Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-01-03
Five States Represented-Gov. Var
SAINT Outlines Origin and scope
Is of Movement ~ Court Order
{ Ties Up Railway Deal.

=
Helena, Mont, Dec. S1.-No action
was taken Monday at the meeting of
the governors and attorneys general
of the northwestern states called to
consider plans for opposing the pro-
posed consolidation of the Northern
Pacific, Great Northern and Burling-
ton railway systems. From the dis
Cussion at these meetings, however, it
Is considered probable that the plan
of Gov. Van SAINT, of Minnesota, will
be Endorsed by the executives of other
states who were present, and that the
fight against the railroad consolidation
will be carried to finish. What this
plan is Gov. Van SAINT refused to state
until the meeting this morning shall
have taken action.
The Attendance.
The meetings were held in Gov.
Noole's private office and behind closed
doors. There were present, besides
Gov. Toole and Attorney General Don
pvan, of Montana, Gov. Van SAINT and
Attorney General Douglas, of Mime
sofa; Gov. Herried and Attorney Gen
eral Pyle, of South Dakota; Gov. Hun.
and Attorney General Martin, of Ida
no, and Attorney General STRAIT
ton, of Washington, Gov. Mcbride,
of that state, not being able to
be present on account of the
death of Gov. Rogers. Gov. White, of
North Dakota, was also expected to at
tend the conference, and in fact had
telegraphed Gov. Van SAINT that he would
be present. In later telegram, how
ever, he stated that it was impossible
for him to attend the meetings.
Gov. Van SAINT Presides.
The meeting was organized by the
election. of Gov. Van SAINT as chair
man and Attorney General Martin,
of Idaho, as secretary. After read
ing Gov. Whites communication
stating that he would not be present,
Gov. Van SAINT made a brief speech
I'm regard to the objects of the meet
ing, giving brief history of the
proposed railway consolidation and
the effect he believed it would have
on the states affected. Among 9TH
er things he said:
1.-The state of Minnesota has had on her
statute books for more than % years laws
prohibiting the consolidation in any way
of parallel and competing lines of rail-
ways. 1t has been the settled policy of
our state to maintain free, open and I'M
restricted competition in freight and pas
senger rates. The Great Northern and
Northern Pacific railway companies oper-
ate parallel and competing lines of rail-
way within the state. These are prac-
In.
transportation facilities to the northern
half of the state with the exception of
the two known the Iron Ore Roads,
1t has been recently announced that MIR.
Hill ard his assistants have obtained the
control of the Northern Pacific Railway
company and intend to operate the same
Jointly with the Great Northern, and in
effect bring about a consolidation by re-
moving all competition and all rivalry be-
tween these roads. To this end the North
ern Securities company was organized in
New Jersey to acquire controlling amount
of the stock of the Great Northern
and Northern Pacific Railway companies in
exchange for its own stock, and it is
through this company that the unity of
management and control is to be effected.
His Duty to Oppose.
s'As soon as this fact became known to me,
I felt it my duty as governor to do every
thing in my official power to oppose the
consolidation or amalgamation of these
properties within the state of Minnesota.
If there is such consolidation contem-
plated, and that fact seems to be practical
~ conceded, it is an open violation Of the
law as we'll as the declared public policy
bf the state of Minnesota, and feel that
I should be negligent of my duties as the
official head of the state If / remained
auiescent under such circumstances.
t'I have been informed that the states
which you, gentlemen, represent as gov
ernors and attorneys general have consti-
tutional or statute laws similar in effect to
those of the state of Minnesota, and that
this was question in which our state was
not alone interested.
Called Conference.
"Acting upon this belief, | took the lib
lrty of asking for this conference of gov
ernors and attorneys general of the va
rious states through which these two roads
pass, believing that all such states were
equally interested in maintaining the prin-
riple heretofore asserted by the state of
Minnesota and reasserted here In its objec-
ton to this consolidation. l felt that the
interests were so vast and at the same time
Similar to those of our own state, that the
states of which you, gentlemen, are the
official heads should be consulted and, if
possible, such methods of procedure adopt
I'D as would be uniform. The people of the
state of Minnesota, feeling certain that
competition has been the chief factor in
her development, and equally certain that
Its destruction would result in the greatest
loss to both producer and consumer, has
determined to oppose this consolidation.
No Hostile Spirit.
"This discrimination is not entered into
with any spirit of hostility towards rail-
roads. Our state has dealt literally with
them and has decided to the various rail-
roads operating within the state more than
10. 100000 acres of land, or more land than
is under cultivation by the people of Min
aesota. and by the state and national gov
ernment at Washington some 2O0O9, exc
acres, being double the cultivated acreage
In the hands of the agricultural population
In view of this and other privileges grant
ed by the state, It is but just to say that
railway companies owe reciprocal duties
to the public, including cheerful ODE dience
to our laws. l should be pleased to hear
from each of you gentlemen on the sub
}ect and some general expression as to the
policy which the people of the northwest
through YOU, their representatives believe
10 be the best for the public welfare"
The visiting governors and attor-
neys general were given a dinner in
the evening at Gov. Toole's resi-
dence, and later were guests of the
Montana club
VIII Not Attend.
Bismarck, n. d., Dec. 31.-Gov.
White, OF North Dakota, will not at
tend the conference of governors at
Helra FOR TIE reason, be says, that