The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-09-16
would be an injury and not benefit to

WOuiu De an INJURY anu HOt pt"'"e "
g.
There are three ways he said in which
the government interferes In the trade
OF individuals I'm this country ono IS
by patent laws. another Is by tariff. ara
the third Is the favors which are extend
cd TO certain Industries or great cOfpo-
rations. issuing franchises which are none
the less government agencies because its
stock IL owned by private Individual II
IS almost imp0s lble 90 describe u. IL Is
surrounded by secrets. The remedy, he
said. was nor In municipal ownership.
but 20 define n practical penalty, ser-
Gus one. and then provide for pubi,iiy.
II the proper statute IS provided for pup
Iicity there will be no occasion % enforce
the penalty. 4 corporation granting
special favor 90 any person who ms
rgh, 90 use that possession with equaI
terms with everybody else 0ugh. To DC
held guilty of an offonse
The speaker devoted some time to argl-
ing that there was some justification Tor
corporations. RE believed also IN apply
ing the rule of publicity 20 these. Ihat
would be "a sure way 90 prevent fraud.
Touching tho subject of government by
injunction. Mr.. Cochran said:
1T has always been 20 me a source OF
profound regret that the courts should
functions tO prevent corporations from BE-
ing disturbed by their employees, they
have not shown one half that ingenuity IN
devising methods 90 prevent their being
robbed by their directors. To an this, my
friends the remedy I repeat. is pubuclty.
A statute. which would modify but
slightly if at all. the existing laws or
every state would make this species Oh
fraud impossible
Touching another branch of subject Mr..
Cochran devoted some time to arguing In
favor of ORGANIZATIONS which dominated
the market without any aid from the gov
eminent
"I must say that any industrial organi-
zat'on that cho3pens TO me the cost OF
some thing Z need. / regard as beneht
and I cannot possibly bring myself 20
quarrel with it cannot even II you can
% a monopoly
Tie did not believe the great industrial
trusts had thrown anybody out Of em-
p'Oyment who deserves employment. MT.
Cochran said one OF the most hopeful
signs of prosperity is the movement OF
Wages upward. ln his Judgment there Is
but one test off pr0spority-w Is apso-
lufely infa ble-that is the rate OF wages
paid tO labor Continuing he said:
EFFECT OF UNIONS.
Labor unions do not affect tho rate
OF wages much. 81 at ALL / think. per-
hans am 'he first person who has ad-
vocated that proposition. and yet they are
of enormous benefit 90 the whole body or
the community. quite as much tO the en-
nloyors as % the lab0rers and it is to-
their protection and I'm their development
that we must find and hope for that in
dustry of peace which means great m
dusrial prosperity 90 which this republic
ia destined a believe. TO AFFECT the indus
trial cost and conditions I'm the whole
world
lie thought that close study of care
ful examination would satisfy everybody
that the great strikes OF this country nave
arisen fr0m the refusal Of the employers
10 discuss the question at issue between
them and their employees, with the agents
that The employees select.
William Dudley FouIke. Of Indiana,
spoke I'm the early part of the evening and
he was followed by Hon. Edward Rose
water .4.
MANY SPEAKERS.
Workngmen socialists. advocates Of
the single tax theory. and students OF po-
itlcal economy. were heard to-day at the
civic Federation Conference on Trusts
and Combinations a majority Of The
speakers vigorously opposed industrial,
financial and transportation comDin'lipns.
The problem in its relation 20 the work
ingman was discussed IN an IT'S phases.
The Committee ON Resolutions held IT'S
first meeting and organic a by elcetng ex-
Governor Luce. of Michigan. charm ~.
and Ralph NJ Eas'ey secretary. u was
decided 20 name a subcommittee of five
to receive and consider resolutions that
might be presented, and report 20 gem
eral committee.
The morning session drew a large oudi-
dance. hut the programme was 0vershld-
owed by the announcement that in he
evening w J. Bryan. OF Nebraska. nd
w. BOurke Cochran, OF New York. would
sreqk from the same platform.
The political prominence of the two ora
tors gave rise To- q general feeling that
the night session would be of more politi-
cal than economic interest
Louis T. Post the New York advocate
Of the single tax, was the first speaker
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