Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1902-01-02
Enormous Oriental Trnmo

which must follow the placing on the Pacific
ocean OF the largest ships in the world.
The foregoing Is a brief and absolutely cor
rect statement OF the whole subject and its
truth can easily be verified by the State OF
Minnesota 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 Can ornia 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 II
for tbs 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 1t an equal share in the Burlington, for
the purpose OF building up the Asiatic trade
Between the northern zone, lying between St.
Paul and Minneapolis and the Pacific coast.
or to
Prevent such Building I'm
and control the Oriental trade for their own
railway lines through their own seapoFts and
over their ownShips?
In defeating their control OF the Northern Pa
cihc and Burlington and retaining 1t In the
hands of those who had built IL up and with
1t the entire Northwest, did we injure or bene-
At the people Of the Northwest?
Did !, by inducing my friends to hold their
Northern Pacific common 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
Northwest, injure or benefit every interest, ag-
ricultural. business and otherwise OF the entire
country between Lake Superior and the Pacific
coast? -
Had we sold our $50. 900. 900 Of Northern Pa
citc, even at $500 a share, amounting to $50, .
900, 900, or $40. 900, 900 more than its present
value and transferred 10 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
wnat II was to be dominated by a parallel and
competing railroad?
Why did Gov. Van SAINT SIT still from Nav
until November while n majority OF tho stock
OF the Northern Pacific company was con-
trolied by a parallel and competing railroad
company 10 which the law is clearly opposed,
ana 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.
out doing what we clearly have tho right to
do as individuals or working together for
greater permanency and security as q financial
corporation?
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 yoos
railway service and at fair and reasonable
rates. The past is gone and speaks for itself.
/ can speak for the future. and I 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
trahc. and that In the near future the public
viii have a chance 10 see for itself this feature
OF what ] 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 VIII be operated separately In
the future as in the past.
l greatly dislike 10 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 I ask is fair
play, and let time determine whether the pub
lie will be benefited or injured by what we
have done and VIII continue TO do.