The Portland daily press., 1891-04-30
Canada and the Grand Trunk.

The victory of Sir Henry Tyler in the
meeting Of the shareholders of the Grand
Trunk In London, Tuesday, will be hailed
with great pleasure by large party in Can
ada. 1t will be remembered that at former
meeting. several days ago, some of the stock
holders, apparently inspired by Sir Charles
Upper, the Canadian high commissioner
attended and made bitter attack upon Sir
henry Tyler. Sir Charles Upper is not a
shareholder OF the Grand Trunk. He is ia
England the high commissioner representa-
tive OF the interests of Canada, and at home
In Canada. he Is Conservative politician of
very vigorous type. His crusade against
Sir Henry Tyler Is entirely political In its
nature. The Canadian government has long
pursued policy Of substituting railroads.
Canada Is all full Of small railroads built nv
aid OF government subsidies. 1t is charged
that by this means Sir John Macdonald's
government has managed to retain power
Ii certain part OF the Dominion seemed to
be gravitating to the Liberals, the disaffected
people would be bought, it is charged, in a
mass by the government with new railroad
line. Sir Charles Tupper's implied charge
against the Grand Trunk was that it had
~6@SSN w ookPSAs tuC CONSERVATIVES i Lle
government would substitute for it an extern
sion OF the Temiscouta railroad to Moncton.
There seem to have been some negotiations
between Grand Trunk officials and the Mac
donald party, but it is impossible to tell
which party made the advances. Sir Charles
Upper strives ito give the impression that
the Grand Trunk approached the govern
ment with the proposition and that the gov
eminent refused, whereupon the railroad
used Its influence In favor of the liberals.
On the other hand Sir Henry Tyler strives to
make 1t appear that the government agents
approached the railroad with the PROPOSE
tion, and that Sir Charles Upper is now
prosecuting his management because the
offer was disdained. The shareholders of
the Grand Trunk, who have presumably
heard both sides of the controversy. have de-
cided by majority vote that Sir Henry
Iyier story is the truthful one. Speaking
In regard to the policy of the road Sir Henry
SAID recently, MY colleagues and l look
upon Grand Trunk Interests. and those alone
as Of paramount interest to its proprietors
They number $4,000, and. writing on their
behalf, can assure Sir Charles Upper, who
is not shareholder, that he will not be able,
with all his bluster, threats and misrepre-
sensations. to persuade them to place them
selves at the mercy of his or any other Cana
dian political party. They may fairly hope,
with improved rates, to reap better harvest
OF dividends as the result of the operations
Oh the current year. And they will also, by
preserving their political independence, be
In Detter position to deal with all exigen.
cies tnat can arise either in Canada or in tbs
Unitea states. They have enormous inter-
ests az STAKE In both countries, which the
directors ably assisted by the general mana
ger In Canada, are doing. and will continue
to do. their utmost to conserve" This is y
straight forward statement of policy. and If
Is probably for the best interests Of the
Grand Trunk and the people doing business
with 1t that Sir Henry Tyler is to be allowed
to continue this policy.