The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1900-02-16
Conference at Chicago Adopts
Plans for a National Or
ganization.
Every Precinct in the United
States to Have a NOn-Par-
tisan League.
Resolutions Adopted by the Con-
ference Constitute a Declare.
ton of Principles.

CHICAGO, Feb. 15.-ppon the recon
vening Of the afternoon session Of the
antitrust conference Chairman Monnett
ruled that the report Of the committee
on national organization was privileged
business. He called upon the chairman
Of the committee, General J. B. Weaver
Of Iowa. General Weaver stated that
the report had been unanimously agreed
to in committee and asked the conven-
ton to adopt it in the same name
Secretary E. U. Norton Of Alabama
then read the report which was in part
as follows:
The committee on national organiza-
ton report that they have considered
the question of a national organization
to combat the evils Of trust and mon
opoly's power in the land. They have
thoroughly considered the plan Of the
organization Of the American Anti
Trust league and find that the plan Of
organization therein provided for as
amended by this committee, is admir-.
ably suited for the work before us; be-
ginning at the precinct league, and run
ming up to the township organization;
from that to the county organization,
from that up to the state organization
and from that up to the national organi-
cation, the plan being adapted to the
easily massing together Of the men Of
America opposed to monopolies and
trusts and thereby making their forces
effective in driving from the legislative
halls Of the state and nation the tools Of
monopolies and trusts and putting in
their places men in sympathy with the
public welfare.
We therefore present to the confer.
ence the following constitution and rec.
ommend it's adoption, and we recon-
mend that the delegates from the several
states here represented recommend from
their respective state a national vice
president for their state and three men
to represent their state III the national
committee, and that the said body of
men composed Of the national vice pres
.idents and three national committeeman
proceed to organize every voting pre-.
cinct Of the United States Of America
into nonpartisan antitrust leagues, in
which the test of membership shall be
that they shall subscribe to the consti-
and declaration Of principles
adopted by this body.
The American Antitrust League.
The constitution recommends that the
name Of this organization shall be the
American Anti Trust League; any
American citizen Of satisfactory charac-
ter and qualifications shall be eligible;
local leagues to be composed wherever
formed Of not less than five members.
county leagues Of five or more local
leagu es; local leagues may form state
leagues on such basis Of representation
as convenient.
Until the first national convention is
held the national league shall consist Of
the national committee, the national
Legislative committee and the national
officers. Thereafter the national league
shall be composed Of delegates elected
by popular vote Of the members Of each
state. Each state shall be entitled to
one delegate to the national league
and one delegate for each additional
800 members. A national president to
hold Office two years is provided for,
with powers to choose remaing officers,
including a national committee Of three
members from each state and territory
and a national executive committee Of
10, Of which the league officers shall be
members and WHICH shall appoint a
committee OH ways and means to raise
necessary funds.
Provisions for a~filiating the local
leagues with the national organization
and levies OF dues, etc, are made. It is
provided that the national vice presi-
dents shall act as chief organizers of
the state leagues and shall appoint a
chief organizer for each county. The
county organizer may appoint organ.
izers for the subdivision Of his terri.
tory.
The report concludes: "The execu.
tive committee shall temporarily appoint
the vice presidents and three national
committeeman and the delegates in the
conference assembled shall make recon.
mendations to the committee for this
purpose, and the vice presidents SO APP
pointed shall, as soon as advisable, call
a state league for the purpose Of elect.
ing their successors and perfecting the
state organization. The vice presidents
SO appointed shall hold their places un-
til their offices are filed by the state
and the national officers until the
national league fills their places.
Your committee recommend that the
platform adopted by this body be made
the declaration Of principles OF the ma.
tional organization.
Resolved that we recommend Hon. NJ.
j.. Lockwood for president; II, b. Mar
tn for secretary; q. 7, Mcbride for
treasurer, and w. b. Fleming for inan-
cial secretary"
At tho conclusion Of the reading, a
heated debate occurred between lg.
a. 49,