The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-11
JUDGE LocHREN,s DECISION

Fairmont News-If Governor Van SAINT
really wants third term as governor he
can thank Judge Lochren for giving him
the biggest boom he has ever received.
Had his decision been in line with that
Of the court Of appeals in the United
States case, the people would have had
no doubt but what the supreme court
would have affirmed the lower courts,
and would have rested easy in this fancied
security. Now that he has taken the other
position, there will be a feeling that the
matter is yet to be fought out and the
people will want a governor who has been
tried and net found wanting. In such a
case 1t will be natural for them, or many
of them, to insist on Van SAINT rather than
any untried man. It does seem as tho his
enemies were in a conspiracy to nominate
Van SAINT.
Detroit Record-Judge Lochren's de-
c1Slon in favor Of the merger will tend
to revive the issue in state politics, and
be bonanza for Van SAINT if he aspires
| to third term as reported. The election
last year left no doubt as to how the peo-
pie of this state regard the merger Moth
| Ing has occurred to cause them to change
| their view, but, on the contrary, we be-
lieYe that public sentiment would line up
more solidly than ever in support of
| candidate who could be relied upon to
| continue the fight to the end, and who is
better than Van SAINT for such a task?
II ever there was lucky politician, the
present governor Of this state is the man.
The merger fight was the only thing that
1 secured his second term, and now the
matter has been prolonged and is likely
to give him third term with hurrah
Long Prairie Argus--In his decision
Judge Lochren has adhered closely to the
| narroWest construction of the law The
real substance Of his opinion is that the
securities company cannot be charged
,&,,~11 s,,~~
fixing rates until they have actually ac-
| complished such a result. The fact that
| they have secured the power to do so is
not an offense according to this. The
| effect of the decision will be to perpetuate
| this issue in the politics of the state until
it is finally settled by the decision of the
court of last resort.
Fairnont Sentinel-Judge Lochren re-
. sorts to a tfimsy technicality in order to
override just law against railway COM
binations. His decision is palpably unfair
and the statutes were strained and twisted
out OF all Semblance of reason and pur-
pose in order to justify it. The idea that
stock in competing lines of railway can be
| punched together and transferred to a
dummy concern, thus evading the plain
spirit and intent of the law is an absur-
dity not only as a legal proposition but it
will not stand the test of common sense
and reason. - @-t
Cambridge Press-To say that the de-
cision Of Judge Lochren filed on Saturday
in the state merger case is a surprise to
the general public is putting it very mild
ly If his decision had been rendered
previous to the decision of the United
States circuit court in the government
case it would not have astonished the pub
lie so much. Altho the two cases are not
parallel technically speaking, in the pub
lie eye they mean about the same, so that
after the circuit court composed of three
able judges rendered a unanimous de-
cision against the merger in the govern
| ment case to have a judge OF lower
United States court render an opinion in
favor of the merger in the state case is
unexpected. X, .... ss"- w.. ,. - 20.
Luverne Herald-Judge Lochren's de-
| cision in the state merger case reads like
an argument for the defense. Pursuing
| the course Of reasoning by which the able
, attorneys for the railroad companies
: sought under cover of technical1ties tc
evade the clear meaning and purpose Of
; the law, he holds that the Northern Sc.
l curities company which owns, controls
! and votes a majority Of the stock Of the
; Great Northern and Northern Pacific, Is
not in effect railroad company and thai
there has been no consolidation of these
two railroads In other words he holds
> that the attorneys for the merger have
successfully evaded the law. -
Wykoff Messenger-It doesn't. make sc
very much difference anyway, for in either
event the case would have had to be de-
cided by the court Of last resort. If Judge
Lochrens decision had sustained the stat
, the merger people would have appealed
:, the case-as 1t is the state will carry VI
! the case, and we think the final result
: will, be the defeat Of the merger.
, Hastings Gazette-The somewhat sensa
. tional decision of Judge Lochren that tn
. merger is not a merger, seems to hav'
been fully discounted in the stock mar
kets and the anticipated advance faile'
to materialize.