The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-01-30
NATIONAL ANTITRUST CONFERENCE
To the American People:

NATIONAL ANTITRUST CONFERENCE.
To the American People:
Upon the adjournment of the con
ference relating to trusts, held in Chica
go, in September last, under a call o
the civic federation of that city, mum
ber of delegates to that conference whC
were opposed to trusts met togethe
with the view of securing concerted
action on the part of the enemies
private monopoly, appointed an eXecu
tive committee, of which M. L. Lock
wood, president of the American Anti
Trust league, is chairman, and directe
said committee, through it's chairman
to call, as soon as practicable. a nationa
Antitrust conference for the purpose
of deciding upon an antitrust policy
and permanently organizing an anti
trust movement.
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-
| terize the present times, are a menance
to liberty. They close the doors of
business opportunity to all but the rich
and powerful. 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 establish
ed in free Amrica 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
cessfully combating the tyranny of
these gigantic capitalistic monopolies
is the aroused and organized hosts of
the people to whom the government and
the country rightfully belong and to
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
English monarch and the special
privileges of the British aristocracy
and which inspired them to pledge to
the cause of human freedom their
lives, their fortunes and their sacred
honor.
The same love of liberty destroyed
the aristocratic institutions Of slavery
power once fortified in the courts and
entrenched in the constitution. Thai
same spirit now will suffice to over.
throw the new slavery and tyranny Of
the trusts.
In order to restore the equal rights
of the people and deliver them from
the criminal despoiliation of these mon
opolistic combinations, it is imperative
that the special privileges which created
and fosters them be uprooted in every
, part of the republic and through tn,
persistent and determined efforts of
| unlleu people,
To this end national Anti-Trus
conference is hereby called to meet IL
the city Of Chicago on the birthday O
Abraham Lincoln, February ~, 1900.
Patriotic citizens from all states anC
/ territories duly accredited and in full
sympathy with the objects above named
and representatives of known anti-trus
, organizations, are invited to meet to
J gether in said conference.
Applications for admission to saiC
conference should be made to the secre
, tary, Unity building, Chicago, at al
'early date. as credentials of delegate
must be countersigned by the chair
man of the executive committee.
M. l.. Lockwood, chairman, Penn
r sylvania; A. M. Todd, Michigan; Dude!
r G.. Wooten, Texas A. p. McGuirk
Iowa; w. b. Fleming, Kentucky; AL
fred Sample, Illinois; VIM. Prentice
, vice-chairman, Illinois; p. e. DOVE
New York; James w. Wilson, Chicago
Louis f. Post, Chicago Geo. s. Bowen
treasurer, Chicago; Franklin II. Went
, worth, secretary, Chicago, executiv
g committee.