New Iberia enterprise. (New Iberia, La.) 1885-1902, 1900-01-27
CALL FOR A NATIONAL ANTITRUST
CONFERENCE.

CONFERENCE.
To the American People:
Upon the adjournment of the
conference relating to Trusts, helC
in Chicago in September last under
a call of the Civic Federation OF
that city, number of delegates tc
that conference who were opposed
to Trusts met together with the
view of securing concerted action
on the part of the enemies of private
monopoly, appointed an executive
committee, of which M. l.. Lock
wood, president of the American
Antitrust League, is chairman
and directed said committee
through its chairman, to call, as
soon as practicable, a National
Antitrust Conference for the pur.
pose of deciding upon an Anti
Trust policy and permanently or
ganizing an Antitrust movement.
Pursuant to this direction the
said committee does hereby make
the following declaration and call
We believe the criminal conspira-
cies in restraint of trade common
ly known as Trusts, which so
alarmingly characterize the present
times, are menace to liberty. They
close the doors of business oppor-
tunity to all but the rich and power
full. They impoverish the producer
and consumer. They degrade labor
They have seized upon the avenues
of transportation and poisoned the
fountains of public information.
They debauch the elective franchise.
They are public enemies. Unless
they are overthrown there will be
established in free America mon
led oligarchy on the one hand and
a serfdom of the masses of the peo-
pie on the other. They must be
destroyed or free government is
lost. The only power capable of
successfully combating the tyranny
of these gigantic monopolies is the
aroused and organized hosts Of the
people to whome the government
and the country rightfully belong
and in whom all power of right
inheres.
Our republic was born of the love
Of liberty which in 1776 impelled
the fathers to rebel against the
tyranny of the English monarch
and the special privileges of the
British aristocracy, and which in
spired them to pledge to the cause
of human freedom their lives, their
fortunes and their sacred honor.
The same love of liberty de-
stroyed the aristocratic institution
of slavery, power once fortified
in the courts and entrenched in the
constitution. That same spirit now
will suffice to overthrow the new
slavery and tyranny of Trusts.
In order to restore the equal
rights of the people and deliver
them from the criminal despolia-
tion of these monopolistic combina-
tions, it is imperative that the
special privileges which created
and foster them be uprooted and
forever destroyed.
This herculean task can only be
accomplished by the organization
of the lovers Of freedom in every
part of the republic and through the
persistent and determined efforts
Of united people.
To this end National Anti Trust
is hereby called to meet
in the city of Chicago on the birth
day of Abraham Lincoln, February
IL, 1900.
Patriotic citizens from all states |
and territories duly accredited and
in full sympathy with the objects
above named, and representatives
Of known Antitrust organizations,
are invited to meet together in said
Applications for admission to
said conference should be made to
the Secretary, Unity Building,
Chicago, at an early date, as Gre
ientials of delegates must be coun-
tersigned by the chairman of the
Executive Committee.
M. L. Lockwood, Chairman,
VIM. Prentiss, Vice.
Chairman. Illinois; A. M. Todd,
Michigan; Dudley G.. Wooten,
Texas; A. P. McGuirk, Iowa; w.
B. Fleming, Kentucky; Alfred
Sample, Illinois; P. E. Dove, New
York; James W. Wilson, Chicago /;
Louis F. Post, Chicago; Geo. $.
Treasurer, Chicago Frank
lin Fl. Wentworth, Secretary, Chi