St. Paul daily globe., 1885-08-13

uoll, press ulSlbatcn was sent Ont from
Omaha. announcing the list of delegates
and stating that dissatisfaction prevailed
because the gentlemen who had been -ap-
pointed as delegates were VIGOROUSLY known
TO be connected with and interested in va
riOuS railroad companies. There was no
reason to diScredit the dispatch. and as it
came from section of country where the
delegates were known, it was presumed
that there was foundation for the dissatis
faction which was reported TO exist. If
the press report was true then criticism
was justifiable and the GLoBE took Oc-
caSion yesterday morning to call
the attention of the people of the North
west to the danger of having the convention
perverted from its original purpose. If the
report was not true, and injustice has been
done TO the governor of Nebraska. the
GLOBE will be delighted to know it, and
will hasten to make announcement of the
fact whenever reliably informed in the case.
The GLOBE recognizes fully as well as the
governor and river commissioners do, the
courtesy that is due to invited guests. AT
the same time the people of the Northwest
have too much at stake in the matter ofthiS
river improvement to permit any false ideas
of courtesy and hospitality to intervene
between their interests and the plain duty
they have to perform. The convention was
called in the interest of those who desire
the improvement of the upper Mississippi
river and tributaries. The shippers and
producers of the Northwest have an inter
est in securing these Improvements.
The railroad companies are interested in de-
feating all measures that would bring the
river i'm competition with their lines of
road. At once there arises two antagonis-
tic interests-the people of the Northwest
on one side, the railroad companies on the
other. 1t is the most natural thing in the
world that the railroad companies should
combine to defeat the object sought to be
accomplished by the riverway convention
called to meet here next month. There
could be no more effective way to compass
their ends than by filling the convention
with delegates who are connected with rail-
way interests. If the governor of Nebraska
has yielded to the influences of the corpora
tionS in this matter he has not only be
trayed the interests of his agricultural con-
Stituency, but he has also abused the con-
iidence of those who had the convention in
charge and is himself guilty of the groSseSt
discomtesy. If he has been slandered in
this matter his friends should at once put
him right before the people and remove
from him the grave suspicion which has
been cast upon his fidelity to the interests
of his state.
The GLOBE is satisfied that the people of
the Northwest have no public interest of
equal Importance with this matter of inn
proving the river. If the improvements
which should be made can be secured, it
will add a permanent increase in value of
from 20 10 80 per cent. TO every acre of land
in the Northwest 1t will be of incalcula-
bic benefit to producers and shippers, and
will reduce the cost of transportation from
200 to 500 per cent. below the present
rates As an illustration of this fact, look
at the comparative rates now prevailing by
the river and by the railroads from st. Paul
to St. Louis. While railroads are charging
80 cents per hundred, freight is being
shipped by the river for TO cents. Instead
Of throwing cold water Oh the cOnyen-
ton, the GLOBE has only the single wish
TO see it accomplish the purposes
for which it was called. But If these
results are to be attained. it will
not be done by a convention COM
posed OF delegates who are hostile to the
undertaking. The GLOBE is gratified,
however, to know that the governor and
the Minnesota rivel commissioners are not
apprehensive of the danger we have sig
nailed. One OF the commissioners informs
us that while he does not know the gentle
men VINO compose the Nebraska delegation.
he has assurance from reliable sources that
they are all fiTst-claSs men and gentlemen
of high standing in their state. This may
all be true and yet they may be interested
in railroads. I'm fact the railroad compa-
nies of the Northwest have the happy fac
ulty of attaching to their interests first
class men and gentlemen OF high social
and political standing. This makes
their influence to be the more dreaded
in matter of clear antagonism
between their interests and the interests of
the people. The railroads are generally
shrewd enough to look after their own mat
tiers, and the people ought to display equal
sagacity in relation to their affairs. So far
as the people of st. Paul are concerned
there will be no necessity for discourteous
conduct, and there will be none exhibited.
All the delegates who attend the convention
will be received with cordial welcome and
their personal comfort shall be provided for.
We want a full attendance and a harmon
ious convention, which will result IN great
good TO our people and their interests. At
the same time there is no use in being mealy-
mouthed about matter of such vast public
importance. The convention was called
for the purpose of securing united action
among the people of the Northwest in an
effort to have the upper Mississippi river
and its tributaries improved. 1t is no dis
courtesy to anybody to say that those who
are inimical TO the purposes for which the
convention was called are not expected to
attend, and are not wanted. The people
are intelligent enough to know whats what.
THE GRANT MONUMENT.
Encouraged by its wonderful success in
raising the fund for building the base of
the Liberty statue. the New ork World an
nounces that it will now open subscription
for the purpose of erecting a monument
over the remains of Gen. GRANT in River
side park. This is characteristic of the
Worlds enterprise and patriotism, but we
are inclined to think that it has undertaken
a work more difficult to accomplish than
the other. 1t is not our desire to discourage
the World in its generous efforts. At the
same time we feel free to give the reasons