The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-09-16
Opposes Government Aid to
These Combinations.
ARRIVAL OF Mr. BRYAN
He WILL SPEAK AT THE CON
FERENCE TODAY.
RINGING ANTITRUST RESOLUTIONS
A Demand that Congress Abolish all Special
Privileges and Take Whatever Other
Measures are Necessary to
Destroy MonopolY,
Destroy Monopoly.

Destroy Monopoly.
Cl..cago, September 15th.-1'he ex-
citing joint debate looked for
tonight between William ]. Bryan ana
Bourke Cochran on trusts did not take
place. Central Music Hall was packed
with an eager audience, but the people
out the oratcTy of The famous Nebras-
kan. who, however, occupied seat on
the platform.
Mr.. Bryan reached Central Music Hall
early in the evening. He declined to
speak at the night session with W.
Bourke Cochran, in accordance with the
program previously arranged. Mr.. Bry-
an explained that he cid not wish to let
the imDressicm go out that he was to
enter into a debate with Mr. Cochran
Mr.. Cochran was sent for, and he and
Mr.. Bryan discussed the situation. Mr.
Cochran 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 this prop
osition The program was then changed
to meet Mr. Bryan's wishes. Mr. Bryan
said he was anxious to address the con-
ference and repeated that his only reas-
on for changing the program was ID
avoid any indication of a public debate
with Mr.. Cochran. Mr.. Bryan will
speak at tomoTow's session.
Though disappointed in failing to see
such a spectacle as Bryan and Cochran
pitted against each other, the audience
nevertheless enjoyed rare treat as Mr.
Cochran was at his best and his speech
was punctuated with frequent and pro-
longed applause When Mr.. Bryan made
his appearance at the entrance 1t was the
signal for tltmultous cheering which last
ed untl the NeIbl'askan had takear his
seat on the speakers stand. Mr.. Follke
OF Indiana, who was i'm the middle OF an
address when the outhurst occurred, put
the audience in good hnmor ny remark
ing Il guess you clme here tonight TO
hear somebody else speak
Mr. Foillks was followed oy Hon. Ed
ward Rosewater of Omaha, whose adj
his hearers.
Bourke Cochran, of New York.
At the close of his speech the New
Yorker won the hearts of his listeners
by paying Mr. Bryan "a we'll chosen
compliment which the Democratic lead
er blushing acknowledged. MIR. Coch-
ran likened Mr.. Bryan to monopoly
and claimed he was Il bigger monopoly
as the leader of the Democratic party
Al. ~
world. Mr.. Cochran spoke for about
two hours and when he concluded cries
for Bryan came from all over the house.
Finally Mr. Bryan arose and said That
for the good of the conference all parti-
san feeling should be eliminated from
the gathering, and although he agreed
with Mr.. Cochran in many Of his argu-
ments, it was necessary that his side
of the controversy should be given to-
morrow.
Mr.. Cochran began his address by
conplimenting the representatives of or
ganized labor, who had spoken ON their
knowledge of economic law, and said he
believed that some recent events in our
history would have been impossible if
both sides Of these labor controversies
understood the economic laws governing
the relation of producers to consumers
as well as one side showed that it I'M
derstood them this very day.
Continuing he said:
Il hope to establish before | get
through that there cannot be abundant
production of commodities without an
extensive distribution of them in the
form of wages in country wherein
prosperity is based upon freedom. Cap
plause). But whether this distribution
is not as effective and complete as we
might wish we can defer consideration
Of that question for a moment and we
can all agree that there cannot be any
distribution if there is not production
and that there cannot be an extensive
distribution unless there is an abundant
production. We must have commodities
to distribute before we can distribute
them in the form of wages or Of profits
"a combination may be good or bad ac-
cording to its effect Amy industrial
system which operates to increase the
volume of production should be com
mended; anything that operates to re-
strict it should be suppressed"
Taking up the question whether the
combination of capital fiourishes through
Government aid or without it. Mr..
Cochran said that every industrial en-
terprise which dominates the market
without the aid from The Government
must do so through cheapening the pro-
duct, or as it is commonly called. by
underselling competitors. An industry
which at one and the same time reduces
prices and swells its own profits must ac-
complish that result by increasing he
volume of its production. iApplause.)
On the other hand, an industry which
dominates the market by the favor Of
the Government, direct or indirect, can
not, in the nature Of things, be forced
TO cheaper prices, because, ie it could
dominate the market by undertaking
competitors in AN open field without IA
vor. it would not need the Government
favor. (Applause.) The interference Of