Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-09-16

An Able Discussion Of the Question
From a Radical Anti Trust
Standpoint.

Chicago, Sept. 16.-Central Music Hal
was packed today when w. j. Bryan
rose to speak on monopolies. He was
greeted with tumult of applause. The
fa.nns Nebraskan entered the hall sc
quietly that his presence was noted by
few. Not till he walked upon the stage
did the mob of men and women VIII,
fought their way into the house realize
that the probable next democratic can
didate for president was with them. II
was reported that Bryan had a set OF
resolutions up his sleeve, presumably
antagonistic to trusts. But the Nebras-
kan denied this to the Associated Press
/ before he began to speak. II have none
prepared" said he, land I am not sure
whether have time to prepare any for
presentation
Bourke Cochran listened to the Ne
braskans address intently, joining fire.
quently in the applause.
When the applause had subsideo
! Bryan began his address and was fire.
4 quently interrupted by applause as he
proceeded.
He declared more trusts. the amount
OF capital and magnitude of interests
involved being taken into consideration
had been organized within the past two
years t.ian in all the previous history OF
the country, and the people had come
face to face with the question: .Ts the
trust a blessing or curse?" If a curse
what remedy could be applied? He then
enunciated the proposition that monop-
oily in private hands is indefensibie from
any standpoint and intolerable; de-
clared there was no good monopoly in
private hands. There may be des-
pot. said he, who is better than any
other despot, but there is no good des-
potism.'' IF trust" he continued
will sell an article for dollar less than
1t will cost under other conditions, In
the opinion of some, that proves the
trust a good thing" He denied that
prices We're reduced under monopoly
and said that even if they were ohjec-
tions from other standpoints far out
weigh the financial advantages trusts
would bring. He protested against
bringing everything down TO the level
of dollars and cents and quoted Abra-
ham Lincoln's saying, THE republican
party believes In man and dollars; but
in case OF conflict believes in the man
before the dollar" following with ref
erence to the message by Lincoln warn
ing the country against the approach of
monarchy in an attempt to put capita
on an equal or superior footing to labor
In the structure of government. Fol-
lowing this up the speaker declared,
amid applause: Man is the creature OF
God money is the creature of man
Money was made to be the creature of
man. protest against all theories that
enthrone money and debase mankind" I"
This exaltation of money and hurnili-
alton of man, he proceeded to argue, is
the object and outcome OF trusts. He
said the first thing was to lower the
price of raw material by compelling its
producers to sell at price fixed by the
trust. Then the trust having bought
up all factories in its line, would close
part of them and throw out of employ
ment the men at work in them. 1t also
enabled the trust, in case of a locai
strike. to beat the strikers by closing
the factory and sending the work tc
others of its factories, without loss. and
lets the strikers starve, till they were
ready to come back at any price. Then
1t can provoke a strike somewhere else
and freeze them out there, until finally
the trust fixes the wages as it pleases
and the laboring man can then share
the suffering OF the producer of raw
material.
Next. the trust would lessen the cost
of distribution by reducing the number
and quality of statesmen. for not so
many nor so competent men are needed
when there is no competition to meet.
There Will be no use for the commercial
traveller.
Then. in dealing with the consumer,
the trust not only fixes the prices, but
the terms on which goods may be dis.
posed of. So the first thing expected of
the trust is cutting down expenses and
second. raising prices The speaker said
we had not yet had complete monopoly,
because 80 far monopoly has been low
ering prices to rid itself Of competitors.
but when 1t has rid itself of competitors
what is going to be the result? He an
swered the question by saying:
"All you have to know is human ma
ture. God made men selfish
The speaker said rings were put in
hogs noses not to prevent them from
eating or getting fat, because that was
what was wanted of them, but to pre-
vent them from destroying more than
they We're worth. He declared the pro-
cess was for the government to put
rin-s in the noses Of the hogs. Cap
plause.)
Men were all hoggish. but he believed