The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-12-31
NO STATEMENT HAS BEEN GIVEN
OUT IN CONFERENCE.
GOVERNOR VAN SAINT CHAIRMAN
Chief Executives of Northwestern
n States, With Legal Advisers, in
Secret SYSTEMATICALLY Passing
Resolution I1dorsing Plan.
Especial to Inter Mountain.)

NoPCCidl " 4IlcI VMOuHIdlu.(
Helena, Dec. 31.-The organization of
the Northern Securities company has
been under consideration by the COVER
nors Of the Northwestern states here
during the entire day and up to late
hour this afternoon no statement has
been given out regarding the intention of
the conferees.
Resolutions of sorrow at the death of
Governor Rogers Of Washington were
adopted.
The meeting was held behind closed
DOORS and after being in session until
nearly 1 o'clock this afternoon, a recess
was taken until o'clock, when the con-
ference was resumed and continued dur
ing the remainder of the afternoon.
There is strong proba bility that res
olution will be adopted before adjourn
ment Is taken indorsing the position Of
Governor Van SAINT and pledging him the
moral support of the other states repre-
sented. This is believed to be the only
outcome of the meeting, although the
possibility of suits being commenced
simultaneously in Washington, Montana
and Idaho to dissolve the Northern Sc
curittes company have been talked of.
If 1t goes out through the East that
all the states through which the roads
interested run have, through their chief
executives, placed stamp of indorse-
ment upon the suit that is to be brought
in Minnesota to dissolve the trust, the
moral effect will be fully as great as it
would be in the contingency of separate
suits being filed in all the Western
states," said a member of the conference
at noon today.
1t Is stated that an Endorsement was
practically all that Governor Van SAINT
seeks to secure. II resolution is passed
rledging the support of those attending
the meeting, Minnesota's governor will
be well pleased.
It is expected that the conference will
come to a close today, although it is quite
likely that an evening session will be
held.
The morning session was occupied
chiefly with statements of Governor Van
SAINT and Attorney General Douglass re-
garding the data they have collected
upon the subject of the organization of
the Northern Securities company. The
Minnesota officials have not decided upon
the character of the proceedings, al
though they have the choice of several
that would serve their purpose and bring
the officers into court to show cause
why the Northern Securities company
should not be dissolved.
Difficult to Forecast Result.
There was some surprise over the fail
ure of Governor White to attend the
meeting. Several stories are current re-
garding his absence and in the face of
his telegram of last Friday to Governor
Toole stating that he would attend the
meeting, Governor Van SAINT was some-
what at loss to account for the gover-
uor's change OF plans.
Governor Van SAINTS party included
f01r Twin Cifv y1o
brought the story from Minnesota that
q continuous session has been held for
several days past by North Dakota
statesmen and politicians at the Mer-
chants hotel in st. Paul, in which AL
exander Mckenzie has figured conspicu-
ously.
Inasmuch as President James j. Hill is
said to have been instrumental in secur-
ing his pardon from the California Jail,
where he was sent for contempt of court
in connection with Cape Nome affairs, it
u argued that Mr.. Mckenzie was merely
reciprocating when he used his influence
to thwart the efforts of the governor of
Minnesota to dissolve the Northern Sc
curities company.
It has been handed around among the
newspaper correspondents that Alex. Nc
Kenzie used his influence to keep Cover
nor White away from the meeting.
It is a difficult matter to forecast just
what will be the effect of the meeting of
the governors in Helena. One Of the
governors party discussing the matter
today stated that If no other action was
taken than to indorse Governor Van
SAINTS policy the meeting would have a
positive moral effect in shaping senti-
ment against the great railroad merger.
The Minnesota legislature will meet
tha 1Qffor NJ II, o}ov
session for the purpose Of providing
means to fight the combine. Minnesota
being an agricultural state, the matter is
of vital interest to the people of that
state. Every year the wheat crop aggre-
gates millions Of bushels of wheat alone.
and the amount earned by the railroads
Is something enormous.
Governors Visit Montana's Capitol.
The farming element, which composes
large proportion of the population, is
fearful lest the consolidation of the roads
WIN result in higher freight rates. AS a
result Governor Van SAINT has not con-
Quoted an uphill fight without support.
He has the moral support of the farmers |
OF the state, whose fears regarding the |
whether well grounded or |
not, have led them all to pledge earnest |
support to the chief executive of that |
state in his fight.
The governors when they met here yes |
terday afternoon were all strangers, and |
there was a general handshaking and |
exchange OF greetings all around. After |
waiting for Governor Hunt of Idaho for |
some time. at the invitation of Governor !
Toole. the party took carriages and drove |
to toe new capitol building and looked |
over Nontsna's new state house.
The distinguished visitors all expressed |
themselves we'll pleased with what they !
saw. l:roa thai: return they resumed :
ehe3. sssston - ths Governors Office.
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