The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1901-11-19
Ills Vigorous Declaration Has Given
Pause to Aggressiveness ofLarge
Combinations Of Capital.
Opinion Still Divided as to Whether
Federal or State Governments
Can Reach the Merger.

Samuel R. Van SAINT has his fighting
clothes on.
The governor of Minnesota likes a fight.
He was good soldier when it took physi-
cal courage. Since he laid aside Uncle
Sans blue he has been in a good many
bloodless battles of the kind that try a
mans nerve. He has never been a quit
ter. He may be good natured and slow to
wrath, but when once aroused he Is hard
to stop.
Governor Van SAINT is thoroughly
aroused over the present crisis. He is
not blufting, his friends say. He is 60
ing to fight, and fight to finish. He will
not relent in his crusade against the
self-constituted lords of the western rail
way world until every expedient has been
employed to block their game.
The courts are TO be tried first. II
there is any possible way to prevent the
Northern Securities company from vio-
lating the spirit of the Minnesota laws,
it will be done
Word has been sent to Attorney General
Douglas, now hunting in Cook county,
asking him to return as soon as possible.
Said the governor this morning:
Il hope the attorney general will return
soon and take up the consideration Of this
matter. I shall advise him to associate
with him the best legal talent to be found
in Minnesota, or in the United States il
necessary. These railroad owners have
had the benefit of the best legal advice
and the people are entitled to as good"
Beyond this, the governor would not
talk.
He is not saying much just now. 1t is
intimated, however, that if the courts are
inadequate to stop the deal, the governor
will go ahead with other plans. He has
an idea that as governor of the state, 1t
is tremendous popular feeling against
trusts in general, shared in by business
men as well as consumers. Business men
and producers make railroad business. 1t
only needs head to marshal these forces
in opposition to the railroad trust and
make the combination feel the state of the
public mind.
Governor Van SAINT may be that head.
He is stirred up over the prospect of a
railroad combine controlling rates and
markets for the northwest. and he will go
to any lawful length to balk it. The
combine exists without capital 1t ex-
lists for the purpose Of owning stock. If
it refuses to heed the voice of the people
in one way, it may in another. The gov
ernor's attitude has already hurt the new
enterprise immeasurably.
1t was war, and war to finish.
II. h. and Warehouse Folk Busy.
The railroad and warehouse commission
is the proper body to move in this matter.
So far its members have done nothing but
discuss the question informally Chair
man Mills said this morning that the ques-
tion was being carefully inquired into.
There are great many things to be con-
sidered," he said, before we act in this
matter. If there is any remedy, we will
employ it,
OAOu1u LA0 SJdC6 Will, anu prevent the
consummation Of the deal, another action
will have to be brought against the United
States Steel Co., which owns the Duluth
& Iron Range and the Duluth, Missabe &
Northern. Exactly the same conditions
exist here, the stock of the two roads
being held by foreign corporation. State
Auditor Dunn, who is the avengfng Ne
mesis of these roads, said this morning
that in his opinion it was even more
important to knock out their consolida-
tion than that Of the others.
Judge Robert Jamison, the governors s
private secretary, was away when the
governor reached the conclusion to fight.
Since his return yesterday he has declared
himself hugely delighted with the govern
or's stand. He feels that it is the only
course proper to pursue
In trying to block the merger Governor
Van SAINT will have the sympathy and
moral support of many stockholders Of the
smaller railway systems, such as the 500
and the Great Western. The North
Western and Milwaukee are not in the
merger, but are controlled by the same
general interests, but the smaller lines