River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1899-09-21

took the stage in reply. He took occasion to
announce his platform, and ii was regarded
as important, inasmuch as ii Will probably
be the antitrust plank which he will urge
for adoption by the next democratic ma
tional convention.
Mr.. Bryan stated his platform as follows:
First, that the state should have the
right to create whatever private corpora
tions the people of that state think best.
Second, that the state has or should have
the right to impose such limitations upon
an outside corporation as the people of the
state may think necessary for their own
protection.
Third. that the federal government has
or should have the right to impose such
restrictions as congress may think neces-
sary upon any corporation which does BUSH
ness outside of the state In which 1t Is
organized"
Mr.. Bryan then went on to say he would
have commission appointed by the federal
government to license such interstate cor
porations after being satisfied their stock
was not watered and that they were not
formed TO create monopoly, and after pro-
visions had been made for perfect publicity
of their accounts.
Mr.. Cochran rose TO reply. Labor leaders
were brought to their feet with cheers
when he declared that the time was not
far distant when all great corporations
would compel their employees to become
members of labor unions, in order that they
might the more easily deal with them and
consult them in matters of vital Importance
to themselves He supplemented this dec
laration with the statement that the great
corporations of the country would also
shortly find it to their interest to give their
employees representation upon the board
of directors, thus giving them part in the
active management of the company.
Replying to the arguments advanced
against monopolies and large corpora tons,
kas CHI frSV,a 1n tafa Ia af no 10.
Dor leaders and socialists themselves that
wages have never been higher nor condi-
tions better than at the present time in the
United States. He contended that the re-
suit of the operation of the large companies
in the United States has tended to increase
the comfort and add to the enjoyment of
the life of every citizen. These had been
the result of competition, and he appealed
to the delegates themselves If they wished
to put an end to competition. He main
tanned that the remedy for certain evils
which had been shown to exist lay In exact
justice to everyone, without any special
privileges, and the United States would
continue TO advance in the scale of civili-
cation and progress as it has done in the
past.
The discussion then degenerated into de-
bates on single tax theory. the tariff and
similar subjects until finally at six o'clock,
when Chairman Howe had concluded hts
valedictory remarks, there were not 20 peo-
pie left in the hail. and the conference ad-
journed itself.
summing up the results of the trust
conference, said:
1--WE all agree that combinations and con-
spiraeies in the form Of trusts in restriction
of trade and manufacture, which by con-
sensus of judicial opinion are unlawful,
should so be declared by legislation.
Organizations of trade and industrial
corporations should be permitted TO exist
only under a system OF government control
uniform in all jurisdictions.
''The purpose of corpora lions should be
confined within limits definite and certain
and issue of stocks and bonds should be
regulated with great strictness.
There should be system of reports to
the government and inspection of accounts,
with provision for publicity similar to that
relating TO national banks
The Central Music hall conference will
have one definite result. 1t will eventuate
in the forma ton of an Organization agrees
siveiy hostile to trusts. Delegates to the
Central Music hall conference of antitrust
tendencies met Saturday night at the Sher-
man. A temporary organization was estab-
lished, consisting of an executive commit
tee of seven members with power to APP
point one vice president from each state
and territory and one from each national
organization represented in the conference.
1t was provided that the executive com
mittee shall proceed at once to call ma
tional antitrust convention for the forma-
ton of a permanent organization and that
the call for said national permanent Or
ganization shall include not only members
of the temporary organization, but all
those in sympathy with the movement"
The executive committee chosen at the
Sherman house caucus is composed of M. L.
Lockwood Pennsylvania; Judge William
Prestiss, Chicago; A M. Tod. Michigan
President Dove, of the National CONNER
ciaI Travellers association; Dudley G.
Wooten, Texas. and A. p. McGuirk, Iowa.