The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1902-01-03

only object IN buying control OF the
Northern Pacific was to beneft their southern
properties by restraining the growth Of this
country between Lake Superior and Puget
Sound, and by turning away from the Northern
lines the
Enormous Oriental Tramo
which must follow the placing on the Pacific
Of the ship; in the
rect statement of the whole subject and its
truth can easily be verified BY the State Of
Minnesota or any other state or person having
sufficient interest to investigate the facts,
which are all matters OF record.
Now as to the effect Of what has been done
upon the public interests of the country, let mo
ask few question which want every candid
and honest man to answer for himself:
Did the Union Pacific people with their rail-
way lines extending from Omaha and New Or
leans to California and Oregon. through tho
several states in the Middle West and South,
purchase q majority of the stock Of the North
ern Pacific company for the purpose Of, aiding
prosperity Of the Northern country. or was II
for the purpose Of restricting such growth and
aiding the development Of their enormous in
terests hundreds OF miles to the south?
Did they purchase the Northern Pacific, and
with 1t an equal share in the Burlington for
the purpose of building up the Asiattc trade
Paul and Minneapolis and the Pacific coast,
Prevent Such Building Up
and control the Oriental trade for their own
railway lines through their own EeaportS and
over their ownships?
In defeating their control Of the Northern Pa
cifc and Burlington and retaining 1t in the
hands Of those who had built 1T up and with
1t the entire Northwest, did we injure or bene-
At the people Of the Northwest?
Did I. by inducing my friends to hold their
Northern Pacific common stock and act Jointly
with Messrs. Morgan & Co.. when this stock
was selling At $500 and 81 900 share and thus
prevent the Union Pacific from controlling the
Northwest, injure or benefit every interest ag.
YfN inoc ord nth 80
country between Lake Superior and the Pacific
coast?
Had we sold our $50 600, 900 of Northern Pa
cifc. even at $500 share amounting to $780,
000, 600. or $40.000,000 more than its present
value and transferred to the Union Pacific
control the entire country between Canada and
violated! Could We not have legally put the
money in our pockets and let the country learn
what IT was to he dominated by parallel and
Why did Gov Van SAINT sit still from Nav
until November while majority Of the stock
OF the Northern Pacific company was con-
company, to which the law is clearly opposed,
and wait until myself and friends have by our
efforts and with our own money
Relieved the Northwest,
not as rival parallel competing railroad
put doing what we clearly have the right to
do as individuals working together for
greater permanency and security as financial
corpora ton?
Has there ever been a case in the history of
this country when men have dropped their
money profit and stood firmly by the interests
OF the communities which had grown I'D with
their own and largely by their own efforts and
capital?
The public is interested in having good
railway service and at fair and reasonable
rates. The past is gone and speaks for itself
l can speak for the future. and have no
hesitation whatever in saying that the in
creased volume Of traffic. both through and
local. will enable the companies to reduce their
rates in proportion to the volume of such
traific. and that in the near future the public
Will have chance to see for itself this feature
OF what have said. The development of the
country Will increase with greater increase in
population between Minnesota and the Pacific.
NO merger or consolidation of the Northern
Pacific and Great Northern is contemplat ted
Each company will be operated separately in
the future as in the past.
l greatly dislike to discuss my business in
the newspapers, but during my absence an at
tack has been made upon myself and friends
political and rival interests All ask is fair
play and let time determine whether the pub
tic VIII be benefited or injured by what we
have done and will continue to do