Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1899-09-16
Col. Bryan Declines Joint Debate
With the New Yorker.
A GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT
Immense Audience Attended the Session
OF the Trust Conference in Anticipation
Of Lively Oratorlca1 TouEney. Yes
terday's Proceedings in Detail.
(RY Tplenranh \

(By Telegraph
CHICAGO. Sept. 15.-.rhe exciting
Joint debate looked for tonight between
VIM. J. Bryan and Bourlle Cochran on
trusts. did not take place. Contra:
Music Hall was packed With an eager
audience, but the people present had to
content themselves without the oratorv
OF the famous Nebraskan. who howev-
or. occupied a seat on the platform
Mr. Bryan reached Central Music
Ham early in the evening. He went di.
rect to q room upstairs where he was
greeted by Chairman Franklin Head
Congressman Gaines, Ralph NJ. Easley
and other members Of the program
committee of the Civil Federation Con-
ference OF Trusts.
COL. BRT- AN RDCONSTDERS.
MT. Bryan surprised the committee
ny declining TO speak at the night ses-
sion with w. Bourke Cochran in ac-
c"rdance with the program previously
arranged Mr.. Bryan explained that he
dId not wish to let the impression 20
OUT that he was to enter into a debate
with Mr.. Cochran. For that reason he
SAID he would not speak with Mr. Cock
ran at the same session. Mr.. Cochran
Was sent for and he and Mr. BRYAN
discussed the situation. The committee
Withdrew to allow the two orators to
settle the dispute among themselves.
MT. Cochran wanted to talk at the
same session with the noted Nebra slSan
and offered to flip 4 coin to determine
who should have the privilege of de-
livering the closing address,
tAlr. Bryan would not accept this
proposition. Mr.. Cochran then agree
TO appear at any time the COMMITTEES
desired. The program was then chang
ed TO meet N1r. Bryans wishes Mr..
5tbryan saTd he Was anxious to address
= the conference anu repeated that hrs
only reason for changing the program
was to avoid any indication of a public
debate with Mr.. Cochran. Mr. Bryan
will speak at tomorrows session.
COCHRAN AT HTS BEST.
Though disappointed in failing to see
such a spectacle as Bryan and Cochran
pftted against each other the audience
nevertheless enjoyed a rare treat, as
Mr.. Cochran was at his best and his
speech was punctuated with frequen.
and prolonged applause. When Mr.
Bryan made his appearance at the en-
trance it was the signal for tumultuols
cheering. which LASTED until the Ne
braskan had taken his seat on the
speakers stand. Mr.. Foulke, Of IN
dress when the outburs1 occurred put
the audience in a good humor by re-
marking: Il guess you came here to-
night to hear somebody else speak,
MIR. Fouike was followed by Hon. Ed
ward I2oSewatcr, Of Omaha. whose ad-
dress received notably close attention
from his hearers.
line chair 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 We'll chosen
compliment. which the Democratic
leader blushingly acknowledged. Mr..
Cochran likened Mr. bryan to a mo
nopoly and claimed he was a bigger
monopoly as the leader of the Demo-
cratic party than any financial corpora
ton in THE world.
CALLS FOR BRYAN
Mr. Cochran spoke for about two
hours and when he concluded cries for
Bryan came from all over the house.
Finally MIR. Bryan arose and said that
for the good of the conference all par
tlsan feeling should be eliminated from
the gathering. and although he agreed
18th Mr: Cochran in many Of his argu-
ments, it was necessary that his SIDE
Of the controversy should be given to-
morrow.
MIR. Cochran began his address ny
con,plimen'ting the representatives Of
organized labor who had spoken on
their knowledge on economic law and
said he believed that some recent
events in our history would have been
impossible If both sides of these TABOR
controversies understood the economic
laws governing the relation of produc-
ers Ito customers as Well as one side
showed that it understood this very
law
continuing, he said: IT hope to es-
tablish before I get through that there
can not be abundant production CT
commodities without an extensive dis
tribution OF them in the form Of wages
in a country wherein prosperity is
based upon freedom. (Applause.) But
whether this distribution is not as eff
fective and complete as we might wish,
we can defer consideration Of that
question: for a moment and we can all
agree that there cannot be any disstri-
button if there is not production, and
that there cannot be an extensive dis
tributfon unless there is an abundant
production.
MUST HAVE COMMODITIES.
's'We must have commodities to dis
tribute before we can distribute them
in the form OF wages, or Of profits. II
this definition OF prosperity he correct
it is perfectly plain that there is no
reason why a sensible man should
grow excited either to the approval or
resentment at a combination merely as
such. LA combination may be good or