The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1901-11-22
The general public has settled con-

The general public has a settled con-
viction that James J. Hills big consoli-
dation scheme is fraught with danger to
the northwest. The average man believes
that Mr.. Hills plan is not only to elimi
nate competition between railroads but
to force the people and the industries of
the northwest to help pay dividends on
watered stock. The average man in Min
neapolis makes that thought prominent
in all of his comment. The public, as
general proposition, is fully convinced
that the Northern Securities company
represents simply the ambition of Mr..
Hill for more power in the transportation
world. 1t is willing to give him credit
for good intentions but it also believes
that in spite of intentions, the people and
the industries Of the northwest will be
forced to pay extra tribute to the rail-
roads as a result of one man power.
The common, every day citizen whom
you meet on the street or in the various
avenues of employment has no regard for
the argument that it is the corporations
that are making America great. The
theory that this big transportation COM
bine will carry the products of America
to the orient at a rate that will enable
the United States to compete for that
trade he regards as attractive, but he
also says that in the meantime we are
placing too much power in the hands of
the transportation kings at home. He
distrusts the plans Of Morgan, Hill and
Hartman on this ground. Talk with the
men at the bench in the factory, at the
desks in the offices, or behind the truck
in the wholesale houses and nine out Of
ten will tell you that something must be
done to hold the trusts down and that
the government must do it. Government
ownership of railroads is not favored but
they do believe that there should be gov
ernment regulation of trust and trans
portation affairs. 1t may be true that all
these men are not skilled in the art OF
analyzing financial and commercial propo
sitions but it is true that, collectively,
they have distinct ideas as to what they
want; and they have votes
There is no disposition on the part Of
the public to grow hysterical over Mr..
Hills latest maneuver. The formation of
big trusts and their steady accumulation,
of wealth and influence in the markets of
the country has been feature of indus
trial progress closely followed by many.
The average man seems to believe that
the time must come when the people
through the government will be forced
to exercise strict supervision over some
of the big combinations. The public be-
Iieves that the occasion may already have
arrived. In the language of Minneapolis
attorney:
James ]. Hills transportation trust is
the first big stepping stone to strict gov
ernment supervision of the big combina
tions." What has been said of thwarting
the purpose of the Northern Securities
company meets with the hearty approval
of the common citizen. He believes in
holding such combinations in check, and
in the government pulling tighter rein
over their future actions. This sentiment
IS not OF mushroom growth. 1t mas DeSn
developing in Minneapolis and the north
west for years.
Elimination of Competition.
Among shippers and professional men
who have given the question more than
passing attention, there is much dis
cussion as to what the elimination of
competition between railroads really
means to the northwest. The theory that
big business combinations have been a
real benefit instead of harm to the
country, and that the old theory that COM
petition is the life of trade must be
modified, has a following among Mime
apolis business men. They maintain that
it requires big combinations to transact
the business Of the country and keep it
within hailing distance in the race for
commercial supremacy. Combinations re-
duce expense and thus in turn has it's ef-
feet on the prices paid by the people.