St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-01-16
THE ITALIAN HAND
Which the WOuId-Be Senator,
w. D. Washburn, De-
veloped
In the Sale of the Mime
apolis & st. Louis
Road.
He Depicts the Bad Faith
of One Proposed
Sale,
And Proceeds to Make a SINH
lar One When His Mark
Is Reached.
TO the Editor of the Globe.


burn was the unanimous choice OF the
citizens of Minneapolis. The effort has
been so great in this direction that many
who are opposed to him have refrained
from making their opposition manifest,
lest they might arouse great antago
nisms which would be damaging in the
future. Every prominent politician in
the city of Minneapolis has had no
tice served upon him by Mr.. Wash
burn, that if he does not come to
his (Washburn's aid IN the present
emergency, he need not expect that
Minneapolis will stand by him in the
future. Mr.. Washburn has based this
claim for Minneapolis support upon the
ground that he has been especially and
exceedingly loyal to that city.
OF course the country members have
no especial interest on that point, and if
they desire to give st. Paul and Mime
apolis all the political honors in the
state, probably there is a sufficient de-
gree of modesty on the part Of the Twin
Cities to accept them.
The people of Minneapolis, how
ever, must have very short men,
cries, if they do not recollect many in
stances where Mr.. Washburn was true
to himself and false to the interests of
that city. His election to the senate
would enable him to repeat in the 500
operation, something of the same char
acter which he performed in connection
with the Minneapolis & st. Louis road.
Mr.. Washburn claimed to have con-
structed the st. Louis road as Mime
apolis enterprise. He then regarded it
so much of local institution that when
there was an opening excursion from
Minneapolis to Albert Lea, he took
good care to see that no resident of st.
Paul was invited.
Minneapolis was asked, and did give
large money bonus, as we'll as terminal
facilities superior to those enjoyed by
any other road in the city. This of
course entitled her to great considera-
ton in the management and future of
the road. AS time wore on Gen. G. G.
Washburn, of Wisconsin, brother Of W.
D., who was very largely interested in
the Minneapolis & st. Louis road, de-
sired to relieve himself from the finan-
cial burden he was carrying by making
a
railroad. He notified the stockholders
Of the proposition and offered, if they
would send him their stock, that
he would make sale for them at 20
cents on the dollar. When this matter
came out w. u. Washburn, who was
president of the road, but a much
smaller stakeholder than his brother,
professed to be excessively loyal to the
interests of Minneapolis and declined to
be party to the sale. In fact he
aroused so much opposition to it that
although his brother might have carried
the matter through if he had wished to
press the sale, it was abandoned.
Probably no better idea of the effect
of the sale of the st. Louis road to one
of the Chicago roads can be formed
than to quote the following statement
which appeared in the Pioneer Press in
special telegram dated Jan. %, 1881:
OUT OF HIS OWN MOUTH.
WASHINGTON. Jan. %, 1Ss1.-[Speeial Tel
egraml-The Pioneer Press of the 25th re-
ceived in Washington this morning con-
tanned rumor that the Minneapolis & st.
Louis Railway company was considering
overtures from the Chicago & Northwestern
railroad for consolidation. or rather alb
sorption of the former road. in the NAV of
the great corporation. Your correspondent
visited Gen. Washburn. congressman from
Minnesota, the president of the road who
has also seen the Pioneer Press of the same
date. and inquired as to the facts. Gen.
Washburn was not surprised to find
that the fact had leaked out OF the PROPOSE
lions made by the Chicago company, but was
very decided in opposition to any scheme
which involved the surrender Of his road to
any outside company, believing that it was
against the interests of Minneapolis, st.
Paul. and Duluth and the whole state to have
the road pass into hands friendly to Chicago
and Milwaukee. as against the minor cities.
Gen. Washburn does not own majority of
road, or he would be i'm position
to say now that no consolidation would
take place. In order, however, for
this result to be accomplished, other Mime
apolis stockholders than himself must
go into the scheme and JON outside stock
holders. who then may be able to overpower
him and sell the road out. He furnishes
your correspondent with the following frank
statement, which will certainly set at rest
any doubts that may be entertained as to
Gen. Washburn's position:
IT notice memorial was circulated in Min
neapoiis last Monday addressed to the presi-
dent. directors and stockholders of the Min
neapolis & st. Louis Railway company. sug-
road to one of the Chicago pool lines to-wit:
The Chicago & Northwestern. I have not
received this memorial as president of the
Minneapolis & st. Louis company, but pre-
IL
hands of the stockholders who inspired,
prepared and caused it to be eireuia-
ted; but | feel it to be my duty without wait
ing for this document, to place myself
right before the people of Minneapolis and
the general public of Minnesota in regard to
the questions raised in this memorial, and
my connection Herewith. 1 had barely left
my nome In Minneapolis to attend to my
| duties in congress when became advised
| that negotiations had been put on foot look
ing to the sale bodily Of the Minneapolis 81
| st. Louis railroad to the Chicago & North
western. 1 was asked to give my assent to
| this scheme. I declined most positively to
| have anything to do with such transact ton,
| and promptly notified parties favoring
| it tina Il should resist the same by all
| proper and legitimate means at my COM
| mand. was informed that my portion of
| the money to be received would amount to
| something over $500, 900. To this sugges-
| ton 1 replied that the Northwestern railway
I had not money enough to purchase my stock
| interest in the company. have TINS taken
| and still maintain this position for the fol-
! lowing reasons which desire the people of
| Minneapolis to fully understand. and eonsid-
er that 1t Is a violation of faith to the city of
| Minneapolis, voting. as 1t did, $3.50, 600
! in aid of the construction of this
line on the distinct understanding that
| the road was to be kept. if possible. under
| the control of citizens of Minneapolis and
| to be operated, as far as practicable, in the
| interests of the city. Further. it Is avio-
| latien of faith to the towns on the line, nota-
| bly, the town of Waseea, that voted aid for
| the construction of the road on the under
| standing that it was to be operated, as far as
! possible, independently of the Chicago pool
| lines, and with its base of operations at Min
| neapolis, St. Paul and Lake Superior; that
| the consummat;on of this project destroys the
| possibility OF building up at Minneapolis and
| ST. Paul an Independent commercial center,
| but will leave them both as way stations on a
| great trunk like to Chicago, held in the en-
| hra nf