The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-09-16

/ by patent laws. another Is by tariff and
the third is by the favors which are ex-
tended to certain industries or great cor
porations, giving franchises which are
none the less Government agencies he
cause their stock is owned by private ind
viduals. This last he considered a serious
difficulty, because it is almost Impossible.
to describe it. 1t is surrounded nv So
crets. The remedy, he said was MOI in
municipal ownership, but u define \
practical penalty, a serious one, and thon
provide for publicity. If the prone.
statute is provided for publicity tn, re
will be no occasion to enforce the nom
atty.
An officer of corporation grating
| Il special favor to any person who has n
right to use that possession On equal
terms with everybody else, ought to be
held guilty of serious felony. (Ap-
plause.)
The speaker, Mt this point, devoted
some time to arguing tina. there was
some justification for corporations. He
believed also in applying the rule OF pub
| Lefty to these. That would be sure
way to prevent fraud.
| Touching the subject of Government
by injunction. Mr.. Cochran said:
| ut has always been to me a source OF
profound regret that the courts show 50
much ingenuity in deyising injunctions TO
| prevent corporations from being disturb
ed by their employees, they have mot
shown cane half that ingenuity in devils.
ing methods To prevent their being robbie |
by their directors. To all this. my friends.
the remedy, | repeat, is publicity.
"A statute. which would modify but
slightly. if at all the existing laws OF
every State. would make this species Of
fraud impossible"
Touching another branch of his sub
ject, Mr.. Cochran devoted some time to
arguing in favor of organizations which
dominate the market without amy aid
from the Government.
II must say, that any industrial or
ganization that cheapcns to me the
cost of something / need. j regard as a
benefit, and | cannot possibly bring my-
self to quarrel with it. i cannot quarrel
with it even if you call it monopoly
He did not believe that the great IN
dusnSal trusts have thrown anybody ont
of employment who deserves employ
ment.
Mr.. Cochran said that ONE of the most
movement of wages upward. In his judg
ment there is but one test of prosperity
which is absolutely infal6ble-that is the
rate of wages, paid to labor.
lie thought that close study Of care
full examination would satisfy everybody
that the great strikes of this country
have arisen from the refusal of the emf
ployers to discuss the question at issue
between them and their employees. with
the agents that the employees select.
Workingmen, Socialists, advocates of
the single tax theory and stu
dents of political economy were
heard today at the Civic Fedora
ton conference ON trusts and combina-
tions. A majority of the speakers
vigorously opposed industrial, financial
and transportation combinations. 1.-THE
problem in its relation to the working
man was discussed in all its phases.
The Committee on Resolutions held its
first meeting and organized by eleeting
Ex-Governor Luce, of Michigan, chair
man, and Ralph NJ. Easley, secretary.
1t was decided to name a subcommittee
of five to receive and consider resolutions
that might be presented and report to a
general committee.
The morning session drew a large au-
dience, but the programme was over
Swallowed by the announcement that in
the evening W. j. Bryan, of Nebraska,
and W. Bourke Cochran, of New York,
would speak from the same platform.
The political prominence of the two ora
tors gave rise to a general feeling that
the night session would be more politi-
cal than economic in it's interest.
Louis II. Post, the New York advocate
of the single tax, was the first speaker
today.
His address was enthusiastically
cheered
Thomas ] Morgan. of Chicago follow
ed on THE Trust from the Socialistic
Point of View
John w. Hayes, secretary of the
knights of Labor, was called. lie said:
II maintain chat these great combina-
tions are an assault upon the inherent
and constitutional rights of the citizens;
that the real and vital advantage to- be
gained is the despotic control over labor.
violence is not the only means of
making conquests and enslaving the peo-
pie, and it can be proved beyond any
question that the methods of the trusts
are the methods of the invader, and the
ends to be accomplished by the instiga-
tors Of the trusts are exactly those in
tended to be accomplished by arms di-
rected by military genius. Taking this
view of he trusts, | assert that they are
the enemies of society and as such
should be destroyed"
Strong resolutions We're drafted for
presentation at future sessions of the
conference.
1t is claimed the resolutions represent
the sentiment of the antitrust delegates
to the conference, who according TO
their own claims, preponderate in num-
beers over the conservatives and pro-
trust men, The discussions will be re-
ferred to the committee ON resolutions
with reading or debate They follow:
Whereas, trusts and industrial combl-
NATIONS have been formed for the pur-
pose of gratifying the greed of their
promoters at the expense of the general
public; they destroy competition, nnllify
the operation of the economic laws of
supply and demand deprive the young
men of the country of opportunity to
advance; take away all incentive to i'm
vention and Improvement and hold out