St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-12-14
SHALL We unite.
Is an Immediate Union Of the
Twin Cities to Be De-
sired?
The Question Answered by
Prominent Men From
Both the Cities.
An Interesting and Profitable
Summing-Up Of the
Situation.
Business Men Comment on the
Present State Of Good
Feeling.
And Rejoice That in Interest
and Destiny the Twins
Are One.
A Divergence Of Views on the
0nactinp 0P Mnnioi
A Divergence Of Views on the
Question Of a Munich
pal Union.
Shall the Twin Cities unite?

Shall the Twin Cities unite?
With the dawn of the era of good feel
ing between the cities of St. Paul and
Minneapolis; with the PRONUNCIATION of
the fraternal sentiment that the des-
TIMES of the cities are one, and its ready
acceptance by all those who have those
destinies at heart; with the firm and
growing impression that the great and
spreading commerce of the Twins is
largely dependent upon a united eff
fort for aggression and def enSe; with
these premises firmly established and
universally accepted, comes that other
question-shall the cities be merged
under one municipal government? In
the later months this question has been
prOpOunded with more freedom than
ever. though there is shadow of the
traditional rivalry that has prevented
its joint and open discussion. The ques-
tion rather is, should the cities be
uniUed2 Would il be to the interest
Of either or both. to unite them in one
municipality? In the minds of most
men there is distinct belief that the
time will come when the cities will be
so joined; when their growth mas be-
come so intermingled that they will be-
CONF de jure what they are de facto;
but there is an evident Discrimination to
boldly avOw the belief that it would be
advisable to advocate this union here
and now.
The proposition involves broad and
stupendOus question. with multifOld and
perplexing details. There are questions
to be settled by the suffrage of the peO-
pie. and legal phases coming within
the province only of the legislature.
The new government. if so ordered,
could only exist through the consent of
the governed; and the many important,
yet delicate. details would in
vOlve q thousand points of difference
to be adjusted only by painstakiug
fnesse. The location of the central
seat of the municipal government; the
matter of local representation; the rec
OncillatiOn of existing conflicting laws
and methods; the questions of taxation
and q hundred others, equally inn
D0rtant. are all wrapped up in the great
question: Shall the cities of st. Paul
and Minneapolis be united under one
municipal government?
With q view TO ascertain the senti-
ment ID each or the two cities. the
GLOBE selected a number of leading
men of St. Paul and Minneapolis, re-
spectively, and requested answers to
| the following questions:
Are you IN favor Of an actual union of the
| Twin Cities-that is to say, do you believe it
| is desirable. for commercial protection or for
| other reasons. to bring about an immediate
| consolidation of st. Paul and Minneapolis
under one municipal government?
If SO, what is the first step you would pro-
pose? What. in your Judgment. should be
the first course Of procedure?
In some cases. the gentlemen fatty
defined to go on record on so important
a subject. They preferred to confer
with friends and compare views; but
what the GLOBE wanted was a free
and independent, Individual express
sion. Others very candIdly returned
| answers. while still others generalIZed
| and expressed views bearing on the
subject. but not directly answering the
| questions. The expression of senti-
ment is printed just as received, and
| forms most interesting compilation of
views of subject of transcendent i'm
| pOrtanCe.