The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-05-02
VISIT OF ]. ]. HILL
What the Chicago Chronicle Says
of That Mysterious Event.
AND THE HANNA BREAKFAST
Tint Papers Correspondent Also Be
lieves the Large Boys Are Try
ing to Call Roosevelt Of.

Chicago, May "A Chronicle Washing !
ton special says: Washington is still
talking about the visit of James }. HILL,
one of the chief promoters of the north
western railroad merger, and the break |
fast at Senator Hanna's home which was
coincident with it.
Mr. Hill had exhausted every other re-
, source in his effort to secure compro-
mise from President Roosevelt before ne
appealed to Senator Hanna for aid. he
spent days in the marble room OF the
senate consulting senators from the
northwestern, states, whom he urged
the necessity of making the president
understand that his course towards the
! financial interests of the country was
threatening disastrous consequences:
The northwestern senator's did their
! best to help Mr.. Hill. They called at the
White House singly and in parties and
tried to convince the president that 1t
would be better for the republican party
md his administration if he would aban-
| don the pending proceedings against Mr.
Hills securities company. The president
gave them no satisfaction further. than to
declare repeatedly that Mr.. Hill and his
advisers knew the law when they ar
ranged the proposed merger and that they
should be prepared to accept the conse-
quences of the suit begun by the attorney
general. ..-"
friend of President Roosevelt, to the
White House, and through him endeav-
ored to secure a promise that the suit IN
the United States district court at ST.
Paul would not be pushed to final ad-
Indication. Mr. Mellin's mission. like
the previous visits of the northwestern
senators, was unsuccessful, and Mr.. Hill
was driven to the extremity OF applying
to Senator Hanna and Postmaster Gen
eral Payne. They aided him willingly.
Senator Hanna is in undoubted sympa-
thy with Mr.. Hill. He believes that the
presidents course Is 1ll-advlsed.
It is known definitely that during the
discussion of the matter at the break
fast at Senator Hanna's home the presi-
dent declined to retreat from the agrees
sive position which he had assumed. He
assured both the Ohio senator and the
postmaster general that the suit begun IN
St. Paul would be pressed to final adjudi-
cation and that Mr.. Hill and his partners
will have to bear the consequences if that
adjudication is unfavorable to their in
terests.
One of the very serious aspects of the
agitation which has been caused by the
presidents assault on the merger is the
aroused public sentiment in the state of
Washington against the dominate by
the Great Northern and Northern Pacific
railroads Of the politics Of that state.
Washington at present has no railroad
law which Is worthy of that name. Since
Attorney General Stratton was success
full in persuading the supreme court to
give leave to the state to file suit for in
junction against the Northern Securities
company both parties practically have
agreed to stand on a platform which
demands the passage of a drastic railroad
act and the creation of a state railroad
commission. ....s
Mr.. Hill regards this movement as Sc
rious and threatening to his own interests
and his desire to bring about a cessation
OF the governments activities Is due in
part te,a belief thatzif he succeeds in this
he@can quiet the increasing demand for
railroad reform in Washington.