The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1899-09-22
Rigid Opposition to Industrial and
Transportation Combinations.
RESOLUTIONS DRAFTED BY The ANTS
william j. Bryan Postponed His speech
A Lengthy Address by Bourke Cock
ran, OF New York-Mr. Bryan Conn
plImented by the New Yorker.

the Civic federation on trusts and com
binations held here. A majority of the
speakers spoke in vigorous opposition
to Industrial financial and transporta-
ton combinations. The problem in its
relation to the worllingman was dis
cussed.
Resolutions denouncing the trusts
have been drafted 10y the antitrust
delegates. The resolutions set forth:
Unaltcrable opposition to all trusts and mo-
hopeless demand Of the several states and
cities that they take such action rs will lead TO
the public ownership OF all public utilities;
demand that the federal and state governments
enact legislation looking to the control Of rail-
ways; demand that congress and legislatures OF
the several states abolish all privileges and take
action 10 destroy monopoly; assert that no
candidate for public ONCE is entitled TO the suf-
Traces Of his fcllowcitizens who does not ear
ncstly declare his hostility to all trade combi-
nations; declare that II Is the duty Of the people
by organized effort to secure the nomination by
the political parties Of the opponents Of trusts;
recommend that the several states take imme
diate action to limit the purposes for which pri-
vate industrial corporations may be formed,
and discourage their further formation.
John w. Hayes, secretary of the
Knights of Labor, was the first to
speak. In part he said:
maintain that these great combinations are
an assault upon the inherent and constitutional
rights Of the citizons; that the real and vital
advantage to be gained is the despotic control
over labor. Violence is not the only means Of
making conquests and enslaving the people and
IL can bc proven beyond any question that the
methods Of the invader and the objects to be
accomplished by the instgators Of the trusts
are exactly those intended to be accomplished
by arms directed by military genius.
Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation of Labor, fol-
lowed Secretary Hayes He said in
part:
1t has been said that organized labor is a
trust, and l want TO say in connection with this
that to our minds that is an absolute msnomer.
Organized labor throws open its doors TO all
who work for wages and asks them TO come in
and share in the benefits. You cannot break
into n trust
The exciting joint debate looked for
last night between William j. Bryan
and Bourke Cochran on trusts did not
take place. Central Music hall was
packed with an eager audience, but
the people present had to content them
selves without the oratory of the
famous Nebraskan, who, however, oc-
cupied seat on the platform. Mr..
Bryan explained that he did not wish
to let the impression 90 out that he
was to enter into debate with Mr..
Cochran. For that reason he said he
would not speak with Mr.. Cochran at
the same session. Mr.. Bryan will speak
at to-day's session.
Though disappointed in failing to see
such "A spectacle as Bryan and Cochran
pitted against each other, the audience
nevertheless enjoyed a rare treat as
Mr.. Cochran was at his best and his
speech was punctuated with frequent
and prolonged applause. When Mr..
Bryan made his appearance at the en-
trance it was the signal for tumultuous
cheering which lasted until the Ne
braskan had taken his seat on the
speakers stand. Mr.. FoullSe. of Indiana,
who was in the middle of an address
when the outburst occurred. put the
audience in good humor by remarking:
81 guess you came here tonight to hear
somebody else speak Mr.. Foullle
was followed by Hon. Edward Rose
water, of Omaha, whose address re-
ceived notably close attention from his
hearers. The chair then introduced
Hon. w. BourSe Cochran, of New
York, who said in part:
No fines no judicial rebulies no denunciation
from platforms, no legislative cnuctments de-
claring things are rcpreheusive will touch the
subject, but specific enactment that n special
rate granted to anyone not enjoyed by the others
! is a felony, and proper means to punish it will
do something towards checking it, and my
| friends, this is not my inconsiderute statement,
| il is a crime Of the first magnitude The public
| ou al In ne pf Ia fru
| chsc who gives to one man opportunities at the
| expense of the other robS that other party II
not Of the property IN his possession the oppor-
| tunity To acquire property. Now, with "A statute
authorizing and making it u right OF every ship
| per, OF every person using public franchise to
have disclosed to him at any time every con-
| tract and agreement made with any other per-
| son you win find there will be little difficulty
about avoiding the enforcement Of the penal
statute, for II will not be transgressed We
| want simple statute Of publicity and believe
| that will check the special favors.
While am on the subject, l think 1t wise to
advert what many call a phenomenon-that is,
the public dislike and distrust or hatred OF cor
| porations l don't share that hatred or dislike,
but understand it. | don't think it is wholly
! justified, yet think an examination of the his
| tory of corporation management will show some
Justification The hatred of corporations.
| which, as l say, is not wholly justified is not
| discredit0ble TO the public opinion of America.
| In fact lay IL down rs a cardinal rule, which
think any person can follow with perfect safety
| that wherever you find general opinion on any
| subject in America there is always a pretty
! good ground for ii. The distrust Of corpora
tions arise not in my Judgment from any well
considered dislike TO corporate entities. We
| do not object to the principle of cooperation
| Corporate existence is the natural evolution OF
| the partnership; IL is a scheme by which men
strangers To each other, can cooperate In pro.
| ducton, while partnership was Il scheme limited
to men who knew each other and were com
| PEELED to work together But the management
of corporations has been the blacklist page in
all our history.
At the close of his speech the New
Yorker won the hearts of his listeners
by paying Mr.. Bryan few well-chosen
compliments, which the democratic
leader blushingly acknowledged. Mr..
Cochran likened Mr.. Bryan to monop.
oily and claimed he was a bigger mo.
nopoly as the leader of the democratic
party than any financial corporation
in the world. iMr. Cochran spoke for
| "a bout two hours