Great Falls weekly tribune., 1895-08-02
A SOUEAI.,


sorption of the Northern Pacific by the
Great Northern? Why shouldn't it be?
From the day that for consideration
the engineer of the Northern Pacific |
diverted the legitimate route of the road |
to put Helena on the main line and side.
track Butte, Helena has been North |
ern Pacific town. For years Tom Oakes, |
as a mhgnate of the great corporation.
has employed Helena men to bold the
state IN the interest of the road and has
expended the money of the stockholders
in various ways to help Helena to the
detriment Of all other cities. 1t is an |
open secret that when Helena needed or
wanted anything all the influence of the
Northern Pacific was cheerfully at its
disposal. This in brief states the
relations that have for years ex-
listed between the railroad and Hell
ena. No need to 90 into detail. 1t is
Montana history, both ancient and mod
ern. Now the Oakes regime begin to
realize that there is probability of J. j.
Hill securing control of the Northern
Pacific and, as duck takes to water
they have turned to Helena 10 aid them
to defeat the pencing deal. In this
move the eternal fitness of things is OBJ
served. Without the political aud finan-
cial backing of the Northern Pacific
Helena would have been dead cock in
the pit, and what more natural than
that the Oakes party should demand all
that Helena can give to help them now
that they are in serious trouble? That
the time has arrived for action and for
the Helena-Northern- Pacific wheel to be
set in motion is evidenced by the fol-
lowing taken from the Independent of
yesterday:
"The negotiations looking toward the
consolidation of the Great Northern and
the Northern Pacific systems have stirred
up public sentiment throughout the
state to such a degree that at the sug-
gestion OF business men IN several of the
leading cites a conference was held in
this city yesterday for the purpose of
obtaining an expression Of opinion Of
citizens OF this state in regard to MIR,
Hills proposed absorption of the two
great transcontinental lines. The pro-
'eadiugs We're Of a private nature, but it
is understood that the sentiment was
unanimous against consolidation. Steps
we're taken toward memorializing the
governor to call the legislature in eX-
traOrdinary session for the purpose
Of enactlEg legislation to put more
effectively in force the constltu tional
prohibition against consolidation. 1t is
understood the governor is willing to
cal! An extra session at any time that
may be deemed desirable. It is expected
that within the next few days monster
memorial will be presented to the gov
ernor asking hin to take decisive action.
The article quoted speaks for itself,
When Montana was without represent
atl0n in the United States senate, when
it hgcame apparent that the codes were
a tlavesty on law and there WAS "a sug-
ges'on for an extra session, the Helena
pres and the Helena people raised their
hands and voices in eoemn protest and
crici no. Presto, charge. The backbone
Of tlena. the Northern Pacific, or its
pre- mt management, is threatened, and.
10, demand is made for an extra ses-
siuu TO legisIate in the interests Of Cakes
aLu Helena. To the session The THIBuHr
hHa no objection, but it does ask that IL
sha! not be called under false pre-
ter s. The item talks about "cit!Ians OF
thj state and business nen IN several
ea.,ng cities" holding conference, Why
no ell the truth and say that the move
ha It's inception in Helena. that it orr,
g!lated with The Northern Pacific Officials
an that it will he carried into eject By
tugm? No other city in the state cares .
piu whether the two roads are Consoll-
dated, and in an honest, commercial
earse it would make no difference to them
bu the defeat OF the reorganization
pian means the probable retention OF
Oaacs in power, and that means every
tnj0g for Helena It ie certain that an
CIut will be made to rope some Of the
ITaupIe OF other cities into this scheme
aDH specious arguments will be urged to
have them unite with Helena in demand.
IT,, an extra session. If they are thus