The age-herald., 1899-09-16
TRUST DELEGATES
 DISAPPOINTED No Debate Occurred Between Bryan and
 Cochran. THE NEBRASkAN REFUSED NeR YOFker'S Defense Oi Trusts and
 Combinations.
TARIFF RESTRICTS COMPETITION
Show the Difference Between Cor. porations-Favors Extended
 to Certain Industries

Chicago, September 15-The joint debate looked for tonight between W. J. Bryan and Bourke Cochran on trusts, did not take place. Central Music hall was packed with an eager audience, but the people present had to content themselves without the ora- tory of the famous Nebraskan, who, how ever, occupied seat on the platform.
 MT. 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 M. Fasly, and other mem- bers of the programme committee on the civic federation conference on trusts. MT. Bryan surprised the committee by decln- ing to speak at the night session with w. Bourke Cochran, in accordance with the programme previously arranged. MT. Bryan explained that he did not wish to let the impression go out that he was to enter into a debate with MT. Cochran. For that reason he said he would not speak with MT. Cochran at the same session. MT. Cochran was sent for and he and MT. Bryan discussed the situation.
 The committee withdrew to allow the two orators to settle the dispute between themselves. MT. Bryan asserted that he never said he would follow MT. Cochran with an address on the same evening. If the committeeman got that impression from the conversation he had with them over the long distance telephone Thursday, he said they misunderstood him.
 Willing to Flip a Coin
 Mir. Cochran wished to talk al the same session with the noted Nebraskan and of fered to flip coin to determine who should have the privilege of delivering the closing address. MT. Bryan would not accept this proposition. MT. Cochran then agreed to appear at any time the committee desired. The programme was then changed to meet MT, Bryan's wishes. MT. Bryan said he was anxious to address the conference and repeated that his only reason for changing the programme was to avoid any indication of a public debate with MT. Cochran. MT. Bryan will speak at tomorrow's session.
 Though disappointed in failing to see Bryan and Cochran pitted against each other, the audience nevertheless enjoyed rare treat as Mir Cochran was at his best and his speech was punctuated with fre' quent and prolonged applause. When MT. Bryan made his appearance it was the sig nal for tumultous cheering which lasted un til the Nebraskan had taken his seat on the speakers stand.
 Bourke Corkran's Speech
 '"I1here is no reason why a sensible man tsbolrld grow excited, either in approval or of resentment, at a combination merely as such. A combination may be good or bad. according to it's effect. For instance, l,tx tinr, For rlra xynv a A good men should subscribe to the success of it. Laughter). A combination for burglary Is conspiracy All good men would call out the police to prevent it. Qaugh- ter). Any industrial system which operates to swell the volume of production should be commended; anything tht operates to prevent 1t should be suppressed.
 Now, whether these great combfna tions of capital or their combinations of labor operate to raise prices or to reduce them, is a subject about which there has been wide diversity of opinion. Some contend that the tendency of these combinations of capital Is to eheapen the product Others say that it is to raise the price of a prod uct. Now, while I am fully conscious that the movement of prices depends on many forces; or rather, perhaps, should say, on every force-bounty of earth, on the sun that quickens the crop, upon the rains that refresh upon the rivers that wash the soil
 
 well as upon the industry of man; yet I venture to say that neither side of this controversy is wholly right or wholly wrong. There are some combinations which operate to raise prices and some which operate to depreciate them. Now, if I cept either l should offend against the other offender of whom I complain.
 Prescribe the Test
 'It would be idle to say that some im-
 ~tz 1n preciate them if we did not prescribe a test by which we could distinguish between the two. Now, kadies and gentlemen, 1 think it is a simple one, perfectly clear. The test Is to ascertain whether the combina- ton of capital flourishes through govern ment aid or without; for my friends, you must see that any industrial enterprise which dominates the market without aid from the government must do so through Sheapening the product, or as 1t is gem orally called, by undersellng the compet- tors.
 'An industry, to profit, must accomplish that result by increasing the volume of it's production. On the other hand, an indus try which dominates the market by the favor of the government, direct or indirect, cannot in the nature of things be forced to cheapen prices; because, If it could domi- nate the market by underselling competi- tors in an open field, it would not need the government favor. The interference of the government would be an injury and not benefit to 1t. An industry or a combination or capital or anything you may choose to can it, that dominates market through a restricted competition that delivers the con- sumer to it on It's own terms necessarily depends upon narrow output and large profits extorted not from the eXcelency of its service, but from the helplessness of those with whom 1t deals.
 Now, there are three ways in which the government interferes in the trade of indi- viduals in this country. One is by patent laws The other means by which the gov