ
swallow Il hundred corporation or Il nun
dred thousand individuals; and then, with.
the corporate responsibility, their united
power be stored, like n dynamo. in po-ta-
bic compass, and welded by one or two
men. Not even amenable to the re-
s~traints. of corporation law. these trusts.
may realize the satanic ambition. infinite
and irresponsible powers free of check or
conscience. Corporations are bad enough;
# is ever the defects of the historical
growth of law that 4 legal idea. so infi-
nitely differ from those that make posi-
bic its greater development: but the trust
is to the corporation what the mitrailleuse
Is to n biunderbuss."
In conclusion. l urge you to promptly.
pass the needed legislation on this ques-
ton. Respectfully.
LON Y STEPHENS Goyarnor