The Green Forest tribune., 1896-11-12
eoueKE cocKRAN ON BRYAN

Che Eloquent Ex-C Confressn.an Exposes
the Free silver traed CA W worliogmene
In his great ya IN Madison Square
Garden, New 4ofa city, eA-Cougressman
Bourke Cochran said III reply to Presi-
dental Candidate Bryan:
If everything in this world or in this
country, including labor, be increased
in value tomorrow III like proportion,
rot one of us would be affected at all.
If that was Mr.. Bryan's scheme, he
would never have apopulist nomination
to give him Importance in the eyes OF
this community. Il that were ali that
he meant. he would not be supporting
it, and I would not be taking the trouble
TO oppose it. If everything in the world
be increased ten per cent. in value, why,
we would pay ten per cent. in addition
for what we would buy and get ten per
cent. more for what we would sell.
What, then, is it? 1t is an increase in
the price of commodities and allowing
labor to shift for itself If the price of
commodities be increased and the price
of labor be left stationary that means a
cutting down of the rate of wages. If,
instead of dollar which consists of
q given quantity of gold equal to 100
cents anywhere in the world, with the
purchasing power of 100 cents, the Ia
borer is to BE paid in dollars worth so
cents each, he can only buy half as much
with days wages as he buys now. If
the value OF the populist scheme, then,
1,I1 of
this country ask Mr.. Bryan and his
populist friends simple, common,
everyday question:: ''Where do come
in ?'''
Mr. Bryan himself has a glimmering
idea Of where the laborer will come In,
or. rather, of where he will go out.
There is one paragraph in his speech
whieh-svhether it was the result of an
unconscious stumbling into candor Or
whether it was contribution made in
the stress of logical discussion I am ut
terlY unable to say-tlat throws a flood
of light upon the whole purpose under
lying this populist agitation. Wage
earpers, Mr.. Bryan says, know that
while a gold standard raises the pur-
chasing power of the dollar it also
makes it more difficult to obtain pos
session OF the dollar. They know that
employment is less permanent, loss OF
work more probable and unemployment
less certain.
# that means anything, it means
that q cheap dollar would give him
more employment, more frequent en-
ployment, more work and chance to
aget unemployment after he was dis
2eharged. # that means anything in the
world to g sane man, it means that II
he laborer is willing to have his wages
Ut down he will get more work.
IF il were true that reduction in the
tte of wages would increase the chance
R employment, I would not blame Mr..
van for telling the truth, because,
kvever unpalatable the truth may be,
hnceiye it the duty of any man who
smpts to address his fellow-citizens
er to shrink from a statement of the
lie truth, whatever may be the con-
Snces to himself. But, as matter
ut, q diminution in the rate OF
does not increase the scope Of en-
nent.
he cannot be en- abundant product
labor is extensively employed.
pnnot have high wages unless
IS ,a.r extensive production in
department. of industry, and that
/ claim that wages are the one
OF country's condition-that
ges mean an abundant protec-
abundance necessarily means
y.e Mr. bryan, on the other
A aid have you believe that pros
&, advanced by cheapening the
S9S gcs, but the fall In the rate Of
avs comes from q narrow
XII /. and narrow production
is little demand for labor
6# Get When, after the panic
zz price of labor fell to 30
Mn it was harder to obtain
8A then the rate of labor was
and the difference between
u who seeks to cut down the
S. and the democrat, who
# It it, is that the democrat
igh wages and prosperity
$, and the populist wants
S M Of wages in order that he
# farmer to make war
orllingmen.
al#E
'f# t and Industry.
4 N. fruit Of labor. Prop
la is a positive good in