The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1902-01-11
HIN sATTERLUND. PUBLISHER.
Entered at the postofice ut Wash
burn, N. D., as second class matter.
Facts Regarding The Merger Meet
ing.

In November last Governor Var
SAINT of Minnesota, feeling that
there we're certain matters in con.
nection with the alleged merger OF
the great transcontinental railroads
the Northern Pacific and Great
Northern, that demanded investi-
CATION, in the interest of the peo-
pie who ship over these roads, and
which number includes practically
all Of the people of the Northwest,
sent a letter to Governor White OF
North Dakota, asking him to meet
With the other governors of the
states affected, and talk over the
matter and decide what was best
to do in the interests of the peo-
pie. Governor White apparently
agreed with Governor Van SAINT,
for he answered him in the follow
ing letter:
Nov. 26, 1901, Hon, S. R. Van
SAINT, Governor of Minnesota, st.
Paul, MINI.
Dear Sir: I beg to acknowledge
the receipt of your esteemed favor
of the 22d inst, and note with
high appreciation theSposition you
have taken relative to the CONSOLE
dation of the northwestern railway
interests. ..-.E
1 agree with you that the stu
alton is of great moment to the
business interests and general well
fare of the entire northwest. /
FEEL THAT THE PEOPLE OF OUR
STATE ARE IN SYMPATHY WITH YOU
IN THE EFFORT YOU ARE MAKING TO
PREVENT THIS CONSOLIDATION.
We have very little law bearing
directly upon the question. In
our constitution the consolidation
Of parallel and competing lines is
specially prohibited and swe have
some general enactments prohib-
iting the formation of trusts and
pools for the purpose of hamper
ing trade and commerce.
It would give me great pleasure
to meet with you and the COVER
nors Of other states affected by
this combination to confer in re-
gard to it at any time or place
that may be convenient. | will
write you more at length when [
have given the matter more ex-
tended consideration.
Yours very truly, Frank White.
A day or two before the date
set for the meeting, Governor
White sent Governor Van SAINT
the following message: -.
Il regret that matters have
arisen rendering it impossible to
attend the Helena meeting.
There has been much discussion
Of the refusal of Governor White
to attend this meeting after having
promised to do SO. The press of
North Dakota generally criticises
the governor for failing to attend
the meeting, arguing that it could
have doneno harm to the people of
the state of North Dakota, as the
results of the conference show.
Now lief us look at the proceed
ings of the conference and see if
there was any good reason for the
non attendance of Governor White.
In the first place, the meeting was
attended by all the governors, or
their representatives of the states
interested, with the exception Of
the governor of North Dakota.
Even Governor Herrid of South
Dakota was present, although that
state is not particularly interested
in the merger of these two lines.
4 Governor Van SAINT made known
the object Of the meeting in the
following address:
THE state of Minnesota has had
on her statute books for more than
twenty-iv years laws prohibiting
the consolidation in any way Of
parallel and competing lines of
railroad. It has been the settled
policy Of our state to maintain q
free, open and unrestricted COM
petition in freight and passenger
rates. The Great Northern and.
Northern Pacific companies ope-
rate parallel and competition lines
Of railway within the state. These
ARE practically the only rs,ads which
furnish any transportation facil-
tiles to the northern half Of the
stta.te, with the exception Of the
two known as The Iron Oferoade.'p'
TT has beensrecsnlttll.y announced
tiat Nj. Hill and his assistants
shaRs obtained tne countrol o the
Northern Pacific raiilYslays company
and attend to operate HE same