Great Falls weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1894-1???, 1895-08-30
HAS A BAD LOOK.

pell'S Wdpeu In Lno courts Tor Jho pos
session or control of the immense prop
erty, known as the Northern Pacific
Railroad company. may, in it's immedi-
ate results, only interest the contend ng
factions, thore are collateral Issues in
which the general public have a concern.
When Jay Cooke and his associates con-
ceived the project and obtained tie
charter, with it's wonderful land subsidy,
they bullded better than they knew.
They anticipated the future by a decade,
and for that they paid the penalty by
wrecking the then greatest banking
house in the United States and precipi-
tating the panic of To, for the Jay
Cooke failure was the beginning and the
end OF that awful crash. At the time of
the crash, however, they had advanced
the project far enough to make the
corporation an easy prey for those who
had the ability and nerve to profit by
the opportunity That advantage WAS
taken OF the opportunity is current
history, The road, and in its name those
who invested in it have been mercileesly
%plundered, Men who got in charge have
been able in some way to make Immense
fortunes while the rank aud tile--that is,
the stock and bondhoIdera-have be-
comes correspondiugly poor. At this
date the road is alleged to be hopeless)y
Eurlr,lrT 4 - IL 49,, l,r., ,n, - InEt
yet its resources are go wonderful that
there is a mighty struggle among the
cortuorants for the possession OF what is
left. The bird has rot been totally
piucked and the fight is for what feath
ers there are left. So much for the
road. and now q word regard
ing the moral of the pending
contest for it's management and the rela-
ton 1t bears to the people of the United
States, and incidentally the status be
tween the lawmakers, the corporations
and the public. The Northern Pacific
is essentially a corporation that owes its
existence to the congress OF the United
States, and its perpetuity is at present
dependent upon that body. The minis
tcrial officers of the government can
prosecute the officers for a violation Of
trust, but congress-, the creative, can bv
an act of Legislation take back what it
gave and nullify the charter. This
being the case it is remarkable to read
the report OF the proceedings now being
held before the United States circuit
court at Seattle. The Post InteIligencel
of last Friday, after giving a list Of the
counsel who appeared in the case,
says: The list presents the names
Of men all widely known for ability
and learning in the profession OF
the law, and many famed in
politics and distinguished in states.
manship, Five of counsel had been in
the United States senate, and Of that
number one still remaina a member OF
that body, while four have retired after
making FOR themselves a reputation as
broad aa the land" This is a prett,
COul DllDltIl W li6 CDtucGi, buL where uC
the people come ia. Out Of the depths
the masses are now crying for RELIEF
from corporate rule. Great trusts auC
combinations are now swallowing the
commercial and material interests Of the
country in their capacious nav. Pre-
vious legislation has proven ineffective
to combat the evil and the only hope is
for tbs future. There must be ability il
the United States senate, bat when tina
ability is at the service of the corpor
ations, rather than OF the people, il
makes the outlook gloomy. Every
laborer is worthy of his hire. Every
man is entitled to pay commensurate
with his ability; brains are at a premi
um, but no man can serve two masters
The line should be drawn. No mar
should be elected to either branch OF
congress who is in the employ of a cor
poIation as attorney, The remedy is ir
the hands Of the voters. let them call E
holt