The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1899-09-20
Nashburn, Wis. Sept, 20, '99.
THE ANTITRUST CONFERENCE.

@OniGaSO during Gno pdSG week, VIZ.
the antitrust conference. The dele
gates were chosen from all parts of
the nation, and the question was
most thoroughly discussed.
The conference seems to nave
come to the conclusion that trusts
were not such hideous things after
all, and there seemed to be gener-
al tendency to grant, that under
proper management, trust were not
altogether bad. The trust has been
a mnch berated institution, but it is
interesting as well as surprising to
note that the following from the pen
OF Henry white Grand, Secretary
of the National GarmentWorkers I'm
ION of America very correctly repre-
scented the feeling OF the conference
lat the close of the conven ton.
Mr.. White said: Toward the
CLOSING hours of the conference one
could not help but notice that when
ever a speaker delivered the usual
philippe against the trust dragon
he was either laughed at or treated
with no concern: the speaker who
showed the real character Of this iu-
ealQstrial movement or offered some
Legislative suggestion was greeted
warmly. [ came here wondering
whether it would be shown by the
delegates who came from all parts OF
zthe country that the trust question
would become political issue, but |
am firmly convinced that the trust
movement is not of such a
nature as 10 furnish material for a
national campaign. [ cannot close
without mentioning the attitude as
snmed by the trade unions in the
conference, which took positions
neither trust nor antitrust. but
rather Of waiting and preparing,
sassth the view of compelling recogni-
sa1on of their movement by the big
combinations and sharing in their
benefits
.One of the very best arguments
at has ever been our good fortune to
read upon this question of trusts
was the mastery speech by W.
Burke Cochran, who was plainly the
central figure of the conference In
i marked contrast to the wild rawlings,
.rantings and denunciations of
uWalllam JENNINGS Bryan, who found
everything bad and nothing good in
the trusts, and concluded his adj
dress without advancing a logical
argument or proposing any sound
method Of improving matters. It is
snsere sting to follow the eloquent
Gotham orator, Mr.. Cochran, who
argued that a statute requiring
Ypuoiicitv as to the affairs of great
cDr porations would be sufficient to
abolish their evils. Mr.. Cochran
being democrat, naturally took a
stals out of the protective tariff
system as fostering trusts, but his
principal argument was that the dis
elimination in rates of transporta-
Tflon, whereby one shipper was
able to transport his goods for less
than it actually costs to handle
them, while hundreds of other
shippers were obliged to pay ex-
horbitant rates Of transportation was
The one great evil and breeder of
trusts. Mr.. Cochran dealt with
6he question from all it's various
standpoints, and advanced as the
solution of the evils growing out of
combinations, law requiring
complete publicity as TO the affairs
OF ali institutions employing large
numbers of men or mixed up in COM
UEOlS, UuC ltlU VI w Hull ID Id
bic to give to them a monopoly of the
business in which they are engaged.
Here is his remedy:
Nov, with statute authorizing
and making it the right of every
shipper, of every person using a
public franchise, to have, disclosed
10 him at any time every contract
and agreement made with any other
person, you will find there will be
little difficulty about avoiding the
enforcement of the penal statute, for
il will not be transgressed. We
want a simple statute of publicity,
and l believe that WI check the
special favor.
In addition to this Mr.. Cochran
advocated that all privileges extend
ed to any corporation or firm in the
matter of rates, rebates, and so