The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-09-16
BRYAN DIDN'T SPEAK.
Was No Joint Debate
At Trust Conference.
BOurke COchrane However igued
For Truss.
New York Orator Was
At His Best.
Mr.. Bryan win Speak Some
Other Evening.

Chicago, September 15.-The exciting
joint debate looked for tonight between
William J. Bryan and W. Bourks Cochran
on trusts, did not take place. Central
Music hall was packed with an eager an +.
dienoe, but those present had to content
themselves without the oratory cf Mr..
Byran who, however, sat on the plat.
form.
Mr.. Bryan reached Central Music hall
early in the evening. he was greeted by
members OF the programme committee
OF the civic federation conference on
trusts. Mr.. Bryan surprised the commit
tee BY declining to speak at the night seq
sion with Mr. 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 debate with Mr..
Cochran.
Mr.. C3ckran was sent for and he and
Mr.. Bryan discussed the situation. Mr..
Bryan asserted that no never said he
would follow Mr. Cochran with an address
on the same evening.
Mr.. Cochran want3d to talk at the
same session with the Nebraskan and
offered to dip q coin to determine who
should deliver the closing address. MIR.
Bryan would not accept this proposition.
MIR. Cochran then agreed to appear at
any time the committee desired. The
programme was then changed to meet Mr.,
bryan's wishes. MIR. Bryan will speak at
tomorrow's session. Though disappoint-
ed In falling to see Bryan and Cochran
pitted against each other. stha audience
enjoyed q rare treat, as MIR. Cock ran was
| at his best and his speech was punctuated
with frequent ana prolonged applause.
When Mr.. Bryan appeared at the en-.
trance there was tumulutous cheering
which ias'ed until he had taken his seal
ON the stand. MIR. Boulke OF Indiana
who was in the middle of an address
when the outbuIst occurred, put the audi.
ence In good humor by remarking: 81
) guess you came here tonight to hear
somebody else speak .
| MIR. Foulke was followed by Hon. Ed.
| ward Rose water of Omaha.
| The chairman then introduced Hon.
| W. Bourke Cochran Of New York city.
| At the close OF his speech the New
| Yorker won the hearts of his listeners
by paying Mr.. Bryan well-cbosen CON-.
pliment which the Democratic leader
blushingly acknowledged. MIR. Cochran
4
claimed that he was bigger monopoly
as the leader of the Democratic party
| than any financial corporation in the
world. MIR. Cochran spoke for two hour
and when he concluded cries for Bryan
came from all parts Of the house. Final
ly, Mr.. Bryan arose and ssid that for ths
good OF tne conference, all partisan feel
ing should be eliminated from the gather
ing. although he agreed with Mr.. Cook
ran in many Of bis arguments, 1t was
necessary that his side of the controversy
should be given tomorrow.
Mr. Cockran's speech was, in part, al
| follows:~
1.-THE preciss question which we have
been called to consider Ia the sffect upor
the general prosperity of the communi
| ty OF combinations whether of capital ol
OF labor. shall define prosperity as al
abundance of commodities fairly distrihu
ted among those who produce them.
hope to establish that there cannot be
abundant production Of commod itie,
without an extensive distribution o.
| them In the form of wages in a country
wherein prosperity is based upon freedom
We can all agree that there can bs
any distribution IL there is not prod nc.
tion and that there cannot be no exten.
sive distribution unless there Is an abun.
dant production. IL this definition OF
| prosperity be correct IL is plain that there
Is no reason why O sensible maj should
grow excited In approval OF or resent.
ment ut a combination merely as such.
A combination may be good or bad, &C,
cording TO Its effect. Any industrial
system which operates to swell the vol
ume of reduction sh 1uld be commend
ed; anything tnat operates to restrict IL
should be supprs ssed.
sSome combinations operate to reduce
prices and some to depreciate than. II
would be Idle to say that some rails
prices and come depreoiate them; If = e
do not prescribe some test by which We
could distinguish between the two.
| The test Ia to ascertain whether the
combination of capital dourishes through
| government aid or without it. for any
Industrial enterprise which dominat &
the market without aid from the govern
ment must d o so through cheapening
the product, under selling competitors
An industry which dominates
this market uy the favors of government,
direct or indirect, cannot be forced to
cheaper prices. Now there are three
ways in which the government interfsres
In the trade of individuals in this coun-
try, one IL by patent laws.
1he other means by which the govern
maut fntar fsras In by tariff Now 1 ha.