Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-17


would. 50 such a merger corporation were
formed. be compelled 10 sell all their prod
ucts 10 one purchaser. and that purchaser
would fix the price 70 be paid, the number
places at which they would purchase and
pay for the same.
Gentlemen OF this convention. are you
ready and willing 70 subject all your inter
ests to such a condition? n not. you owe e
TO yourselves 10 aid the government OF the
United States in all It's efforts to prevent
ton.
Mr.. Springer quoted spprovingly Mr..
Roosevelt's speech in Indiana last Septem-
Der. in which the president said: 1--WE
do not wish to destroy corporations. We
wish to make them subserve the public
good"
The speaker reviewed proposed legisla-
tion to restrict trusts. and said: with
out any amendment to the present law. its
enforcement can be made effective for The
suppression Of every trust in the Unittd
States"
Necessity for state Legislation.
However. the laws Of congress cannot
reach trade and wholly within
4 single state. Hence the necessity for
state legislation on the subject, and Mr..
{ Springer suggested that the convention
recommend to the several states the pas
sage Of such a measure as will effectually
prevent abuses.
The speaker submitted the draft Of a
bill which he had formulated. ITO Protect
Trade and Commerce Against Unlawful
Restraints and Monopolies." The bill may
be passed by the legislature Of any state.
of its terms Mr.. Springer said:
1t is merely an adaptation Of the sher-
pending in the United States senate to
trade and m wholly within the
boundaries OF a state.
In the Hands Of the People.
Mr.. Springer concluded by saying:
The question whether trusts, unlawful
combinations and monopolies in restraint of
trade within a state, or among the states
and with foreign nations, is now submitted
to the people and their senators and repre-
sentatives in congress, and in the state
/ legislatures. - u
II the people decide that they viii no
longer submit to trust abuses and will rise
in their majority and demand the suppress
sion, not of corporations, but of trust prac-
tees. whether performed by great corpora
tions, or by individuals. their voice will be
needed, and all unlawful combinations and
monopolies in restraint OF trade and COM
merce, both within the states and among
the states, and with foreign nations, viii
be speedily suppressed.
will be the voice Of God. II will be SO
powerful that all public officials and all
| pOIllGdl parties Will Obtg IL
Among the speakers on the afternoon
program vac 10y Simpson Of Roswell, n.
NJ, the former Kansas congressman. He
took for his theme "The Process Of Evolu-
tionnfrom a Populist to a stockman,' and
treated 1t in his characteristic style.
Bill soon to he Submitted.
When Judge Springer had concluded his
address President John w. Springer took
occasion to refer to the bill submitted by
the associations counsel.
This bill" said President Springer,
would embody all the good points con-
tanned in the Sherman, antitrust law, as
we'll as the good points Of all bills along
the line now pending In congress.
when It becomes a law 1t would" he as
serted. regulate any trust that now exists
or that may ever be formed.
IF the packing people thought that they
had the ability to fight this question they
would find that they were mistaken" said
he.
I'VE are willing said President
Springer, ito submit the question to the
people and will be satisfied with their ver-
dict. This bill will not be either a repub-
lican or a democratic measure and will be
introduced in every legislature In the land
We will see that 1t is not pigeonholed, as
is the fate Of every other antitrust bill in
~troduced."
President Springer urged every delegatt
to 60 home and. work for the measure
which, he said. would be printed next weel
and Immediately distributed by the ~associa.
tion to every legislative body in the union
Murdo Mckenzie, president Of the Texas
Live Stock association, asked Judge
Springer II It is the purpose Of the pro
posed bill to attack all mergers or only
those affecting packing houses, to which he
replied: Every unlawful combine in the
restraint Of trade within the states will
feel the effects Of the law"
In answer to another question Judge
Springer said that a constitutional amend
ment was not advisable, because IL would
cause delay and would confer the powei
upon congress to regulate trusts within
each individual state.
L. G. Powers of Washington, d. c., chic
statistician of the Agricultural depart
ment, delivered an address and urged the
taking Of a more frequent live stock census
At the afternoon session all the old ON
GERS were reelected without contest.
The association then decided to hold it,
next annual convention at Portland, Ore.
and adjourned sine die.
$500 aAAa