The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-01-28
SENT TO VAN. SAINT
VIEW OF MERGER TAKEN BY REP
RESENTATIVE BUSINESS MEN
OF MINNEAPOLIS
OPPOSE ANY INTERFERENCE
Substantial Business Men of Flour
City Have No Fear OF North
ern Securities Company
Raising Rates.

AS related in Sundays Gil e, Gov.
Van SAINT on Saturday received a petit
ton signed by the most representative
grain men and lumber merchants in Min
neapoliS, asking his excellency to give
the so-called merger" proposition a fair
trial, The governor yesterday aeknowl-
edged the receipts of the petition, and
made it public. The petition reads as
follows:
In view of the discussion as to the
Northern Securities company, the under
signed beg to submit the following for
your candid conSiderat ton:
1t is an open question whether corn
petition among railroads gives the public
greater benefits than Cooperation under
government supervision. Competitive
management has been fairly tested in
this state, with results not entirely sat
isfactory. It may be that better results
can be obtained by cooperative man
agement, subject to the supervision Of
federal and state railway commissions.
The experiment Is worthy of trial, ami
if unsuccessful, recourse may still be
had to the United States supreme court,
which tribunal can alone determine the
uncertain question whether the Northern
Securities company has violated any law
of the state. You will agree with us
that the investment of capital in the
StaSe should to encouraged rather than
hempered; tEat the depeIopmenU Of tG9
railways Sh0ul6 be fostered rather than
tmpeded, that the opening of trade with
the Orient viii be of advantage to the
state, and that reductions in rates are
helped by economies of administration.
These suggestions lead US to propose,
% that no immediate action be taken
against the Northern Securities company;
90 that fair opportunity be given
for testing by experience whether good
or evil will come from that company,
and 90 that If the results are found to
be evil, vigorous proceedings be then
taken to obtain an adjudication of the
United States supreme court in regard
to the company's status.
Signed:
Janney, Semple, Hill &c Co. Wholesale
hardware), T. B. Janney, president
Anthony Kelley & Co, per George E.
Higgins, manager.
North Star Wooden Mill Co., VIM. G..
Northrup, president.
Forman, Ford & Co, by w. B. Forman.
North Star Shoe Co., by W. w Heffel-
finger
Plttsburg Plate Glass Co., per f. w.
Currier
Green, DeLaittre Co. F. H. Green, pres
ident.
Red River Lumber Co., by Willis +.
Walker. treasurer.
Scanlon-Gipson Lumber Co., by w j.
Scanlon, treasurer.
George r. Newell & Co.
i. Lamb Lumber Co., G. R. Lamb, sec
rotary.
john f. Wilcox
Cargill Elevator Co, S. D. Cargill, pres
ident
Northwestern Elevator Co., by D. M.
Robbins, president.
Brooks Elevator Co, l.. r. Brooks, pres
ident
The Van DuSen Harrington Co (grain
commission), Minneapolis.
w. H McWilliams, Minneapolis.
Great Western Elevator Co., H. F. Doug
las, general manager.
f. III. Peavey &c Co.
Shevlin- Carpenter Co., by H. G. Clarke,
treasurer.
The Northwestern Consolidated Milling
Co. by A. c. Loring, president.
c. w. Case.
Minneapolis Union Elevator Co., by A.
F. Pillsbury, vice president.
Winecke e Doerr.
st. Anthony & Dakota Elevator Co,
by P. B, Smith, general manager.
G.. E. Wenzel.
Woodwork Elevator Co., by b. H Wood
worth, president.
The st. Anthony Elevator Co., by w. C.
Ainsworth, general manager.
Pillsbury- Washburn Flour Mills Co.. linz
tied, L. P. Hubbard. treasurer.
Minneapolis & Northern Elevator Co.
Rarnum Grain Co., by A. G. Smith.
Washburn-Crosby Co. (merchant millerS),
Minneapolis, by John WaShburn.
Carpenter Lamb Co, by e. J. Carpenter,
treasurer
j. H. -oueal & Co., by J. H. Queal.
president.
Link Belt Supply Co., j. D. McArdle
manager.
Employers Liability Assurance com
pary, Ltd. of London, by w. P.
Packer, general agent.
The governor refused to discuss the pc
tition beyond saying that he would pc
ruse it carefully. He read the sigma
! lures, said t'Well, there are some good
men on there" and acknowledged it's re-
ceipt. The governor intinated that the
petition arrived too late to affect the
general situation. His excellency whis-
tied when he came to Tom Shevlins
name. The document, as will be seen,
is signed only by representative and in
1uential Flour City business men.