Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-09-16
BRYAN PRESENT.

-s~%>~
The exciting joint debate looked for
tonight between VIM. j. Bryan and
Bourke Cochran on trusts, did not take
place. Central Music Hall was packed
with an eager audience, but the people
had to content themselves without the
oratory of the famous Nebraskan, who,
however, occupied a seat on the plat
form.
Mr.. Bryan reached Central Music
Hall early in the evening. He went
direct to a room upstairs, where ne was
greeted by Chairman Franklin Head,
Congressman Gaines, Ralph NJ. Easley
and other members of the programme
committee OF the Civic Federation con-
ference at the night session with w.
Bourke Cochran, in accordance With the
programme previously arranged Mr..
Bryan explained that he did not wish
TO let the impression go out that he
was to enter into a debate with Mr..
Cochran. For that reason he said he
would not speak with Mr.. Cochran at
the same session. Mr.. Cochran was
sent for and he and Mr.. Bryan dis
eussed the situation. :, The committee
withdrew to allow the two orators TO
settle the dispute among themselves.
Mr.. Bryan asserted that he never said
he would follow Mr. Cochran with an
address on the same evening. If the
committeeman got that impression
from the conversation he had with
them over the long distance telephone
Thursday, he said they misunderstood
him. Mr. Cochran wanted to talk at the
same session with the noted Nebras-
kan and offered to flip coin to deter
mine who should have the privilege OF
delivering the closing address. Mr..
Bryan would not accept this PROPOSE
ton. Mr. Cochran then agreed to ap-
pear at any time the committee de-
sired. The programme was then
changed to meet Mr.. Bryan's wishes.
Mr.. Bryan said he was anxious to adj
dress the conference and repeated that
his only reason for changing the pro-
gramme was to avoid any indication
Of a public debate with Mr.. Cochran.
Mr.. Bryan will speak at tomorrow
session.
Though disappointed in falling to
- . rnoatanla &c RrV9n and
Cochran pitted against each other, the
audience nevertheless enjoyed rare
treat as Mr.. Cochran was at his best,
and his speech was punctuated with
frequent and prolonged applause.
When Mr.. Bryan made his appearance
at the entrance, it was the signal for
tumultuous cheering, which lasted I'M
til the Nebraskan had taken his seat
on the speakers stand. Mr.. Foulke, of
Indiana, who was in the middle OF an
address when the outburst occurred,
nut the audience in good humor by re-
marking: Il guess you came here to-
night to hear somebody else speak.
The chairman then introduced Hon.
w. Bourke Cochran, of New York.
At the close of his speech the New
Yorker won the hearts of his listeners
by paying Mr. Bryan a well chosen
compliment, which the Democratic
leader blushingly acknowledged. Mr..
Cochran Hkened Mr.. Bryan to mo-
nopoly and claimed he was a bigger
monopoly as the leader of the Demo-
cratic party than any financial cor
poration in the world. Mr.. Cochran
spoke for about two hours and when
he concluded cries for Bryan came from
all over the house. Finally Mr.. Bryan
arose and said that for the good of the
conference, all partisan feeling should
be eliminated from the gathering and
although he agreed with Mr. Cochran
in many of his arguments, it was nee
essary that his side of the controversy
should be given tomorrow. Mr..
Cockran's speech was as follows: