Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-01-23
Anti Trust Conference to Be
Held Shortly.

Anti Trust Conference to Be
Held Shortly.
Will Meet on Anniversary of Abe Lincoln's
Birthday In Chicago. Hearty Support
Assured.
AT a time when agreat many of the
leaders of both political parties are en-
gagged in mutual condemnation of the
trusts and of the regulation that is
fostering their life and growth, the
formation of an Anti-Trusta association
seems to be but natural. With this in
view, the setting of date for the hold
ing of conference to be composed of
all political parties and that is only at
one upon the one issue, i. e. the demol-
ition of the trusts, is not to be woder-
ed at. A good date has been chosen
for this conference, the date selected
being February 18th, the anniversary
of the birth of Abraham Lincoln.
The following call has been issued
by the executive committee of the
conference.
To the American People:
Upon the adjournment of the con-
ference relating to Trnsts, held in
Chicago in SEPTEMBER last, under call
of the Civic Federation of that city, a
number of delegates Ito that confer
ence, who were opposed to Trusts, met
together with view of securing con-
certed action on the part of the enc
mics of private monopoly, appointed
an executive committee, of which M.
Lockwood, president of the Ameri-
can Antitrust Leagues is chairman,
and directed said committee, through
its chairman, to call as soon as practi-
cable, a National Antitrust Confer
once for the purpose of ddciding upon
an Antitrust policy and permanently
organizing an Antitrust movement.
Pursuant to this direction, the said
committee does hereby make the fol-
lowing declaration and call,
We believe the criminal conspira-
cies in restraint of trade, commonly
known as Trusts, which so alarmingly
characterize the present times, are a
menace to liberty. They close the
doors of business opportunity to all
but the rich and powerful. They i'm
poverish 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 elect
i've franchise. They are public enc
mics. Unless they are overthrow
there will be established in free Amer
lea a monied oligarchy on the one hand
and serfdom 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 gil
gantic capitalistic monopolies is the
aroused and organized hosts of the
people to whom the government and
the country rightfully belong, and in
whom all power of right inheres.
Our republic was born of the love OF
libel ty, which in 1776 impelled the
fathers to rebel against the tyranny
of the English monarch and the
special privileges of the British arts
tocracy, and which inspired them tx
pledge to the cause of human freedom
their lives, their fortunes and theil
sacred honor.
The same love of liberty destroyed
the aristocratic institution of slavery
power once fortified in the courts
and entrenched in the constitution
The same spirit will now suffice t,
overthrow the new slavery ant
tyranny of the Trusts.
In order to restore the equal right
of the people and deliver them from
the criminal despoliation of thes,
monopolistic combinations, it is i'm
peratiye that the special privilege
which created and foster them be uI
rooted and forever destroyed.
This herculean task can only be &C
complished by the organization of tn
lovers of freedom in every part of til
republic and through the persisten
and determined effort of unite
people.
TO this end a Nantional Anti-Trus
Conference is hereby called to meet i
the city of Chicago on the birthda
of Abraham Lincoln, February L.
1900.
Patriotic citizens from all state
and territories, duly accredited an
in full sympathy with the object
above named, and representatives c
Antitrust organizations, are invite
to meet together in said conference.
Applications for admission to sal
conference should be made to TIL
Secretary, Unity Building, Chicago
at an early date, as credentials c
delegates must be countersigned b
the chairman of the Executive Con
mittee.
M. L. LOCKWOOD, Chairman.
T.. III. WENTWORTH, Score tary.