St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-04-27
JAY GOULD SIZED UP.
Senator Van Wyck Speaks Ont
About Him.

WASHINGTON, April 26.-ln the Senate
to-day w. G. WhitthOrne was sworn in,
and took his seat as senator from Tennee-
see. After the passage of some unimport-
ant business, Mr.. Blair addressed the sem
ate upon his proposed constitutional amend
ment prohibiting the manufacture or sale
of alcoholic liquors, claiming that it was
time for the prohibition idea to assume
control of national partieS-at least of the
Republican party. AT the conclusion of
his remarks the interstate commerce bill
was taken up, Mr.. Van Wyck addressing
the senate in regard to it. He said that
the country was in the midst of depression,
yet all pursuits must be laid under con-
tribution so that dividends should
be declared by railroad companies in
watered stock and fraudulent bonds. Capi-
tai had been organized. unScrupulous and
raDaci0uS. moving as Gould had moved, ac-
cOrding to his sworn testimony, and as
Huntington, according to his own written
history, had moved ON state legislatures.
the courts and congress, unblushingly pur-
chasing judges and legislators. But the
crisis was coming. There was an irrepress-
ible conflict between right and wrong.
Could the nation be made to believe that
the 1000, 600, 600 of watered stock and
bonds
WERE HONEST PROPERTY,
deserving protection from courts or legisla-
lures. or that the So, 900, 900 claimed by
Vanderbilt and the $500. 900, 600 claimed by
Gould were honestly obtained. The owners
of these fortunes should accord decent treat
ment TO the remainder of mankind, from
whom they expected to force dividends and
interests. If the industries were only re-
Quoired to pay fair dividends on the real
cost OF railroads, the nation would be pros
porous. The senate could take an
example from Jay Gould. The senate COM
mittee on education and labor had industri-
ously obtained from that worthy complete
history of his life, probably for the youth of
America to initiate. The committee had
tremblingly and beseechingly impIored him
to give minute account of his daring eX-
PLOTS, and he consented. Early in life,
when hard pressed for dinner, he adopted
his sisters methods and went behind the
blacksmith shop TO pray. The blessing
came in great measure. In few years the
tanning business in which he was engaged
was in financial stress so overwhelming that
his partner was driven to suicide, while he
himself bought q railroad. The wrong
partner had committed suicide. The COM
mttee was doubtless dazed as much by
Gould's recital as by reading the exploits of
Jack. the Giant Killer. or Kid, the Pirate.
Modesty induced Gould TO refrain from
telling one feature of history of his time.
AT Kansas City he was once overtaken with
another religious spasm. and wreStled a
second time in prayer, telling the people
how happy he was and that he wanted no
more money. He had purchased the Mis-
souri, Pacific only for the
GOOD OF MANKIND
and should use it only for the glory of God
and the benefit of the people. As he was
contemplating another raid, he felt the
necessity of another installment of divine
grace. so he went. ''short" on the promise
by pretending that he would not benefit
himself by the blessing. 1t was to be hoped
he would not indulge in q third prayer on
earth. Should he in the end secure an en-
trance in the New Jerusalem he would soon
be conSpiring there from force of habit to
buy railroad. and when he should have
torn up the shining avenues the angels
could not restrain him from stealing the
golden pavements. Laughter. The
strong arm of labor, Mr.. Van Wyek added,
had always protected the nation In the day.
of peril. There need be no fear to the
republic from the organization OF labor.