The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1902-01-03

only object IN buying control Of the
Northern Pacific was to benent their southern
country between Lake Superior and Puget
Sound. and by turning away from the Northern
lines the
Enormous Oriental Tram
which must follow the placing on the Pacific
ocean Of the largest ships in the world.
The foregoing is q brief and absolutely cor
rect statement OF the whole subject and Its
truth can easily be verified by the State OF
MINES ota 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 me
ask a few question which I 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 the
several states in the Middle West and south
purchase a majority of the stock of the North
ern Pacific company for the purpose of aiding
that company and increasing the growth and
prosperity Of the Northern country. or was 1t
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 It an equal share IL the Burlington, for
the purpose OF building up the Asiatic trada
between the northern zone. lying between st.
Paul and Minneapolis and the Pacific coast.
Prevent Such Building Up
4nO COnITO Tic OTlCHldI q .lOI LACAE W
railway lines through their own seaports 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
it the entire Northwest. did We injurs or bene-
At tho people Of the Northwest?
Did I, by inducing my friends to hold their
Northern Pacific UAmmon stock and act Jointly
with Messrs. Morgan & Co.. when this stock
was selling at $500 and 81, 900 a share and thus
prevent the Union Pacific from controlling the
~jrrn nv hnun6f Nnr {rtArAct -
ricultural. business and otherwise OF the entire
country between Lake Superior and the Pacific
coast?
Had we sold our 500, 900, 600 Of Northern Pa
cifc, even at $500 a share. amounting to $50.
900. 600. or $40. 900, 900 more than its present
value and transferred to the Union Pacific
control the entire country between Canada and
Mexico, what law Of Minnesota would we have
violated? Could We not have legally put the
money in our pockets and let the country learn
what 1t was to b. dominated by . parallel AMI
competing railroad?
Why did Gov. Van SAINT sit still from May
until November while a majority Of the stock
Of the Northern Pacific company was con-
trolled by a parallel and competing railroad
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 a rival parallel or competing railroad,
but doing what we clearly have the right ia
do as individuals or working together for
greater permanency and security as a financial
| ~ TpOIdllOH
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 up with
their own and largely by their own efforts and
capital?
The public is interested in having a 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
traffic. and that in the near future the public
will have a chance to see for itself this feature
of what 1 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 contemplated
Each company will be operated separately in
the future as in the past.
I greatly dislike to discuss my business in
the newspapers, but during my absence an at.
tack has been made upon myself and friends
which has been persistently supported by both
political and rival interests. All l ask is fail
play, and let time determine whether the pub
lie will be benefited or injured by what w
have done and will continue to do.