Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1901-12-23

chase a majority of the stock of the
Northern Pacific company for the pur-
pose of aiding that company and in
creasing the growth and prosperity of
the Northern country, or was it for
the purpose of restricting such growth
and aiding the development of their
enormous interests hundreds of miles
to the south? .. 1
Did they purchase the Northern Pa
cific, and with it an equal share in the
Burlington, for the purpose of building
up the Asiatic trade between the north
ern zone, lying between ST. Paul and
Minneapolis and the Pacific coast, or to
prevent such building UP and control
the Oriental trade for their own rail-
way lines through their own seaports
and over their own ships? .. :.
In defeating their control of the
Northern Pacific and Burlington and
retaining it in the hands of those who
had built it up and with it the entire
Northwest, did we injure or benefit the
people OF the Northwest?
Did l, by inducing my friends to hold
their Northern Pacific common stock
and act Jointly with Messrs. Morgan &
Co., when this stock was selling at
$500 and $1,000 share and thus pre-
vent the Union Pacific from controlling
the Northwest, injure Or benefit every
interest, agricultural, business and
otherwise of the entire country between
Lake Superior and the Pacific coast?
Had We sold out $40, 100000 of North
ern Pacific, even at $500 a share,
amounting to s60,OOOO0O, or $4,000
o00O00 more than it's present value and
transferred to the Union Pacific con-
troll the entire country between Canada
and Mexico, what law of Minnesota.
would we have violated? Could we
not have legally put the money in our
pockets and let the country learn
what 1T was to be dominated by a par
allel and competing railroad?
| Why did Governor Van SAINT sit still
from May until November while a ma
jority of the stock of the Northern Pa
cltlc company was controlled by par
aliel and competing railroad company.
to which the law is clearly opposed,
and wait until myself and friends have
by our efforts and with our own money
relieved the northwest, not as a rival
parallel Or competing railroad, but do
Ing what we clearly have the right to
do as individuals Or working together
for greater permanency and security
as financial corporation?
Has there ever been a case in the
history Of this country when men have
dropped their money profit and stood
hrmly by the interests of the commun-
lties which had grown up with their
own and largely by their own efforts
and capital?
The pubic is interested in having 2
good railway service and at fair and
reasonable rates. The past is gone
and speaks for itself can sneak for
the future, and I have no hesitation
whatever in saying that the increased
| volume OF traffic, both through and
local. will enable the companies to re-
| dllce their rates in proportion to the
volume Of such traffic, and that in the
| near future the public will have a
chance to see for itself this feature of
what have said. The DEVELOPMENT
OF the country will increase with great
er increase in population between Min
nesota and the Pacific
No merger or consolidation Of The
Northern Pacific and Great Northern
is contemplated. Each company will
be operated separately in future as In
the past
greatly dislike to discuss my bus
| lness in the NEWSPAPERS. but durine
| my absence an attack has been made
| upon myself and friends which has
been persistently supported by both DO
iltieal and rival interests. All l ask
Is fair play, and let time determine
whether the public will be benefited or
| injured by what we have done and will
| continue to do.
-Er.G$
| @5s@:: w. HAD A GOOD TIME.
/ A, j. Smell wanted to attend party