The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1900-01-05
National Antitrust Conference.
To NE AMEnIcAN PnorLn:

To TIE AMERICAN PEOPLE:
Upon the ad iourment of the conference
relating to Trusts, held in Chicago in
September last under call OF the Civic
Federation OF that city, a number of del
agates 10 that conference who were op-
posed to Trusts met together with the
view of securing concerted action on the
part of the enemies of private monop
oily, appointed an executive committee,
OF which NJ. L. Lockwood, president OF
the American Antitrust League, is
chairman, and directed said committee
through ifs chairman. to call, AS soon as
practicable, National Antitrust Con-
ference for the purpose Of deciding upon
an Antitrust policy and permanently
organizing an Antitrust movement.
Pursuant to this direction the said
committee does hereby make the follow
ing declaration and call;
We believe the criminal conspiracies
in restraint of trade commonly known
as Trusts, which so alarmingly charac-
terse the present times, are menance
10 liberty They close the doors Of bust
ness opportunity to all but the rich and
powerful. They impOverish the produc
er and consumer. They degrade labor.
They have seized upod the avenues Of
transportation and poisoned the fountains
of public information, They de5auch
the elective franchise. They are public
enemies. Unless they are Overthrown
there will be established in free America
mOnied oligarchy on the one hand and
a seridom Of the masses Of the people on
the other. They must be destroyed or
free government is lost. The only power
capable of successfully combating the
tyranny of these gigantic capitalistle
mOnopolies is the aroused and organized
hosts of the people to whom the goveFn-
ment and the country rightfully belong
aud in whom all power of right inheres
Our republic was born of the love of
liberty which in l77G impelled the fathers
10 rebel against the tyrrany of the Eng
lish monarch and the special privileges
Of the British aristocrscy, and which in.
spired them to pledge TO the cause of hu-
man freedom their lives. their fortunes
and their sacred honor.
The same love Of liberty destroyed III,
uristocratic institution of slavery, a pow
er once fortified in the courts and en-
trcnched IN the constitution. That same
spirit row will suffice to overthrow ihc
slavery and tyrrany Of the Trusts.
In order to restore the equal rights o
the people and deliver them from tn
e criminal despoiliaiion Of these monopo
listic combinations. it s imperative tha
the special privileges which created au'
, foster them be nprooted and forever de
q stroyed.
? This herculean task can only be ac
n complshcd by the organization of the
d lovers of freedom in every part Of the re
S public and through the persistent and de
j. iermined efforts Of united people.
To this eId National Antitrust Cor
c ference is hereby called to meet in til
n city of Chicago on the birthday of Abr;
ham Lincoln, February y, 1900.
Patriotic citizens from all states an
d territories duly accredited aud in fu
u sympathy with the objects above name,
and representatives of known Anti-Trul
y organizations, are invited to meet L
!" gether in said conference.
t. Applicants for admission to said col
~ ference should be made to the Secretar
Unity Building, Chicago, at an ear
~ date, rs credentials OF delegates must
: countersigned by the chairman Of Il
Executive Committee.
&c The ac,iOn taken and the movement
' set forth in the above article is signed
> endorsed by several hundred of the lea
'e ing men in the United States.