The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-11-29
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 90, 1901.
o WILL ASSIST.

the letter of Governor Van SAINT, i
which the Minnesota executive aske
the cooperation of the Montana COY
ernor in the matter of taking actio]
to prevent consummation of the Hill
Morgan railway trust. While MI
Toole does not make any rash prom
ises or offer any advice as to tn
proper method of procedure, h
makes it plain that he considers tn
proposed combine in violation of tn
He furthermore says that both tn,
constitution and the statutes directl,
prohibit what the combine is seekins
to accomplish by i%ndirection, an(
seems to doubt the assertion of the
attorney general of the trust that the
scheme embodied in the purpose Of
the Northern Securities company is
successful evasion Of the constitution.
al and statutory laws of Montana. AT
least he, does not accept the corpora.
ton lawyers Interpretation and will
hold to his w views until the court
of last resort shall have ruled in ia
vor Of the combine.
In his opinion Governor Toole is
endorsed by the attorney general, who
is opposed to the threatened invasion
and promises to give all the assistance
in his power.
Tho cfon1 foHon NV Tho rpror,or
a but be the ource of unqualified
satisfaction to the people of the state
and he may rest assured that in what
ever he may undertake in the dlrec-
ton of defeating the plans of the men
who are engaged in a scheme by which
they hope to destroy competition be.
tween parallel lines of railroads in
the state he will have the hearty sup
port and endorsement of the people.
Governor Toole is admittedly one of
the ablest and most successful law
yers in the state and his opinion eX-
pressed in the letter to the Minnesota
governor was not hastily formed, nor
should it be thought that he is merely
speaking for effect. That he is sincere
and conscientious is evident and his
only motive is very apparent-to main
tain the rights and dignity of the
state and to e that it's laws are
properly obeyed and enforced. In the
promise given to Van SAINT by Gov
ernor Toole of hearty support the
former has secured one of the strong
est allies in his fight against the COM
bine that he could wish and in the
aid and comfort he will receive from
his own people, Governor Toole will
find a tower of strength.
The Gazette does not wish to be
understood as being one of those who
are continually assailing the railroads
because it is a popular thing to do.
In the stand it has taken in opposi-
ton to the proposed combination of
railroad interests in the state it has
beer actuated by a desire to support
a cause which it considers for the
best interests of the state and it's
people. While the combination may
be resultant of all the benefits which
Its promoters assure the people will
accrue to them, The Gazette believes
the safest plan to pursue in the
premises is the one intended to pre-
vent the consolidation and then the
temptation to do that which might not
be right would not be placed in the
way OF the railroad magnates, They
are only human and subject to the
same weaknesses and open to the
same temptation that continually be-
set other people of less wealth and
prominence and being so endowed
might in a moment of forgetfulness
fall to live up to the promises thew
are now so generous in making
Railroad companies have their
rights and they should be accorded
the same recognition that is given to
b rights of individuals. But the
people also have rights that must be
respected and in the insistence upon
exact ana equal Justice for all no
wrong is done to either. In the in
under consideration it is very
evident that it is the purpose and in
tent OF the railroads to trench upon
the rights of the people, and that in
tent and purpose should be thwarted
It possible. If the constitution and
statutes of the state are worth the
paper they are written upon it would
seem that a remedy is at hand and
very easy of application. With the
governor The Gazette agres that moth
Ing should be accepted as a fact until
The court OF last resort has passed
npon the entire question.