The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-04-22
IN THE LAST DITCH.

TN ! TIE LAS LII CFu
That the Hartman interests would
bring another suit to prevent dis
tribution of the stocks held by the
Northern Securities company on an
equitable plan was no secret. When
they applied fer leave to intervene in
the federal case, which their own at
torneys felt certain would be denied, it
was evidenced that they intended to
die in the last ditch. Mr.. Hartman
will simply show to the country what
combination of combinations the
biggest monopoly in the country, with
substantially unlimited wealth behind
it, can accomplish in the way of I'M
earthing legal technicalities that may
conduce to delay
Delay seems to be all there is in it.
1t is uncomfortable that any court on
the merits of the question should give
other than such perfunctory hearing as
its functions compel to an application
so without merit. AS much was limited,
indeed, in no uncertain terms by the
decision of the circuit court of appeals:
which declared, first, that the govern
ment believed the stockholders of the
Northern Securities company could be
trusted to distribute its assets accord
ing to such plan as commended itself
to them; and, second, that no danger
to the public could be contained III
that plan, because the same power that
ordered the dissolution Of the Northern
Securities would be adequate to deal
with any conceivable monopoly that
might originate at any future time.
The impudence of the claim now put
forth by the Hartman interests is
colossal. On either horn of the di-
lemma which they select they must
be impaled. On the one side, if any
thing even technically contrary to the
law was included in the formation or
acts Of the Northern Securities COM
pany, Mr.. Hartman was a willing and
consenting and responsible party to it.
He cannot go into court with clean
hands. He has no equitable claim Of
any sort against those with whom he
elected to go into partnership. On the
other hand, as far as he makes alb
stract objection to the distribution Of
the stock by setting up an alleged fu-
ture common control of the Great
Northern and the Northern Pacific, his
petition on the surface shows that he
wants this set aside in order that the
Northern Pacific and the Burlington
may be handed over to the combination
of the Central, the Union and the
Southern Pacific and the Oregon Short
Line. The plan Of distribution which
he has been moving heaven and earth
to defeat was adopted yesterday by
the Northern Securities company, and
the Hartman interest is beaten at
every point.
This enormous railroad trust. against
which the government itself ought to
and probably will presently move as a
violation of the ANTITRUST act, dares
push it's way into court room and ask
federal judges to aid It in building up
closer and more offensive monopoly.
The prospect for such a move in halls
where Justice is done is not aIluring.
Mr.. Hartman, nevertheless, as his
course indicates. is determined to die
in the last ditch. The Northwest in
particular and the whole country are
virtually interested in having him de-
MED and defeated at every turn, until
he and his millionaire associates
realize that they do not own and can
not run this country.