The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-09-16
COCHRAN ON TRUSTS
Tho New York Orator Addresses
the Chicago Conference.
NIB. BRYAN's SPEECH POSTPONED.


vigorously Denounces the Secret
ManaGement OF Trusts.
Chicago, Sept. 16.-The exciting
Joint debate looked for last night be-
tween William J. Bryan and Bourko
Cochran on trusts did not take place.
Central Music Hall was packed with
an eager audience, but the people pres
the oratory of the famous Nebraskan,
who, however, occupied a seat on the
platform.
Mr.. Bryan reached Central Music
Hall early In the evening. He went
direct to room upstairs, where he
was greeted by Chairman Franklin
Head, Congressman Gaines, Ralph M.
Easley and other members of the pro-
gram committee of the Civic Fedora
ton conference on trusts. Mr.. Bryan
surprised the committee by declining
to speak at the night session with
W. BOurke Cockhan. in accordance
with the program previously arrang-
ed. Mr.. Bryan explained that he did
not wish to let the impression go out
that he was to enter into a debate
with Mr.. Cochran. For that reason.
he said, he would not speak with Mr..
Cochran at the same session. Mr..
Cochran was sent for and he and Mr..
Bryan discussed the situation. The
committee withdrew to allow the two
oartors to settle the dispute between
themselves. Mr.. Bryan asserted that
he never said he would follow Mr..
Cochran with an address on the same.
evening. II the committeeman got
that impression from the conversa-
ton he had with them over the long
distance telephone Thursday he said
they misunderstood him. Mr. Cock
ran wanted to talk at the same session
with the noted Nebraskan, and offered
to flip coin to determine who should
have the privilege of delivering the
closing address. Mr.. Bryan would
not accept the proposition. Mr.. Cock
ran agreed to appear at any time the
committee desired. The program was
then changed to meet Mr.. Bryan's
wishes. Mr.. Bryan said he was anx-
nus to address the conference, end re-
peated that his only reason for chang
ing the program was to avoid any in
dication Of public debate with Mr.
Cochran. Mr.. Bryan will speak at to-
days session.
Though disappointed in failing to
see such q spectacle as Bryan and
Cochran pitted against each other, the
audience nevertheless enjoyed rare
treat, as Mr.. Cochran was at his best,
aad his speech was punctuated with
frequent and prolonged applause.
When Mr. Bryan made his appearance
ct the entrance it was the signal for
tumultuous cheering, which lasted I'M
til the Nebrsskan had taken his seat
on the speakers stand. Mr.. Foulke,
of Indiana, who was in the middle Of
an address when the outburst occur
red, put the audience in good humor
by renarklng: Il guess you came
here tonight to hear somebody else
speak" MIR. Foulke YVES followed by
Hon. Edward Rosewater, of Omaha
whose address received notably elose
atten ion from his hearers. The chair
then introduced Hon. W. Bourke Cork.
ran, of New York.
Mr.. Cochran eulogized the labor
representatives who had presented ar
gumeats before the conference, de-
claring that "lne laborers who spoke
to lis understood economic laws better
than their employers" declared that
In any assemblase OF men honestly
endeavoring to discover the truth she
always appears" and proceeded:
1.-The precise question which we nave
been called to consider is the effect
upon the general prosperity OF the
| ommunity of combinations, whether
Of capital or labor. l nope to estsb-
lish before l got through that there
cannot be abundant production OF
commodities without an extensive dis
tribution OF them in the form of wages
| in country wherein prosperity is
lased upon freedom. But whether this
distribution is not as effective and
| complete as we might wish, we Can
defer consideration of that question for
moment, and we can all agree that
there cannot be any distribution II
there is not production, and that there
cannot be an extensive distribution
! unless there is an abundant prOduc-
ton. II this definition Of prosperity
be correct, it is perfectly plain that
there is no reason why a sensible mar
should grow excited either to the APP
prevail or resentment at a combination
merely as such.
ANY industrial system which oper
ateG to swell the volume Of production
should be commended; anything tina
operates to restrict it should be sup
pressed. Whether these great com
blnations of capital or these combine
lions of labor operate to r. - price!
or to reduce them is subject abou
which there has Feen = wios diVar"iry
OF opinion, not merely n this hall
but wherever economic qusstlth
have been discussed Some contsn.
, that the tendency Of these combina
lions OF capital is TO cheaper the pro
duct. Others say that 1t is to ras
the price of the product.
1.-The test is to ascertain whethe
the combination of capital fourishe
through government or without, TO
you must see that any industrial en-
! terprise which dominates the marke
without the aid from the government
must do 80 through cheapening tn
product. Or, as il is commonly called
ly uuderselling competitors. An in
dustry which at one. and the san
tiIae reduces prices and swells its Nv
profits must accomplish that result b
increasing the volume of its produc
ton. On the other hand an industr
which dominates the market by tn
favor of government, direct or indl
rect, cannot, in the nature of things
be forced to cheaper prices, because
II it should dominate the market b
undertaking competitors in ri ope
field without favor, 1t would not nee
the government favor
Mr.. Cochran then declared theT
we're three ways in whicn the govern
ment interferes in the trade of ind
viduals. One is by patent laws an
mother by tariff laws. He continued
"Thers Ia still a third and seriou
question with which | think we ca
deal and which believe is vastly nor
extensive III its results than this tart
in the favor OF trusts And | refer
those fayors which are extended
certain industries or great corpors
tons enjoying government franchise
which are none the less governmer
agencies, because their sock is owne
Iy priyate individuals The WOr