The weekly tribune., 1894-10-12
AN UNFORTUNATE PARALLEL.


The Independent, which is still yelling
corporate power and domination and
abusing the Anaconda company for hav-
ing aided so materially in the development
Of Montana, thinks it finds point when
it says: "We see fair California today
with its industries languishing, its ad-
the very energies Of it's people discour
aged by reason Of the grasp of monster
corporation upon its throat" The lnde-
pendent is exceedingly unfortunate in
its selection of parallel. 1t applies es
pecially to Helena and not at all to Ara
conda. The Independent refers, of course,
to the great subsidized railroad, the
Southern Pacific, which has its counter
part in the Northern Pacific, corpora
tion, which, by the mistaken munih-
cence of the government, was granted an
empire in the way of land subsidy and
which, not satisfied with what it legally
secured, is now, with the aid OF Helena
people and its Helena attorneys, en-
gagged in an unholy effort to steal the
mineral lands Of the state and place the
people of Montana at its feet, as the
Southern Pacific has the California
people.
The headquarters of this monster and
and Unsuitable corporation are at Helena.
Its road was diverted from natural
route in order TO injure Butte and make
Helena a possibility. To build up Hell
ena, which had nothing to give in return
it for years robbed the producers of
Butte and the section west Of it. Instead
OF bringing the main line to Butte, where
all the Montana traffic was, it avoided
the city by distance of 60 or 70 miles, and
then only gavesthe shippers an outlet by
way of the Montana Union, cut-throat,
stand and deliver bastard Of its own
creation, and compelled Butte to submit
TO any extortonate demand it made upon
its commerce. In this deal it had an
able ally in the Union Pacific, another
road subsidized to the extent OF millions
OF acres Of public domain, which, with
its Utah Il Northern line to the south,
held Butte at its mercy commercial
captive.
1t does not lie in the mouth of Helena
people to talk about corporations. The
management OF the Northern Pacific
has levied tribute from all sections
Of the state to build up Helena, a Northern
Pacific town, and to further throttle the
people by locating the capital at Helena,
in which it is dominating influence and
which it virtually controls.
The parallel Of the Independent WAS
unfortunate in another respect. While
it is admitted that the Southern Pacific
controls California it cannot surely be
urged that the great corporation has its
headquarters at Sacramento, the capital
Of the state. On the contrary, they are
at San Francisco, and it is only during
the sessions of the legislature they are
moved to Sacramento. 1t makes but
little difference to such corporations
where the capital is located. When II
needs legislation it is always on hand te
secure it il possible. Naturally ths
Northern Pacific wants the capital o.
Montana at Helena. for all the peopl'
there are permeated with it's inhuenc'
Ed can be relied on to aid its scheme
to the extent Of their ability, but whel
the capital is located at Anaconda, tn
Helena attorneys, the Helena employees
the Helena lobbyists, great and small
will be found at Anaconda, doing tn
best they know how for the corporation
In still another respect is tho parable
of the Independent faulty. There ar
different classes of corporations. Th
Anaconda company belongs to one clai
and the Northern Pacific to anothe
The Anaconda company inveete
large sums Of money in tn
state and during Its existen'
here it is said to have realized from i
properties about s40,0OO,0O0. 1t has nj
asked for bonus or subsidy from Il
state or from individuals. 1t has i
vested it, capital and its product In Il