The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-06-20
FROM THE CAPITAL CITY
Further ACCeptances of Invitations to the
Antitrust Conference.
OF WASHINGTON HEARD FROM
lie Believes the states Can Not Heach
the Evil Finley for
Comptroller.

Austin. Texas, June 19,-Governor Say
ers is in receipt of additional replies from |
the governors OF Oregon, Washington and |
Pennsylvania
Governor Stone of Pennsylvania writes
as follows: II am IN receipt of your let
ter of the 5th inst, suggesting confer
ence of the governors and attorneys gem
oral of the several States and Territories
to consider the effect which the formation
Of trusts is having upon the country.
Il will be glad to give this matter the
consideration to which it is entitled, com
ing from one for whom / have so high a
regard and respect as for yourself, formed
through several years Of close intimacy
as a member of the committee over wnien
YOU presided with such ability and fair
/ ness. | Will take the matter up with the
/ attorney general OF our state and give 1t
| tuil CONSIDERATION
Governor Rogers of Washington OK
presses himself as follows. Il am in re-
celpt of your letter OF June ., suggesting
a conference 10 consist OF the governors
and attorneys general OF sucl states an
Territories as may see proper TO atlehu
A conference to be held IN 81. Louis on
"Wednesday, the 10Th day oil september
1888. for the purpose OF taking sueh ac-
tion as may be deemed proper respecting
the formation OF trusts in TINS country
In reply 10 your invitation allow me 10
say that IT will be Impossible TO attend
I, has occurred TO me IN this connection
that many people are advocating state
control OF trusts with insincerity, lhink-
ing in this way 10 pass through the next
national campaign with safety to them
selves, feeling sure that Whatever State
legislation may be enacted which viii real
J ly curb the power OF trusts Will eventual
ly be declared unconstitutional ~ the
; United States supreme court. With those
who thus and Tor this purpose advocate
state legislation regarding trusts, | can
; have no sympathy. and | am bound TO be-
iieye. too, that legislative action when
| seeks TO control the formation ana man
agement OF trusts Will prove lneilectual.
o "In the FIRST pfsce, the word trust Is
] misleading when applied to great many
industrial combinations now threatening
the prosperlty Of the people. In many
|, instances SO -called trusts are merely tar
: ger corporations. IL mas occurred to me
that corporatlons will be declared TO pos
sess a vested and constitutional right 10
buy and sell Clearly IL seems 10 me cor
e porations, as well as natural persons nave
e right 10 buy and hence a right TO sell
/ whatever Is offered Tor safe IN the mar
:, ket. II sufficient weight OF capital BE-
employed a corporation or natural per
son has the ability and the constitutions
) right 10 buy all OF a certain product Of
z Tered for sale; and this viii unquestion'
r. ably operate to fix the price at which suci
n produet viii in future be sold we car
=, see that. as in the case OF that parent o
: trusts the STANDARD Oil company tn
power to buy aud sell possessed by ina
eompany is entirely sufficient to reguiat
IA the price al which oil will be sold. tn
= Standard OIL company thus gets the powe
a ia drive out of business all competitors
I and in this way to establish the price 10
!. which their product must be sold.
n II am at loss to see. too now In
natural and fundamental right OF elthe
natural or corporate persons 10 puy an
!, sell can be inteTfered with by legal enact
1, ment. under our constitution
?. For these reasons ! can see no remed
~ for ths trust evil save public ownership
AZ This new question Of the trusts Is reail
~ the very old one OF capital vs. labor, OF
:. stated differently, the attempt OF the al
As mighty dollar to entire supremacy IN 10
er affairs Of men. There is in all this an II
repregsihlo conflict which VIII not Gown
the bidding OF any state legislature.
The private secretary OF the goyernc
r of oregon writes as follows: 1ours Sue
Cd ses.ing a conference OF the governors an
40 attorneys general 10 consider lne ellsut
n trusts in this country and TO discuss lssi 81
or lation In reference thereto received ~ %
H. executive office. am drecteo py tne koN
re ernor 10 say that he looks upon your sue
gestion with favor and Willis " y