The sun., 1899-09-17
COCHRAN SMlTES BRYAN.
OTERWHELMs HIM IN AN ORA TORI
CAL OUIBURST IN CHICAGO.

Drew 1t Out by Sarcastic References NJ
the Close of His Set speech-Thunderous
Applause as Cochran Punctures the Me-
braska Mans Ideas Trusts and Moth
DDS of Destroying Them-Mr. Brynn's
Address Made Earlier In the Days
CHICAGO. Sept 16.-The Trust Conferences
came to an end this afternoon after an
oratorical tilt between William Jennings
Bryan and ". Bourke Cochran. The
very thing which Mr.. Bryan had sought
to avoid and which both audience
and delegates hoped would happen. colloquy
between tho two leading representatives Of
he gold and silver Democratic factions. oo-
CURED at;the opening OF the aftern oon session.
and delegates and auditors were fairly swept
off their feet by the words OF the Eastern
orator
The Incident was the sensational feature oe
the conference. 1t had been arranged thas
Bryan and Cochran should speak upon differ
ent days. in order that their addresses
should avoid even the semblance OF
a joint debate. Notwithstanding this are
rangement OF the programme committee and
Bryans evident intention to avoid. II pos.
sble. a conflict OF words with Mr.. Cook
ran. the great crowd assembled in Gene
tral Music Hall found itself listening to
most brilliant outburst OF oratory ale,
most before the echoes Of the Nebraskan'si
voice had died away. Mr. Bryan himself af-
fording an opening for a reply from the New
Yorker. probably without intending to do so
The last session OF the conference opened
with an address byAttorney-G General T SSmith
OF Texas. who spoke on the antitrust laws
OF that State Several other speakers followed
and william Dudley Foulke OF Indiana. took
occasion to reply to Mr.. Bryan's morning
speech on the trust question. In a few
words he held the plans and remedies
proposed by Mr.. Bryan to bo not feasS
ible and difficult OF execution. and
took the ground that the situation In this
country was not susceptable OF any radical
change. Mr. Foulke's remarks In opposition to
Mr. Brvans pet theories brought tho latter to-
his feet with sharp retort. There were cries
for Mr. Bryan to take the platform. which
he did amid round OF applause.
In his reply TO Mr.. Foulke. Mr.. Bryan was un-
able to keep from ono or two sarcastic allu-
sions to the Democratic party in New York.
which he apparently directed solely at Mr.
Cochran.
When the applause which followed was at
It's height Mr. Cochran was seen to be upon his
feet seeking recognition from the Chair.
which he obtained. The opportunity OF
following the boy Orator OF the Platte"
had come and he took advantage
OF it, While the auditorium ran with cheers
for Cochran. he took the rostrum Just left
by Mr.. Bryan. With no alIusion to the politi-
cal side OF the trust question. nor any
appearance OF personality in his speech.
MIR. Cochran punctured the argu-
ments OF those who had preceded him
and in effect told the conference that tho
four days Of debate had shown that mono
OF the speakers had been certain OF what
he had been discussing. In few rapid.
forceful remarks the speaker replied
to the arguments OF Mr. Bryan and then pro-
ceeded to tear down tho theories held by the
western orator and others who had spent hours
in declaiming against trusts and great COM
binations.
From the utterance OF his first sentence.
In which he said that he concurred in
part Of what Mr. BRYAN had said. the
audience sat spellbound Gathering force
as he proceeded Mr. Cochran launched
an avalanche OF oratory at Mr. Bryan
! and others who had been airing their theories
and remedies for ''fanced and imaginary"
evils. There was torrent Of applause when
he said. alludng to Mr. Bryan:
Il said yesterday that we had been suffering
from that dangerous intoxcation OF phrases
which seems to be sufficient TO sustain mag
nihcent periods and when all Is over none OF
us quite know what We have been talking
about
Then for over an hour Mr. Cochran sum.
married. the arguments which had been adj
vanced against so-called trusts. and answered
question after question which were hurled NJ
him from the body OF the hall. During Mr..
Cockran's speech Mr. Bryan snt quietly near
the rear Of the hall and was apparently uu-
moved by the triumph OF his opponent.
In Mr.. Foukes remarks. which set Mr.
Bryans set teeth on edge and caused him to
walk into the Cochran trap he said that an
amendment to the Constitution required .
two-thirds vote In Congress and three-
fourths vote OF the States.
III we are to have federal legislation to cons
troll the products OF the greater part of our
manufacturing industries" said Mr. Foulke.
practically nearly all the agencies by which
we live and move ani have our
being will be concerned II we
arc to have federal courts adjudjcating
upon all clauses in regard to these things
it will be very evident that State lines
will be shadowy things in the present indus-
trial force OF the consolidated repub-
lie" He doubted II the people OF the
nation were ready for such n change.
In reply to Mr.. Foulke, Mr. Bryan said:
Just word in regard to TO the plan. which
is suggested and to which Mr.. Foulke has rec
ferred | want to repeat that it was not
presented as the only Plan nor is IL necessar-
lily the best plan. 1t is simply plan
l WAS sorry that when tho gentleman got
through destroying this plan he did
not suggest better one ,Applaussl
Political aEnosticsm is no great bcne-
fit to the public. Not to know
what to do is often a convenient position
to occupy. but 1t contributes very little to tho
! settlement OF a question. Applause My plan
WAS this: First. that tho state should
have the riEht to create Whatever pri-
vate corporation the people Of tho state
think best; second. that the stn,e has. or
| should have, the right to impose such imita.