The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1900-02-22
THE ANTITRUST LEAGUE
TAKEN POSSESSION OF BY THE
DEMOCRATS AND TURNED INTO
A FRAUD AND A FIZZLE,
Last fall we received the following
communication:

Last fall we received the following
communication:
The American Antitrust League-Ofice OF
National President, NJ L. Lockwood.
ZELIENOPLE, Pa, Oct II. 1899.
1gnatius Donnelly, ESQ.,, My Dear Sir and
FRIEND: An executive committee ap-
pointed by the antitrust delegates attend
Ing the Civic Federation conference on trusts
and combinations, meeting in the Sherman
mouse in Chicago, Immediately after the ad-
Journment Of said conference authorized
and empowered me to issue call in my off,
cial capacity as president of the American
Antitrust league, for a national convention
OF antitrust people, in order that such ac-
ton may be taken that will best protect the
people against the aggregation of monopo-
listic and corporate power. l enclose you a
copy OF the preliminary call have issued
Tor suggestions of names to act as national
vice president from each state to said con-
vention.
best known men of the nation who are OPP
posed to trusts and mOnopolies shall Join
me in making the call. VIII you kindly al
low me to use your name as one of the call
ers OF this national convention, and in ad-
dition will you suggest to me names of
such as you may have whom you think
would consent to join US in the call. We all
recognize that quality, and not quantity,
counts more enectually in the names who
appear upon this call.
MY trip to Chicago and attendance at the
Civic Federation conference seeing how
easily the sophistry of the apologists Of
the trusts are exposed, has given me great
courage and confidence in the outcome of
the work we have undertaken. Hoping that
you can see your way clear to allow the use
of your name in making the CALL and that
you will give me the benefit of your knowl-
me fo
500 to 800 names who are, like Caesars wife,
above suspicion, men whose very names
will be a guarantee Of the honest purpose
OF the gathering, yours most truly and
sincerely,
NJ. L. LOCKWOOD.
President the American Trust League.
The address contained in it was as
follows:
The American Antitrust League, Office Of
NJ L. Lockwood, National President
zelienople, Pa, July H. 1899.
AN ADDRESS TO THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE.
The object of the American Antitrust
League is to drive from public places the
sabservient tools of the trusts monopolies
combines, and corporations, and to establish
the equal rights of American citizens in the
commerce and industries Of the country.
Today in every legislative hall, both state
list and corruptionist of this great railroad,
monopoly, trust combination which has
formed an alliance, offensive and defensive
by which they expect to control legislation
and to plumber the producers and consumers
of America.
And. what is worse, there also stand the
representatives, elected by the people, who
have become debauched and who are the
secret servants and instruments of this great
corporate power and are ever ready to do
- Ill
ton to the rights of the people, We find
them everywhere-in the legislature, in con-
Eress, in the senate and on the bench. The
political life of this kind of representatives
ls made easy. Their denominations are ar
ranged for them by the political bosses, who
are but the servants Of this power. Cam
paign funds are furnished. That part of the
public press that can be managed is used
20 eulogize and lionize these subservient
tolls. Their elections are managed for them
There also stands the representative elect
cd by the people, who is true to the prin-
cfples OF manhood and Is governed by the
promptings of public welfare. He stands a
0ulwark against the legislative schemes by
which this great railroad monopoly trust
combination expect to plumber the people.
He is obnoxious to this dominating and con-
trolling power, and their emissaries are sent
lnto his district to undermine and destroy
aim politically. Some popular man is en-
Gouraged to become q candidate for nominal
eion to his place, and the power and influ-
ence and money Of this corporate conspiracy
are put behind this candidate. and the true
0crvant OF the people finds himself defeated
tor denomination, and he Is retired from
public life-retired because he was a true
representative OF the people and dared to
3efy this corporate monster. This process
has been worked SO silently and secretly
Aandiwork by which a majority in their leg
lslative bodies has been controlled.
In many OF our great cities the street
railway traction companies have created a
political despotism. That man who is am
bilious politically, before he can hope to be
nominated to any position Of public trist
must first kneel at the throne. Yes. and in
many, many cases before laborer can hope
to earn bread for his family he has first to
show that he wears the brand and collar of
their ward boss. They have created des-
P0tism SO damnable that man must become
= serf to this corrupt corporate power be-
1Ore he can obtain an opportunity to work.
have talked with these men who mourn
the loss Of their liberty as American free
men. This great railroad, monopoly, trust,
Fraction combination is ''corrupting our pub
nc affairs and debauching our public men"
and destroying the foundations of the re-
public by the corrupt use of money in our
political life.
The purpose of the American Antitrust
League IL to arouse the only power on earth
that is stronger than the power Of money
m our public life. That power is the pat
sdotic impulses of the people. The little
Niger Of that power, when awakened, is
6tfonger 10000 times than the influence of
IN the billions of the trusts and combines
u the land. The memories of the many
oacriAces Of the fathers call us to action.
II these trust combinations are allowed to go
- they can plundef each of us into poverty
To 80 Knows Aow soon the fear Of hunger
sSzssH M "A