The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-04-06
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 1904.
THE NORTHWEST IMPERILED.

THE NORTHWEST IMPERlLED.
The people of the Northwest, con-
fronted with the most serious danger
that has ever menaced their prosperity
and threatened their growth, may well
cast a look backward to the time when
they were clearly warned of what
might happen. From the time when
the idea of the Northern Securities
company was conceived, and when the
first steps were taken to make it a
reality, Mr.. James J. Hill frankly ex-
planned to the country that the con-
trolling reason for creating such a
holding company was to save the great
railroad properties that serve the
Northwest from the decentralization of
continued assaults upon them for con-
troll, either by reckless spectators or
by ambitious capitalists, who sought to
grasp a mastery of the entire railroad
systems of the West.
The decision of the supreme court
has brought US rudely face to face with
the facts. The Hartman interests have
shown their hand in the petition that
they have addressed to the circuit court
asking it to intervene and direct such
a distribution of the stocks held by the
Northern Securities company as will
turn over control of the Northern Pa
cific railroad to them. That is what
they have been fighting for That is
what the Northern Securities was or
gained to prevent. That is what the
enemies of the Northern Securities,
whether their opposition was dema-
gogic or genuine or ignorant, have
helped to do. That is the possibility
that confronts the Northwest today.
The purpose of Mr.. Hartman and
his allied interests is to unite in one
tremendous railroad combination and
monopoly practically all of the great
railway business between the Missis-
sippi river and the Pacific coast. Union
Pacific and Central Pacific are now one.
To the same people belongs the Oregon
Short Line and the property of the old
Oregon Railway & Navigation COM
pany, with the outlet to tide water at
Portland. To it belongs the enormous
Southern Pacific system, with it's trans
continental line, it's network Of roads
covering California, and the Shasta
route connecting San Francisco with
Portland. Turn over to this combina-
ton a control Of the Northern Pacific
and half interest in the Burlington,
and a glance at the map will show
how it would dominate the entire
Western empire Of the United States,
save only the country served by the
Great Northern.
What sort of policy does this COM
binatiOn follow, and what does it die
tate to those dependent upon it? Travel
over the lines Of the system and see.
You will find as wretched accommoda-
tions for the money as the passengers
on any railroad system in the United
States can complain Of Go anywhere
throughout the fruit and wheat raising
districts of California and you will find
a people maddened into readiness for
almost any act of violence by a system
Of railroad oppression that has had no
parallel elsewhere in the world. You
will find country industriaIly ruined.
although splendidly productive. You
will find wealth of natures products
rotting on the ground because the
charge for carrying them to market is
greater than the market value. You
will find legislatures bought and sold
and the entire state government ruled
by the cOrruptest of monopolies. Read
Frank Norris great story, 1.-THE Octo-
pus," and you will understand.
It is to such a system and to such
rule that the United States courts are
asked to turn over the great properties
Of the Northwest and the people de-
pendent upon them. The Hartman in
terests have already done in effect that
for being able TO do which the court
declared that the Northern Securities
company must be dissolved, although it
had never done it. Mere power so to
restrain trade, said the judges, is too
dangerous to be allowed That power
not only exists, but is ruthlessly exer-
cised by the enormous combination of
lines under the Hartman control. The
actual results Of the Southern COM
binatiOn are infinitely worse than all
the possibilities involved in the North
ern Securities, had it ever passed into
the control Of tyrapnous and reckless
men. To such a power it is now de-
manded that control Of the Northern
Pacific be surrendered.
If the Southern Pacific MONOPOLY
should by any means obtain control Of
the Northern Pacific and the BurIing-
ton it would be the most staggering
blow ever delivered upon the North