Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1903-09-18
SEPT. l8.


position on the merger question has
an illustration in this county. Van
SAINTS success last year. it is gener-
ally conceded, was due to the belief
Of the people that he stood for, the
enforcement of the laws of the state
relative to the railroad merger. All
the republican newspapers supported
Van SAINT, including those which, be-
ing Influenced by certain railroad
affiliations, had made light of the
merger question. Judging from the
republican platform, from the speeches
Of Governor Van SAINT, and from the
tone of the republican press, corpora
ton influence was an awful bad thing
for the state. That is, the Great
Northern and Northern Pacific in
duences. which were, it was said,
evil, but influences like those Of the
800, 1.-THE Iron Range roads, and the
Twin CITY Street Railway Co., were
good for the Commonwealth. The
Little Fails Transcript was highly in
dignant at the merger roads, Their
actions were, it was said, an outrage
on the people. AS the Transcript had
upheld and defended railroad and
other corporations. and had been in
close touch with them, and as it's edi-
tor, when member of the state
legislature, had uniformly supported
measures desired by the railroads.
this conversion was looked upon
with suspicion. While the Ethiopian
cannot change the color of his skin. he
may as Bill Nye suggested, white
wash 1t. But the whitewash will in
tine wear of. In the case of the
Transcript the whitewash is disap-
pearing. It is for Robert G. Dunn for
governor. R. G. Dunn was one of
those frank enough to say, when Van
Sant- first announced his merger policy
that he (Dunu) didn't take much
stock in it. He believed that J. J.
Hill deserved thanks from Minnesota
instead Of attacks. Mr.. Dunn has
frequently lauded Mr.. Hill, and
pointed ont his wonderful abilities.
When the new Princeton depot opened
last winter, Mr.. Dunn in a speech
which certainly was heartfelt law
ished upon the great railroad man the
highest of encomiume. He could
hardly have said these things of Mr..
hill it he Was not sincere. and if he
was sincere he would not say such
things if he thought Mr.. Hill was
party to plan to injure Minnesota.
He does not think that. Governor
Van SAINT thinks and says Mr.. Hill is
trying to hurt the state. The repub-
liam platform says SO, and the presi-
dent is said to have endorsed this view
when he ordered his attorney general
to proceed against tbs merger The
Little Falls Transcript followed Van
SAINT. Yet the Transcript is for R. G.
Dunn for governor. Governor Van
Sant' being the principal anti-mer-
gerlte in the state. ought to know who
'~"o <"AA " ~ was uOL WIFI u1m IN ms
light. The governor opposed Babcock
for speaker on the ground of Bab-
cocks merger affiliations. The re-
publican representatives selected Bah.
cock by large majority and repu-
dated thereby their platform and
their governor. The Transcript was
for Babcock. The Babcock crowd are
said to be lining up for Dunn, It is
evident. therefore, that when the Lit
tie Falls Transcript, which supported
Babcock and will support Dunn, talks
anti-corporation and anti-merger, it
is talking through a hat exceedingly
weather beaten, The truth is, it never
was sincere. and certainly no one ex~
pected 1t to be. The proof is now more
apparent than ever.