The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-27
AMONG THEFARMERS
President Hill at the Grant County
Fair Tells of Good and
Bad Trusts.
Defends the Policies of the Great
Northern and Jokes With
Country Folks.

Elbow Lake, Mimi, Sept. 27.-James J.
Hill attended the Grant county fair here
yesterday arriving about 1890 p. M, with
Professor Thomas Shaw. Judge Green
leaf Clark and W. B. Dean Of st. Paul,
and several others. They visited all the
exhibits. taking particular notice OF the
live stock. Some Of the cattle entered
were descendants of the thoroughbred
bulls that Mr.. Hill sent to Grant county
ten years ago
Six hundred persons heard the speakers
In the afternoon Professor Shaw was
first introduced and spoke for half an
hour Mr.. Hill dwelt largely on the rela-
lions between the farmers and the rail-
roads. He drew on his own personal ex-
perience for much of what he told his
audience, but with terse and pertinent
comment on present conditions. He gave
President Roosevelts cure for trusts a
sly dig, and justified in an abstract way
the formation Of the Northern Securities
company.
TWO Kinds OF Trusts.
Mr. Hill then alluded to his recent visit
to the coast and to his meeting there
with the farmers of Washington and to
the pleasant interview he had with them.
He declared that he liked to meet farm
ers because they are nearest to the SOIL
He praised the law-abiding spirit which
obtains among all agricultural conlmun1-
ties and the patriotism which has at all
times characterized the farmers OF the
country. Continuing, he said:
"Your chairman said that there are a
great many people apprehensive Of the
great Industrial enterprises which are be-
ing carried on, and well they may be-.
There are so-called industrial enterprises
whose only industry is in running print
ing presses to print shares of stock. 1
tell you, If there is no harm in an enter
prise, if there are five or ten of them
that are good there is no bad in them, and
when you put them together there is no
bad in the entire mass. But if the OBJ
ject is to get something for nothing, to
get something that does not belong to
them. to get money out Of another mans
pocket, the money he has worked for, and
put it into their own-if that IS the OBJ
ject, it Is all wrong; but some Of these
great enterprises are absolutely sound ana
right"
Congress Cannot Do 1t All.
Mr.. Hill referred to the steel works Of
Krupp and Carnegie as examples Of en-
terprises which are right. The molding
trust, the leather trust and the bicycle
trust and others he referred to as among
those which are not intended to be pros
porous. Continuing, Mr. Hill said:
Some people advocate, our president
advocates, turning everything over to the
congress. What sort Of congress would
I'VE have after awhile if all the business
OF the country were turned over to it?
I think they would be doing business in
the hall Of congress. but the business
they would do would not bring business
to you that you want. T think I should
hold every man responsible for. himself
and his own acts. If he does wrong,
punish him; if he does right, protect
him. When that is done those questions
will take care of themselves.
.''When took the Great Northern rail-
road twenty three years ago, there were
$50 miles Of finished track and they were
at work on 800 more. Now we have 1000
miles. The road carried then 25S, 900
bushels of wheat, and no oats, no barley,
no fax. This year it will carry of wheat,
oats, barley and flax hundred million
bushels. =,
Achievements Of Great Northern.
eve" pay taxes to the state, on our
earnings, amounting to per cent of our
gross earnings. The earnings from China
Washington. Idaho and all roads running
through Minnesota contribute to the
state treasury I think that this year we
will pay the state $3.50, 900, or about one
sixth of all we get for hauling the grain
crop Of the state, and in hauling the
grain crop we dc not work for nothing-I
. mean it costs something to haul it.
Our business is made up of small things.
I suppose you would call it a days work
to haul q. ton Of freight ten miles if the
roads were heavy and get home at night
with your team. A difference to US Of a
copper cent in hauling ton ten miles
means a difference Of So. 600, OO0'
Mr.. Hill! then recited the improvements
which have been made in the condition OF
the road, and the bearing these improve
!ments have on rates. He showed that the
interest of the railroad and the farmers
is the same and that he as a railroad
manager would not do anything that
would be against the interests of the