The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-11-21
TRUST QUESTION.


1t is the purpose of some of the commit
teemen to organize a bureau of informa-
ton and education, whose duty it shall
be to gather accurate and definite infor-
nation relating to trusts, cost of manu-
featuring, selling prices to jobbers and
middlemen, selling prices to consumers,
wages paid and cost of raw material.
They believe they will be able to show
that the present high prices are the result
of trusts and combinations, and that
workingmen have been given but small
proportion of the increase in selling
values.
This idea has assumed such tangible
form that it is predicted that Coin Har-
vey will be placed at the head of the
bureau. None of the committeeman would
admit this matter had been discussed
1t is proposed to employ a large staff
of men to gather information which can
be used in an antitrust campaign.
SILVER ISSUE.
There did not seem to be any disposition
to shelve free silver as an issue. All the
committeeman said free coinage was in
the platform to stay, but none of them
said it would be the dominant issue.
Congressman William Sulzer, of New
York, appeared before the committee He
said trusts would be the issue in the East
James F. Minturn, of New Jersey, told
the committee practically the same thing.
Senator Pettigrew, of South Dakota, and
Charles A. Towne, of Duluth, both Of
them silver Republicans, told the COM
mittee that free silver was still live is
sue in their states.
The members of the executive commit
tee who were in. attendance today were
Senator ]. K. Jones, Of Arkansas chair
man; Charles A. Walsh. Iowa, secretary;
]. G. Johnson; H. D. Clayton, Alabama;
Thomas Gahan, Illinois; J. G. Shanklin,
Indiana; D. J. Campau, Michigan; w H.
Thompson, Nebraska; T. D. O. 'Brien, Min
nesota, and Norman E. Mack, of Buffalo,
who held the proxy of George Fred Will
liams, of Massachusetts.
GOV. STONE ILL.
Chairman w. J. Stone of Missouri, was
the conspicuous absentee. He sent tel
egram which said he was sick and would
not be able to come to Chicago.
Among the prominent outsiders who
called on the committee were: L. A. Ros-
ing chairman of the Minnesota state
committee; B. D. Shively, of South Bend,
Ind; Congressman w. D. Davis, of New
York; Allen w. Clark of Indiana, and
DR.. F. ]. Vanvorhis, of Indianapolis
Ex-Gov. John P. Altgeld called on Sen-
ator Jones during the day and met with
a warm reception. Mayor Harrison did
not call on Senator Jones. Congressman
Sulzer, of New York, called on Mayor
; Harrison to solicit his influence toward
getting the Democratic congressman from
Illinois to vote for him for the leadership
of the minority in the house of represent
atives.
James Minturn, of New Jersey, asked
the committee to help the Bryan Demo-
Gratis of his state He said the New Jer-
sey Democratic committee did not have
the confidence of the Chicago platform
Democrats, and that some of the Demo-
Gratis had voted the Republican ticket
He wanted w J. Bryan to visit New Jer-
sey to help straighten things out.
EARLY CONVENTION FAVORED.
There is a strong feeling among the
committeeman present in favor of hold
ing the national convention earlier in the
year than has been the custom hereto
fore. A number of the committee express
ed themselves as being In favor of hold
ing the convention in April or May, pref
erably the latter month.
"A strong delegation was present from
Milwaukee to press the claims of that
city, and the Wisconsin men did some
very energetic lobbying during the day.
No delegation was present from any other
city 1t was not within the province OF
the executive committee to take action
regarding the convention. but 1t was free
ly admitted that the offers Of all ex-