The Saint Paul globe., 1902-02-27
WHY DO ANYTHING 2

Why DO ANYTHING
The attorneys for the state of Mime
sofa and the $500" railroad seem unable
to agree on what course they Should
pursue in the situation which has been
created by the decision of the supreme
court on their recent application. They
seem satisfied that some action is de-
manded of them. Considering the re-
joicing which prevailed among them and
their partisans on the ill-timed announce
ment of Attorney General Knox, it is
hard to understand why they are not con-
tent to let the matter rest in its pres
ent situation. They probably Will be
obliged to do so whether they will or
no.
The declaration of the United States
attorney general was certainly open to
grave criticism as to the time and man
ner chosen for making it. But the wis
dom, propriety or suf1iciency Of the ac-
ton, none can call in question who hon
estly desires to see the legal question
involved settled-and there is none but
legal question involved
What does Attorney General Knox S
suit propose to settle? It proposes to set
tie the question whether the Northern
Securities organization is in it's nature
or consequences a contract, conspiracy
or combination in restraint of trade or
commerce between the states. The law
under which the suit will be brought de-
clares illegal ''every combination in the
form of trust or otherwise" which is in
restraint of interstate commerce.
Why will the entire question at issue
not be adjudicated through such a suit?
The claim of Mr.. Douglas, Mr.. Mum and
Mr. Wilson is that through the organiza-
ton of the New Jersey corporation, and
the control by it of a majority of the
stock of the two carriers involved, a
monopoly has been created in the inter
state carrying business of the Northwest,
or such a consolidation as is equivalent
to monopoly. If the consolidation
which they say has taken place between
the two roads through the Northern Sc
curities company is not in their judg-
ment in restraint of interstate commerce,
it is hard to understand what their com
plaint really is
Those whose stocks in the Great North
Ia
lodged with the New Jersey corporation
or bought by that body are insisting
that they had a perfect right to do what
they pleased with their own property;
that the two railroads are as much
separate organizations as they ever were,
and that it is absurd to claim that the
ownership by one corporation of
stock in two railroad corporations which
are parallel lines is in itself illegal or
is in restraint of trade or tends to create
monopoly. The opposing interests
claim on the other hand that the North
ern Securities company is simply a de-
vice or combination which is in the
nature Of monopoly; that it takes the
place of the other two corporations. is
itself railroad corporation, and, i'll a
word, is the medium through. which an
illegal agreement or contract has been
entered into which is in restraint Of in
terstate commerce and ought to be de-
stroyed
There is no other question affecting
either the public or private individuals
which is not embodied in these opposing
views If decision of them one way
or the other by the supreme court does
not settle the difficulty then there sim
ply is no difficulty to settle.
No doubt Van SAINT will continue to
pound around in his former and usual
foolish fashion about this matter. no mat
ter what is done or avoided. 1t is not
to be believed that the attorney for the
$500" road or the private interests he
represents in the transaction, will be will.
ing to subside simply because the only
thing that ever could be done is about to
be done, or that Attorney Douglas win
refuse to be further made a catspaw
by Van SAINT, or that the interested and
hysterical newspaper organs can be made
to give up making fools Of themselves
and Of those who write for them. But
the state of Minnesota is none the less
every day being placed at disadvantage
by the prolonged howlings which are
maintained. The country is made to be-
lieve that people who come here to estab-
lish their homes will be crushed beneath
the exactions of a railroad monopoly;
that the development of the state will be
brought to a standstill. and that the tre-
mendous movement of population which