The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-12-17
DO NOT FEAR MERGER
PEOPLE IN NORTH DAKOTA AND
MONTANA Arc LOSING NO -
SLEEP OVER 1T
RATES WILL NOT BE RAISED
If Combined interests MeddEe With
Tariffs, legislatures VIII
Step In to Pre-
vent IT,

There was a good-sized gathering OF
North Dakota politicians at the Mer-
chants yesterday. According to them,
politics has nothing to do with their
visit to ST. Paul, and they claim that II
is merely coincidence that they should
arrive together. Among the arrivals
were Judson La Moure, of Pennbina; %.
! G. Patterson. of Bismarck, and l.. ID.
McGahan, editor of the Bismarck Palla-
dunn.
According to these gentlemen, the noise
that is being made over the railroad SIT
uation in the Northwest is a tempest In
a tea pct as far as North Dakota is con-
cerned. When asked as to the sentiment
of the people in the Red river valley, Mr..
La Moure said:
''While there is a difference Of opinion
in regard to the matter, the people of
the Red river valley are not losing any
sleep over it. The only matter that in
terests business men of that district Is
tie question Of rates, and as the legis-
lature has something to say in that mat
ter there is no uneasiness felt"
Mr.. McGahan says the residents of the
Missouri slope are well satisfied with the
treatment they have received by the rail-
roads. Said he: 1.-The conservative ele-
ment of the residents of the Missouri
slope have come to realize that they arc
in very prosperous condition, and that
a great deal of the prosperity is due to
the roads that pass through their terri
tory. Realizing this. 1t is matter OF
Indifference to them If the two roads
merge. They are inclined to be Of the
opinion that the noise that is being made
is of the nature of a play to the gal
leries.' I have had several interviews
with heavy shippers of cattle and grain.
and they without exception say that
competition in the state SO far has had
not been productive of any reduction in
the rates, and they see no reason to be-
Heve that the result of. a merger will !n-s
crease them. They claim that the roads
are being taxed to their utmost capacity
to transport emigrants from such low
rate states as Illinois and Iowa: that
the farmers. and merchants of the state
were never so prosperous as az the pres
ent time.- and that consequently there, Is
no cause for excitement over the matter
Of the merger leS 80 eissl2 81 -
State Senator George III. Stanton, of
Great Falls, Mont, is at the Ryan, shay2
ing entirely recovered from an attack
of appendicitis, which brought him to-
st. Paul for treatment. When asked yes:
terday what the feeling was in Montana,
Senator Stanton said:
"From what know of Great Falls and
the tributary country, l feel confident i'll
saying that there Is not the slightest
uneasiness felt by the merchants. farm
ers or stockmen. The people eof Montana
are interested only in the rates, and as
the legislature of the state has authority
TO look after this matter. the people do
not care whether there is a merger or
not. Take Great Falls for instances 1T
is increasing in population today at "a
rate over FIVE time as fast as any pre-
vieus period in its existence. The peo-
pie of this city realize that the upbuiid-
Ing not only of Great Falls but of tho
entire state has been due in a great
measure to the railroads, and they are
willing to let them alone as long as the
rates charged by them are not too high
When the railroads attempt to increase
their rates, the legislature will step In.
My opinion is that there is a whole lot
of noise being made about nothing.
Senator Stanton leaves for Great Falls
Thursday.