The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-09-17

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reading of the statistics and opinions
gathered in the answers sent to ques-
lions propounded to business and pro-
fessional men the country over in re-
gard to the effect of trusts on wages
and the prices of trust commodities.
T. b. Walker of Minneapolis spoke on
Trusts From Business Mans Stand
point"
The conference then took a recess I'M
til p m.
Afternoon Session.
The afternoon session opened with
addresses by Attorney General Smith
of Texas, and James Dill, who had a
hand in the framing of the New Jersey
trust law. A general discussion fol-
lowed. which resulted in both Colonel
Bryan and Bourke Cochran taking the
platform. w. D. Foulke of Indiana
made a short speech, in which he de-
clared that he failed to see the remedies
proposed by Colonel Bryan in the lat
ter's speech during the morning session
could result in the attainment of the
object sought for
Colonel Bryan, who was sitting in the
back part of the hall. arose and. amid
cheering, started to reply. Before he
had uttered a dozen words, however,
cries of Take the platform" came from
all parts of the hall, and with a smile
he did so.
Mr.. Bryan said in part:
My plan was this First. that the
state should have the right to create
whatever private corporations the peo-
pie of the state think best.
second, that the state has or should
have the right to impose such limita-
lions upon an outside corporation as
the people of the state may think nee
essary for their protection.
Third, that the federal government
hau ha oh 70
such restrictions as congress may think
necessary upon any corporation which
does business outside the state in which
it is organized. In other words, |
would reserve to the people of the state
all the rights they now have, and at
the same time have congress exercise
concurrent remedy to supplement the
state remedy. l would not take away
from the people of the state any right
now existing, but l would have the
federal government and the state gov
eminent exercise the powers that may
be necessary to annihilate the monop-
oily. l do not agree with the gentle
man that you cannot annihilate the mo-
nopoly.
Now, | am not sure the remedy l
propose is constitutional i am not sure
that the constitution would prohibit
such act of congress as l suggest. Sup
pose that congress should say that
business outside the state it must ap-
ply to and receive from some body ere
ated by congress for the purpose a IL
cense to do business Suppose the law
should provide three conditions upon
which the license should be issued.
Three Conditions.
"First-That the evidence shall show
that there is no water in the stock.
"Second-That the evidence should
show that this corporation has not in
the past and is not attempting now to
monopolize any branch of industry or
branch of any article of merchandise.
"Third-Providing for that publicity
which everybody has spoken of and
about which everybody agrees. Suppose
that is done? Who is here to say that
such a law would be unconstitutional?
But, suppose the law is passed and
is held unconstitutional then we can
amend the constitution. The gentleman
suggests that it is difficult thing to
get two-thirds of both houses to favor
amendments and three-fourths of the
states. But what is the alternative?
Sit down and do nothing? Allow them
to trample upon you and ride rough
shod over you and thank God that
you still have some life left? Is that
the only remedy? / have only suggested
plan. 1t may not be the best plan.
If you have anything better, propose it,
II there Is any amendment that you
can think of that Will improve it, sug-
gest it. l am anxious to accept any
thing.
Let me suggest one other thing that
l believe will be step in the right di-
rection. The great trouble has been
that while our platforms denounce 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, think, in the right
direction. Let the laws, state and ma
tional, make it a penal offense for any
corporation to contribute to the cam
paign fund of any political party. (Con-
tinued applause.)
IF the people are in earnest they can
do 1t, and you could never do anything
in this country until the people are in
earnest. and when the American people
understand what the monopoly ques-
ton means, / 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. (Great
cheers and applause)
At the conclusion of Colonel Bryan's
address Bourke Cochran arose and
started 70 speak from his seat in the
hall, but in response to cheers and calls
to come to the front" he, too, took
the platform.
Cockran's Reply.
Mr.. Cochran said in part:
Just one moment while l express my
complete concurrence in much that Mr..
Bryan said.
If there be a monopoly that OPP
presses, l believe that there is no con-
stitutional limitation, there is no pro-
vision of government, there is no power
on earth against these people redress
ing a wrong when it becomes wrong.
THE question to which l think the
attention of this conference should be
directed is whether this one exists and
where it is Now, who is hurt, and
where? Where has this octopus got
possession of somebody? On whom is