The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-09-17

1
any branch of industry or a branch of
any article Of merchandise and. third,
| providing for that publicity which every
| body has spoken of and about which
everybody agrees. Suppose that is done.
Who is here to say that such law
would be unconstitutional? The supreme
| court in deciding the knight case did not
say that a broader law than the present
| one would be unconstitutional. 1t is true
there are things in the decision which
lead to that but until that question is
presented to the court you cannot say
the court has passed upon ii.
"But, suppose the law is passed and is
held unconstitutional, then we can
amend the constitution. The gentleman
suggests that it is a difficult thing TO get
two-thirds of both houses to favor
amendments, and three-fourths Of the
! states That is true it is a difficult 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 alternative? Sit down
and do nothing allow them to trample
on you and ride rough-shod over you, and
then thank God that you still have some
life left? Is that the only remedy?
'T do not believe it necessary for US to
sit down quietly and permit great ag-
gregation of wealth to strange every
competitor. do not believe that it is in
accord withour dignity as a people or in
accordance with the rights of the people,
to say, because great corporation is
organized, that therefore it should be
permitted to go into the field of a new
corporation and undersell it until 1t bank
I rupts It. raising the money by high prices
somewhere else. do not think it is
necessary for US to do that have only
suggested a plan. 1t may not be the best
plan. If you have anything better, pro-
pose it. If there is any amendment that
you can think of that viii improve it,
suggest it. I am anxious to accept any
thing.
LET me suggest one other thing that 1
believe will be a step in the right direc-
ton The great trouble has been that
while our platforms denounce corpora
tions control the elections and place
under obligation to them the men who
are elected to enforce the law. Gap
plause).
-
edy, but a step, I think, in the right d.
rection. Let the laws, state and national,
make it a penal offense for any corpora
ton to contribute to the campaign fund
of any political party. Continued cheers
and applause). Nebraska has such 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. Oaughter).
Now, 1 believe it is a step in the right
direction. You remember the testimony
taken before a senate committee few
years ago when the head Of the Sugar
Trust testified that the Sugar Trust made
1t a business to contribute to campaign
funds; and when asked TO which one 1t
contributed, replied that it depended
upon circumstances. To which fund do
you contribute in Massachusetts" was
asked TO the Republican fund TO
which fund in New York; TO the Demo-
cratic fund To which fund in New
Jersey? and the man says, We'll, will
have to look at the books, that is
doubtful state daughter and applause).
Now, that is almost a literal production
of the testimony of one great corporation
on the subject of campaign contribution
do not mean to say that the remedy
would be a complete one, but 1 believe
it would prevent a corporation from con-
tributing to campaign funds that you
take a step in the right direction toward
better legislation, because some corpora
tons are compelled to contribute. They
are blackmailed into contributions and
such a law would protect corporation
that did not want to contribute and also
prevent a corporation from contributing
that did not want to contribute. If the
people are in earnest they can do it and
you never could do anything in this coun-
try until the people are in earnest and
when the American people understand
what the monopoly question means. I be-
lieve that there will be no pewer, politi-
cal, financial or otherwise, to prevent the
people from taking possession of every
branch Of government from president to
the supreme court and making the gov
eminent responsible to the peoples will"
Great cheers and applause).
At the conclusion of Colonel Bryan's ad-
dress. Bourke Cochran arose and started
to speak from his seat in the hall, but
in response to cheers and calls to come
to the front" he took the plato Fm. Mr..
Cochran said, in part:
Just one moment while I express my
complete concurrence in much that Mr.
Bryan has said. If there be a monopoly
that Expresses, I believe that there IS no
constitutional limitation, there is no pro-
vision Of government, there IS no power
on earth. against these people redressing
a wrong. when it becomes a wrong. The
question to which I think the attention
of this conference should be directed is
whether the one exists and where II IS
Now who is hurt, and where? Why has
this octupus got possession OF somebody?
On whom is ii acting? I am free % con
fess that what you call an aggregation
OF capital-a combinations hydra-hea5-
ed monSter-an octopus-it doesn't cast
any light upon 1t that Eliminates my
pathway. I can unders tand how the use
OF these phrases can have some effect as
nothing frightens people so much as in
comprehensive names. Let q noise De
heard now that none Of US understand,
and we viii all be going out of the win
dow Now. men can be put 70 intellect
ual and physical fight by the terrifying
noises OF sound. What IS that we he-a-7
Are we doing pretty we'll? Well. we have
had here representatives OF labor oreani- I
cations who have been telling Us tina.
wages are higher today than they ever