The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1899-09-16

Tho Nebraskau Did Not wish to Enter
Into Joint Debate-Mr. Cochran
vigorously Denounces the secret
Management OF Trusts.
Chicago, Sept. 16.-The exciting
Joint debate looked for last night be-
tween William j Bryan and Bourkc
Cochran on trusts did not take place.
Central Music Hall was packed with
an eager audience but the people pres
ent had to content themselves without
the oratory Of the famous Nebraskan,
who, however, occupied a seat on the
platform.
Mr.. Bryan reached Central Music
Hall early in the evening. He went
direct to a room upstairs. where he
was greeted by Chairman Franklin
Head, Congressman Gaines Ralph NJ.
Easley and other members Of the pro-
gram committee of the Civic Fedora
tion conference on trusts. Mr. Bryan
surprised the committee by declining
to speak at the night session with
w. Bourke Cockhan, in accordance
with the program previously arrang-
ed. Mr.. Bryan explained that he did
not wish to let the impression go out
with Mr.. Cochran. For that reason,
he said. he would not speak with MIR.
Cochran at the same session. Mr..
Cochran was sent for and he and Mr..
Bryan discussed the situation The
committee withdrew to allow the two
oartors to settle the dispute between
themselves Mr.. Bryan asserted that
he never said he would follow Mr.
. ID,
evening, If the committeeman got
that impression from the conversa-
ton he had with them over the long
distance telephone Thursday he said
they misunderstood him. Mr.. Cock
ran wanted to talk at the same session
with the noted Nebraskan. and offered
to flip coin to determine who should
have the privilege of delivering the
closing address. Mr.. Bryan would
not accept the proposition. Mr.. Cock
ran agreed to appear at any time the
committee desired. The program was
then changed to meet Mr.. Bryan's
wishes. Mr. Bryan said he was anx-
IUus to address the confere and re-
peated that his only reason for chang
ing the program was to avoid any in
dication of a public debate with Mr.
Cochran. Mr.. Bryan will speak at to-
days session.
Though disappointed in failing to
see such a spectacle as Bryan and
Cochran pitted against each other, the
audience nevertheless enjoyed a 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 outbuTst occur
red, put the audience in good humoC
by remarking: Il guess you came
here tonight to hear somebody else
speak" Mr.. Foulke was followed by
Hon. Edward ROsewateT, of Omaha
whose address received notably close
atten ion from his hearers. The chair
then introduced Hon. w. Bourke Cork.
ran, of New York.
Mr.. Cochran eulogized the labor
representatives who had presented ar
guments before the conference, de-
claring that me laborers who spoke
to us understood economic laws better
than their employers" declared that
in any assemblage of men honestly
endeavoring to discover the truth she
always appears" and proceeded:
The precise question which we nave
been called to consider is the effect
upon the general prosperity of the
community of combinations, whether
of capital or labor l hope to estab-
lish before l get through that there
cannot be abundant production OF
commodities without an extensive dis
tribution of them in the form of wages
in a country wherein prosperity is
based upon freedom. But whether this
distribution is not as effective and
complete as we might wish, we can
defer consideration of that question for
moment and we can all agree that
there cannot be any distribution II
there is not production, and that there
cannot be an extensive distribution
unless there is an abundant produc-
tion. If this definition of prosperity
be correct, it is perfectly plain that
there is no reason why a sensible man
should grow excited either to the ap
proval or resentment at a combination
merely as such.
"Any Industrial system which oper.
ates to swell the volume of production
should be commended; anything that
operates to restrict it should be sup
pressed. Whether these great com
binations of capital or these combina-
| tions of labor operate to raise prices
or to reduce them is a subject about
which there has been a wiue diversity
| of opinion, not merely N this hall
| but wherever economic questions
| have been discussed. Some contend
| that the tendency of these combina.
| tions of capital is to cheaper the pro
| duct. Others say that it is to raise
the price of the product.
"The test is to ascertain whether
the combination of capital hourishei
through government or without, fol
you must see that any Industrial en-
terprise which dominates the marke
without the aid from the government
must do so through cheapening tn,
product, or, as 1t is commonly called
by underselling competitors. An in
dustry which at one and the saml
tiIle reduces prices and swells its owl
profits must accomplish that result bl
increasing the volume of its produc
ton On the other hand, an industr,
which dominates the market by IN
favor of government, direct or indi
rect, cannot, in the nature of things
be forced TO cheaper prices, because
II 1t should dominate the market b.
underselling competitors in an ope
field without favor, it would not nee
the government favor"
Mr.. Cochran then declared ther
were three ways in whicn the govern
ment interferes in the trade of ind