Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1902-10-16
[. Governor White Explains His Position
on the Merger QueS-
tiOn.
Tells Why lie Did Not Attend Con-
ference Of Governors
at Helena.
Governmental Control by National
Legislation the Only
Remedy.


In a recent address in Valley City,
Governor White spoke on the subject
of the merger question and his posi-
tion thereon, which caused some criti-
cism at the time. Many now believe
that his action has been in line with
prudence and common sense, as the
courts have the matter in hand to de-
eide, rather than state officials. This
state has not been plunged into expen-
sive litigation with an extra session
of the legislature, as the State OF Min
.nesota and little accomplished there
for. Governor White said in part:
''In state like ours, where the rail
roads were the pioneers, where our
cities and towns and settled communi
ties have grown up along these lines,
where natures highways, the lakes
and rivers, unused and unusuable, in a
state where we consume so small
part of what we produce and produce
so small a part of what we consume,
!. they are the great arteries OF trade,
and not only control our commercial
life, but almost our very existence.
II have been often asked why l did
not attend the meeting of the govern
ors at Helena. When my attention
was called to the organization OF the
Northern Securities company and l
accepted the invitation to the meet
ing, 1 had given this matter very lit.
tie consideration. My investigation,
however, soon brought me to the be.
lief that the consolidation had already
been practically accomplished. II the
law, permitted any man to own one
share in the Great Northern and also
one share in the Northern Pacific, he
; could own as many shares of each as
he could buy and pay for, and if he
owned controlling interest in both
there would be very little competiUicn
between them, and it would make no
difference whether they were managed
separately or together. This seemed
tion.
''It became evident, too, that no
joint action by the northwestern
! states could be brought to dissolve the
Securities Company. Each state must
act alone and bring such action under
the laws of the state as thought prop
er. was not long in arriving at the
determination that SO far as the state
of North Dakota was concerned, as
the executive I should not cause an
action to be brought against this COM
pany. Ibid not believe that any of
the actions proposed, and which were
afterwards commenced by the states
of Minnesota and Washington would
accomplish anything, and after quite
an extended investigation am more
firmly convinced that the end sought
will not be accomplished. You can't
compel competition by law. You may
compel separate management but un-
der the law you can not compel separ-
ate ownership. Our state! has lost
nothing by inaction. Every: right we
had we still have. We also have the
advantage of mature consideration
and of the experience of Minnesota.
''Either the consolidation was legal
!. or it was not legal and must in any
case be determined by the slow pro-
cess OF the court. If the state wants
a lawsuit with the Securities Company
the legislature, fresh from the people,
and soon to meet, can authorize any
action that seems to them appropriate
and provide means for carrying it to
determination. And in withdrawing
nv acceptance of the invitation to the
conference | was led to do so under
the belief that the interests of the
state would be best subserved by my
refraining from taking any action
whatever in the matter until it had
J, been more thoroughly digested by
myself and by the people Of this state.
"The question of consolidation is
more question OF railroad economy.
If the railroads of the northwest can
be more cheaply operated, if the pub
lie can be given better facilities of
connection and communication in its
various parts by consolidation, it
should result TO the benefit of the pub
lie and not to It's injury. The danger
lies not in consolidation, but in the