Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-09-17
(Great laughter and applausel.

We wretched sinners lie."
(Great laughter and a~pplause).
: II have no doubt that any remedy
that is proposed will be assaulted. If
those who believe that the trust must
remain, and those who believe that the
trust means good, will accept the best
remedy they can find, try it and then
accept a better one if a better one is
proposed, and keep on trying until the
people are protected. (Applause). The
gentleman suggests that it is a difficult
thing to get twoAthirds of both houses
to favor amendment and three-fourths
of the States. That is true, it is a diff
cult thing, but if the people want to
destroy the trusts you can get two
thirds of both houses and three-fourths
of the States. But what is the alter
native? Sit down and do nothing?
Allow them to trample upon you and
ride rough-shod over you, and then
thank God that you still have some life
left? Is that the only remedy?
THE American people are entitled to
the best that there is. (Applause).
They are entitled to the best system
on every subject. | believe that when
these questions are presented to the
American people they will select and
secure the best system. | have only
suggested a plan. 1t may not be the
best plan. If you have anything better,
propose it. If there is any amendment
that you can think of that win improve
lit, suggest it. | am anxious to accept
anything.
Let me suggest one other thing that
] believe will be a step in the right di-
rection. The great trouble has been
that while our platforms d%enounce cor
porations, corporations control the cleo
tions and place under obligation to
them the men who are elected to en-
force the law. (Applause).
Let me propose a remedy-not a
remedy, but a step, l think. in the
right direction. Let the laws, State and
national, make a penal offense for n
corporation to contribute to the cam
paign fund of any political party.
Continued cheers and %applause.) Ne
braska has such a law, passed two
years ago. Tennessee has such a law,
passed two years ago. Such a law was
passed, or was introduced in the State
Of New York. but so far it has not
reached the stage of actual law in the
State of New York. (Laughter.) Now,
| believe it is a step in the right direc-
ton. You remember the testimony
taken before a Senate committee a few
vars ago when the head of the Sugar
Trust testified that the Sugar Trust
made it its business to contribute to
campaign funds; and when asked to
which one it contributed, replied that
st depended upon circumstances.
"tTo which fund do you contribute in
Massachusetts was asked. TO the
Republican fund To which fund in
New York; To the Democratic fund
To which fund in New Jersey?' and
the man says: We'll, l will have to
look at the books. that is a doubtful
State. Continued laughter and ap-
plause.)
Now, that is almost a literal repro
duction of the testimony of one great
corporation on the subject of campaign
contribution. | don't mea to say that
that remedy will be a complete one,
Sbut believe that when you prevent a
corporation from contributing to a
campaign fund that you take a step in
the right direction toward better legis-
lation, because some corporations are
compelled to contribute; they are
DldShllfdllou lHlO COllI lDuIlULS, duu
such a law would protect corporations
that did not want to contribute. If
the people are in earnest, they can do
it and you never could do anything in
this country until the people are in
earnest, and when the American people
understand what the monopoly ques-
tion means l believe that there will be
no power, political, financial or other
wise, to prevent the people from taking
possession of every branch of govern
ment, from President to the Supreme
Court, and making the government re-
sponsible to the peoples will" CHEERS
and applause. }
at the conclusion of Col. Bryan's adj
dress, Bourke Cochran arose and start
I'd to speak from his seat in the hall,
blu in response to cheering and calls
TO take the platform, he, too, complied.
Mr.. Cochran said in part:
Just one moment while l express
my complete concurrence in much that
Mr.. Bryan has said:
IF there be a MONOPOLY that OPP
presses, | believe that there is no con-
stitutional limitation, there>is no pro-
vision of government, there is no power
on earth against the people redressing
a wrong when it becomes a wrong.
THE question to which | think the
attention of this conference shoull be
directed is whether this n exists and
where it Is. Now, who is hurt and