The Dickinson press., 1902-01-04
Nj. Phelan's Third Letter.

In his third letter Mr.. Phelan says that
the people of the Northwest are up
against a merger proposition and he is
n who don't believe it good policy t o
feel badly about it, rather take the facts
and Judge them in the light of experience.
He continues:
"In this connection who can but ad-
mire the stand taken by Mr.. Hill and
his friends in avoiding sale of their hold
ings in Northern Pacific during the
gamblers frenzied debauch . few months
ago. This to my mind was not so much
a display of heroism Is it was of COM
mon honesty. Since l have known any
thing Of them, Great North
ern properties have not been prostituted
by a speculative barter and sale of
stocks, regardless of the welfare of the
property represented. Can we say the
same of Northern Pacific properties, un-
til Mr.. Hill and his friends secured a
majority of such holdings! Can anyone
point out a previous instance in North
ern Pacific history when the holders of
its stock failed to sell to any Tom, Dick
and Harry, whenever an opportunity was
found to gamble and catch a suckers"
After commenting upon the general
honesty OF the employees of the N. P.
Mr.. Phelan says:
1t may be reasoned that they are net
supposed to know to whom they belong,
so long as they draw their wages. But |
want to ask, can any intelligent man be
insensible to the fact that one day he
may be the chattel OF a corporation, next
Of Henry Willard, then of the United
States court, then the Deutches Bank of
Berlin then of Mr.. Morgan or Mr.. Hill,
then almost, of the Union Pacific, and
hnally-God save the mark-simply the
ward of Minnesota politicians whose
hearts have begun to bleed for the well
fare of the people.
The merging proposition is mainly il
Illustrated by our federal government. |
have watched the merging of railroad
properties for over a score oil years, as
illustrated by the Vanderbilt lines, the
Gould system and others, and mainly
good has come out of it for employees and
the public.
The fear of many, that such combina-
tons may stile liberty and Cypress the
public is in line with apprehension lest
the servant may ultimately subjugate the
master.
1t was once a vagary of some leaders
in labor organizations, employed in rail-
road service, that in order t win an i'm
portant contest all that was necessary
was organization of sufficient magnitude
to tie up the commerce of the country.
Such reasoning forgot to take the public
into account The object lesson finally
came and the public settled the matter
to its own satisfaction. Should the time
ever come when the managers of railway
combinations forgetlthe duty owing to the
public, an object lesson will do the rest.
know it is written: "The habit of
mind of traders in power would not be
esteemed favorable t o delicate moral
perception" "A man cannot steal with
out mourning the penalties of the thief"
Are you for man and for the good of
man: or are you for the hurt and harm
of man?" Likewise: "What is useful
will last, while that which il hurtful to
the world will sink beneath all the op-
posing forces which it must exasperate.''
For my part l believe Mr.. Hill aims
at stability, and If he is the Moses to
bring order out of chaos, and establish
common honesty without any frills, l say
God bless him and may he live long and
continue to prosper.