The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-04-13
HARRIMAN'S CASE
IN COURTS HANDS
Arguments Are Finished and a.
Decision May Be Given
Tomorrow.
Hill Beams at Johnson's Satires-
w. G.. Guthrie Closes for
Hartman.
A Washington Dispatch Tells
Why Hartman s Intervention
Was Opposed by Knox.

Arguments on the Hartman petit
tion to intervene In the Northern Sc
curities case were finished at this
mornings session Of the United States
circuit court in st. Paul. Court ad-
iourned until tomorrow morning, at
which time q decision Is expected.
The meeting Of Northern Securities
stockholders to vote on the distribu-
ton scheme is set for April 81, and
for this and other reasons the court
will act promptly. 49,
The attitude Of Attorney General
Knox toward the petition indicates
that the court will refuse leave to file,
and that the Hartman interests will
be compelled to bring an independent
action in equity if they wish to press
prima facie showing made, it Is pos
sible the court will decide to inquire
into the proceeding, to see whether a
violation Of the spirit Of the decree Is
intended.
Two Closing Speeches.
The case for the Northern Securi
ties was finished this morning by
John G. Johnson Of Philadelphia. and
William D. Guthrie Of New York,
and was followed by the closing argu-
ment for the petitioners.
Mr.. Johnson's speech opened the
day. The distinguished corporation
attorney made very different appear
ance from his colleague, Elihu Root
, who spoke yesterday. The Hlll,Mor-
artillery. The former war secretary
assaulted the structure of the petition
ers, using his batteries Of argument
with telling effect. y
To-day came the heavy dragons.
Mr.. Johnson, massive in physique and
ponderous Of voice, rode rough-shod
over the ranks Of the petitioners and
crushed them with merciless ridicule.
He laid about him, to the huge enjoy
ment of his fellow counsel and his
principal employer, President j. j.
HILL who beamed with qualification
rs Mr.. Johnson sought ruthlessly to
tear from the Union Pacific interests
the mask of public benefactors, and
10 show that their zeal was for selfish
ends
AS far as real argument on the
merits of the case went, Mr.. Johnson
presentation made by his colleague
Mr.. Root.
David Replies to Goliath.
Then came William D. Guthrie OF
New York, leading counsel Of the petit
toners. Small Of stature, boyish ir
face and soft of speech, he seemed
like young David going forth to meer
the giant champion Of the Philistines
He rose to the occasion and summed
up the cause Of the petitioners in E
masterful manner.
The case is a great drawing card
and long before the judges filed into
their places to the music Of Captain
Mahan's sounding proclamation, ever!
nook and Colgn of vantage was oc
cupied. AS on yesterday, a good shar,
of the spectators were ladies, and thu
daughters Of President Hill had q lit
tie corner Of the gallery to themselves
! Governor Van SAINT occupied goo(
seat near the judges bench.
Both the distinguished counsel 70
the Northern Securities have takel
pains to refrain from any implied criti
cism Of the courts decision. Their
has been little or no effort to justif
the merger. Mr.. Root merely referre,
to the contention that the merger ros
out of an attempt to protect tn
Northern Pacific from a Union Pacifl
raid. Mr.. Johnson even dwelt on tn
pleasure the court must have felt a
being sustained by the highest cour
of the land, and only in his peroratio
made slight reference to the benef
icent purposes of the organizers of tn
consolidation. The whole contentio
of the defendant Is that they hav
obeyed the decree and the case
closed, by consent and wish of tn
attorney general. Much is made G
the fact that the petitioners were "co
sinners" with the Hill-Morgan inter
ests in the unlawful scheme.