The Minneapolis journal., 1903-04-18
As to Which OK Is Gored.

Inc present dispute between the north
western flour mills and the transportation
lines, which has led the Minneapolis mills
to shut down as a demonstration to the
railways of what their patronage is
worth, should serve to open the eyes Of
some of the hitherto blind to the dam
gerous power the process of transporta-
tion consolidation and communication Of
interests has given into the hands Of
limited number of men. These 'kings"
OF transportation have it in their power
seriously to handicap any industry mere
ly because they have certain ideas about
relative rates, or because they deliberate
ly choose to promote one form of carry
Ing at the expense of another.
Many of the leading business men of
the northwest have refused to look at this
transportation problem except from a
selfish point Of view. Instead Of taking
a. stand on general principles against all
combinations that, give dangerous power
into the hands of a few, they have pre-
ferred to consider each combination in
the light Of its effect upon themselves
and with regard to the character and ac-
cepted intentions Of the men at the head
Of 1t. They acclaimed the Great North
ern- Northern Pacific merger for short
sighted reasons. They said: "Of course,
this merger gives enormous powers into
the hands Of one man, but that one man
Is one Of us. His home is here, and also
his interests. He is sentimentally de-
voted to the northwest, also His great
powers will be used for our good as well
as his. Therefore, let us be wise, and
refrain from adversely criticizing his mer-
ger, even on general principles Now
all Of that is largely true. Mr.. Hill has
to northwestern interests, and has often
made rates designed more to build up
the northwest than to give his roads any
immediate gains. Deceived by this par
ticular demonstration of the effects of
consolidation many Of our business lead
ers have talked glibly and probably sin
cerely about the great value Of transpor-
tation combinations. q = sE:5i-..4 E:i.4
But there are transports ation combina-
tions to the south and, east and on. the
great lakes that no no Hill and re-
gard not the interests: of the. northwest,
andathey are using their great powers al
most as effectively to harm. this section
as Mr.. Hill is using his to benefit it.
They, are persistently discriminating
against the flour industry, yet they can
be as well defended on general principles
as Mr.. Hill's combinations, Our people
are, discovering that something is basical-
1y wrong when one man or a few men
can WELD SO much power, whether for
good or evil.
Z Now, if we are not to have laws that
actually restrain. the Inalef1c ,use of the
rate-making power, theresis nothing left
for the people Of each section of the
country but to swear anew fealty to their
particular transportation baron and pray
him to come to the rescue Of his sorely
afflicted people, AS the benevolent rail-
road baron Of t'the* northwest, Mr.. Hill
must now logically come to the front and
save his people, or lose some of their
reverence. What Is the use of having a
baron If he can't help You in your hour
of need? Let MI. Hill buckle on his
armor, draw his sword and march from
Minnesota to the sea, leaving behind him
a path of equalized transportation rates.
This is evidently the opportunity of
Mr. Hills life. He will; never get a better
chance to make good.''