The Elbert County tribune., 1899-09-21
A BLAZE OF oRAroRY.
rrust Congress 1T Chicago Closes with
speerh Making

Trust ConRress ut Chicago Closes win
sp.ech Making
Chicago. Sept. 1S-The conference
on the uses and abuses OF trusts
closed its sessions here Saturday In a
blaze OF orntory. in which w j.
Bryan and W. Bourke Cochran were
the central figures. Mr.. Cochran fol-
lowed the noted Nebrnskan. but dis
claimed any intention OF debating the
conclusions OF his Immediate predeces-
sor and declaring his complete concur
renee In much that Mr.. Bryan had said.
The westerner had delivered the
speech of the day during the forenoon
amid frequent Interruptions OF tumul-
tuous applause. Mr.. Foulke of Indi-
ana. commenting on the speech. made
assertions which Mr.. Bryan desired
further to discuss. He was requested
to take the stage and complied, for the
second time facing wildly enthusias-
tic house.
At the conclusion Mr.. Cochran nrose
and observed.
Just n few words.r The spectators
wanted more and refused to subside
until he had taken the platform. He
agreed with Mr.. Bryan. he said, but he
wanted Information.
Mr.. Bryan's plan of campaign ms out
lined to-day is ms follows:
First-That the state should bnvc the
right TO create whatever private cor
porntions the people of the state think
best.
"Second-That the state has, or
should have. the right TO impose such
limitations upon an outside corpora
tIon ms the people of the state may
think necessary for their necessary
protection.
"Third-rhat the federal government
has or should have. the right to I'm
pose such restrictions as Congress may
think necessary upon any corporation
which does business outside OF the
state In which II is organized. In other
words. | would preserve to the people
OF the state all the rights they now
have. aud ut the same time have Con-
gress exercise concurrent remedy.
then supplement the state remedy.
would not take away from the people
OF the state any right now existing,
but | would have the federal govern
ment and the state government exer-
else the powers that may be necessary
to nnnihilatc the monopoly. l do not
agree with the gentleman that you can
not annihilate n monopoly"
II have no doubt that any remedy
that proposed would be assaulted. II
iHONt WIN btfltNt tilut tut tIuNt lnliHN
remain and those who believe that the
trust means good. will try 1t and then
accept better one IT, n better one is
proposed, and keep on trying until the
people are protected. the monopoly
would be overcome"
In conclusion. Mr.. Bryan snid:
let me suggest one other thing that
| believe Will be n step In the right dl-
rcction. The great trouble has been
that while our platforms dcnounce cor
poratlons, corporations control the
elections and place under obligation to
them the men who were elected to en-
force the law.
let me propose remedy-not
remedy. but n step. think, In the
right direction. Let the laws. state and
national, make II n penal ofrcnse for
any corporation to contribute to the
campaign fund Of any political party.
Nebraska has such law, passed two
years ago. Tennessee has such law,
passed two years ago. Such law was
passed. or was introduced In the state
OF New York. but so far 1t has not
reached the stage of actual law In the
state OF New York.
81 do not mean to say that that rem
edy would he n complete one. but
believe that when you prevent n cor
porntion from contributing to campaign
funds TINT you take a step in the right
direction toward better legislation, he
cause some corporations are compelled
to contribute. They are blackmailed
into contributions. and such n law
would protect corporation that did
not want to contribute. II the Iyople
are in earnest. they can do 1t. ana you
could never do anything in this coun-
try until the people are In earnest. and
when the American people understand
what the monopoly question means.
believe that there will be no power,
political. financial or otherwise, to pre-
vent the people from taking possession
Of every branch of government from
President to the supreme Court and
making the government responsible to
the peoples will"