The San Francisco call., 1899-09-16

liam J. Bryan and w. BOurke Cochran on
trusts did not take place Central Music
Hall was packed with an eager audience,
but the people present had to content
themselves without the oratory of the IA
nous Nebraskan. who, however, occupied
q 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 N. Easley and other mem
bers of the programme committee Of the
Civic Federation Conference on Trusts.
Mr.. Bryan surprised the committee by
declining TO speak at the night session
with Cochran in accordance with the pro
Gramme previously arranged. 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 COM
mittee withdrew to allow the two orators
to settle the dispute among themselves
Mr.. Bryan asserted that he never said
he would follow Mr.. Cochran with an ad-
dress on the same evening. If the COM
mittee got that impression from the con-
versaton he had with them over the long
distance telephone Thursday, he said
they misunderstood him. Mr.. Cochran
wanted TO talk at the same session with
the noted Nebraskan and offered to flip a
coin TO determine who should have the
privilege of delivering the closing ad-
dress. If Mr.. Bryan would not accept
this proposition Mr. Cochran then agreed
TO appear at any time the committee de-
sired. The programme was tonight
changed TO meet Mr.. Bryan's wishes. Mr..
Bryan said he was anxious to address
the conference and repeated that his only
reason for changing the programme was
TO avoid any indication of a public de-
bate with Mr.. Cochran. Mr.. Bryan will
speak at to-morrows session.
Though disappointed in falling to see
such a spectacle as Bryan and Cochran
pitted against each other, the audience |
enjoyed a rare treat as Mr.. Cochran was /
at his best, and his speech was punctu- |
ated with frequent and prolonged ap- /
plause. When Mr.. Bryan made his ap- |
pearance at the entrance ii was the Sig !
nal for tumultuOus cheering, which lasted |
until the NebraSkan had taken his seat on /
the speakers stand. Mr.. Foulke of Indi- /
ana, who was in the middle OF an address |
when the outburst occurred, put the audi /
ence in good humor by remarkIng: 4 /
guess you came here tonight 10 hear
somebody else speak" Mr.. Foulke was /
followed by Edward Rosewater of Omaha, /
whose address received notably close at
tention from his hearers.
The chair then introduced Hon. w.
BOurke Cochran of New Y ork. Mr.. Cock |
ran said in part:
shall endeavor for the purpose of estab- |
fishing intei gent basis OF discussion, to be !
somewhat Tree from terms over whtch men [
have become moved TO passionate defamation /
l shall define prosperity abundance of /
commodities fairly distributed among those who
produce then We must nave commodities 10 /
distribute before can distribute them in |
the form Of wages or OF profits. II this defini- |
tiOn of prosperity be correct 1t is perfectly |
plain that there is reason why sensible |
should grow excited either 10 the ap- /
provaI or resentment at a combination merely |
a ph 4 nar "a
according 10 its effect. Any industrial system
which operates to swell the volume of produc-
ton should be commended; anything that |
operates to restrict it should be suppressed.
Now whether these great combinations of
capital or these combinations OF labor operate
10 raise prices or to reduce them is subject
about which there has been wide diversity
operate 10 raise prices and some which oper-
ate 10 depreciate them. 1t would be idle TO
say that some improve. that some raise prices
and some depreciate them, II We did not pre-
scribe some test by which could distinguish |
between the two. Now, ladies and gentlemen,
! think IL is a simple one, perfectly clear. The |
test Is 10 ascertain whether the combination /
OF capital hOurishes through Government aid or
without it. for my friends you must see that
any Industrial enterprise which dominates the |
market without aid from the Government must |
DO 50 through cheapening the product or. as
petltors An industry which at one and the |
same time reduces prices and swells its own |
profits must accomplish that result by increas-
ing the volume OF Its prodpctlon. On the other
hand, industry which dominates the market
Dy the IdNQr oil the Government, QlTeCt or IN !
direct. cannot, in the nature OF things, be
forced to cheaper prices, because II 1t could |
dominate the market by undertaking competi-
tors IN an open held without favor II would not !
need the Government favor. Applause.) The /
interference Of the Government would be
injury and not benefit TO ii. An industry |
or combination OF Capital or ANYTHING YOU
may choose 70 cali II, that dominates market
through a restricted competition that delivers
the consumer to it on its own terms necessarily
profits extorted not from The exceIiency Of
its lf1f from fHn 1vlp QF bOaa
with whom It deals (Appause)
Now. there are three ways in which the
Government irterferes in the trade OF individ-
uals in this country; one is by patent laws.
The other means by which the Government
every person concede whether he be-
lieves in high tariff free trade, that so
far trusts are concerned. the tariff oper-
ates 10 favor them in this way and in this
way only. II operates to restrict competition
in the production Of any article TO those en-
gagged in IT IN this country. B II trust
or combination is to be formed, manifestIy
IT aids the enterprise whore the field Of COM
petition Is originally limited Under
diton OF free trade every article which is
produced is exposed to the competition Of the
whole world. II you rely upon the combina-
tion to suppress competition, manifestly it is
easier 10 make n combination between the
producers in country than in all coun-
tries and 70 that extent the tariff favors
applause There is still third essential
with which we can deal and which believe
is vastly more extensive in its results than
t1hs tariff in favor of trusts. And I refer
10 those favors which are extended 10 GER
joying Government franchises which are none
the less Government agencies because their
stock IS owned by private individuals. And .
here we are race TO lace with a serious DIFF
flculty. First. I must assume 1t a serious
difficulty because 1t is almost impossible TO
discover It. II is surrounded by secrecy. That
il Is existing and does exist. everybody be /
leyes.
no person can enjoy favor at the hands Of |
any company enjoying public franchise ex-
cept at the expense OF another. II is true OF |
every instance where Government favors an .
Individual I have said in many places ana |
/ say here that government at one |
and The same time be Il fountain of generosity (
and Justice applause Government cannot (
create anything. Now, II government cannot /
create anything It has nothing Of its own /
TO bestow If It undertakes 70 enrich one in |
dlvidual the thing 1t gives 10 him II must ,
take from another. CAppladsc) II II do n |
favor II must have q victim And that gov
ernrnent only is just and benefcent which has /
neither favorites victims Now, ! have /
said that these favors are extended by |
the common belief, and have said /
and acknowledged that IL person at |
tains rates that are excessively favorable, If |
his goods are transported at 4 loss, why I
other men using that same facility must make /
good the loss. What is the remedy? Some /
gentlemen have suggested municipal owner /
ship. applause
Ladies ana gentlement, ] have no quarrel I
with the applause for municipal ownership. ]
concede the principle Of It. (Applause.) The |
Government has no right to empower any pri- |