The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-05-26
COLONEL BRYAN
TALKS OF TRUSTS
His Speech at the Demo-
cratic Banquet.
INFLUENCE OF TRUSTS
We Are in Danger of An Industrial
AristoCraCy.
REPUBLICAN PARTY IMP0TENT.
IL i Controlled by Those Interested in
the Trusts and il PowcrIcss TO An
tasonizc Them The Standard
Money Trust is The Parent
of Them All, lie
Says.
REPUBLICAN PARTY IMP0TENl'

81. LOUIS. MO. May &-Promply at
e.l5 o'clock this evening the caterers bell
ranc. the band struck up THE stars and
Stripes Forever an army Of walters
laden with vlands appeared and the
mammoth Democratic antitrust banquet
was on. while the LIS banqueters seated
M the table broke into a tremendous
cheer rising I'm a body and waving small
hand flags that had been provided at each
cover. The table of honor was placed on
a raised platform mt the north side OF the
arena. and at it were seated Hon. W. }.
BRYAN. Ex-Governor John p. Altgeld, o.
IT. T. Belmont. VI. c. WctmOre Harry
3 Hawes. president Of the jefferson club
under whose auspices the dinner was
given: Hon. Champ Clark Hon. David a.
DeArmond. and a NUMBER OF other proml-
nent Democrats.
The coliseum was decorated throughout
with flags. and I'm the centre Of these was
fixed % large silver shield.
A LOVE FEAST.
The dinner was concluded at s o'clock.
II was strictly a love feast. BY the time
the tables were cleared the five thousand
seats of the amphitheatre were hlled win
spectators representing the society OF 81
Louis. and the speaking began. The hrst
speaker OF the evening was Harry b'
Hawes. president Of the Jefferson club,
who delivered the address of welcome.
Mr. Hawes said, in part.
1T was not intended that this dinner
should be merely the means of affordins
entertainment. but IL was believed by It's
promoters that the serious discussions 10
be held tonight We're 10 be the means or
crvstallizing public sentiment against the
encroachment upon the liberties Of the
people OF the giant monOpolies and trusts.
10 is not desired or sought to push to the
background the vital issues Of 1895, nor TO
lessen i'm any particular the fight 10 be
made upon the greatest Of all trusts
the money trust-which, greater than ALL
Is more dangerous than all. and by its eX-
istence renders possible many cOmbina-
tions Of wealth, that, without it, could not
survive.
THE ISSUE DEFINED.
"The battle line must be drawn sharp
and clear with Democracy on one hand
and the trusts and the monopolies on the
other"
President Hawes was followed by Hon.
Champ Clark, of Missouri who presented
the state and district banners I'm the name
OF the State Committee. Mr.. Clark
was greeted with a tremendous ova-
tion.
Trusts and Democracy occupied Colo
mel NJ q. Wetmorc. of St. Louis, but a
few minutes. His remarks were greeted
with cheers.
He was followed by Hon. David Dear.
mond, OF Missouri, who spoke upon
Trusts and its Parents"
The applause which met Mr. Bryan was
Of the most hattering description. The
cheers drowned the music which struck
up Hold the Fort" as he advanced 10
the front Of the room rostrum. Mr..
Bryan spoke as follows:
BRYAN's SPEECH.
An actor who visited Nebraska recently,
upon learning from a Republican that
confidence had been restored. remarked
that he had examined Webster's diction-
ary 10 learn what confidence" meant
and found confidence defined as trust
and then he understood that confidence
had been really restored.
More trusts have been formed during
the last two years than existed at the
beginning of the present administration,
and the nominal capitalization OF the
trusts now in existence approaches, If it
does not equal in amount the world
total supply Of gold and silver
The influence Of these trusts has be-
come so enormous that the people, with
out respect 10 party. are asking them
selves how the evil can be romedied.
THEIR PURPOSE.
The purpose of the trusts is to control
the product Of some article Of merchan-
disc and the methods employed are, nrst,
the union Of all individual factories M
der one management or in one corpora
ton. and second. the crushing out OF new
rivals. monopoly when once complete,
not only dictates terms 10 those who buy
the product. but It also dictates terms 20
those who sell the raw material and 10
those who furnish the labor. II the
trusts are permitted 10 continue we shal
find an Industrial aristocracy growing up
I'm the United States which will prove As
destructive Of our ideals as landed
aristorcracy would.
The principle OF monopoly is incom-
patible with our institutions. Mans ne
cessities compel him 10 become a Tur-
chaser and where there Is but one seller
the purchaser is completely at the mercy
OF the seller. Where there Is compeu-
ton between producers. the purchaser Is
sure TO obtain what he wants at rea-
sonabIe price when competition IS elimi-
mated the price is controlled not by rea-
son but by the greed OF one who pos
sessos the monopoly
1t has been said that the power to tax
is a power 10 destroy. a monopoly pos
sesses the power TO tax; IL can levy such
assessments as II will upon the purchaser
and we can no more AFFORD TO Kermit
such power to be exercised by private
individuals than we could afford TO au-
thorize private individuals To use the
machinery of taxation I'm order to en-
rich himself at the expense Of his fellows.
WOULD BE CULPABLE.
The government would be guilty OF
gross neglect il it permitted an indi-
4.ai cu;e a oiOporv even with
out legislative assistance. but IL Is stlll
more culpable. II by legislative act ii
furnishes the means BY which mo-
nopoly IS secured. The corporation Is the
means now employed by those who seek
10 secure a monopoly Since the cor
roration Is fictitious person. created
by law. the power that created can reg
ulate, restrain or annihiIaie. To say that