The Saint Paul globe., 1904-04-20
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 1904.
A GLORIOUS VICTORY.

The circuit court of appeals filed
yesterday it's unanimous decision on
the petition of the Hartman interests
to intervene in the case of the United
States against the Northern Securities
company denying it in every point and
sustaining completely the objections
raised to this proceeding. The New
Jersey court had already dismissed the
application made to it by the Cont
mental Securities company for a re-
straining order to prevent the distri-
button by the Northern Securities COM
pany of its assets according to the plan
presented to its stockholders. Both
decisions were looked for with conf
dence by those who had examined the
law and the equities involved.
The decision of the circuit court of
appeals was rendered by Judge Thayer,
who presented the original decision
against the Northern Securities COM
pany when the governments case was
first tried in the circuit court 1t is
clear, sharp and final. The court
states that it was necessarily as
sumed that the securities held by
the defendant company must be dis
tributed, and cit was thought that
the duty Of thus disposing of it could
be safely left to the stockholders of
the Securities company" The govern
ment is satisfied with It's position, does
not desire Intervention by any other
parties, and lis disposed to permit the
stockholders of the Securities company
to formulate some plan for the equita-
bic disposition of the stock of the two
railroad companies if they can do SC,
which will not be in violation of law"
Every proposition advanced by the
Hartman interests is thrown out by
the court in its denial of permission to
intervene.
In two aspects this decision is Of
great and general interest. First, it
marks the salvation of the Northwest
from thralldom which it would have
to taste before it knew the bitterness
of that sway. The allied interests
that brought this action were fighting
for control Of the Northern Pacific and
the Burlington. They projected the
mightiest combination of capital, the
most tremendous railroad monopoly
ever dreamed of. All the vast South
ern Pacific system, with the Union Pa
cific, the Central Pacific, and the Oregon
Short Line were to manage the North
ern Pacific and the Burlington with one
hand and one mind. 1t was a bold at
tempt for the mastery of half a con-
tinent, leaving outside only the Great
Northern, which, was then to be fought
and driven TO the wall by the methods
that the members of this combination
have. used so remorselessly against
those who have fallen unhappily within
their power.
To the Northwest, to these cities, to
the whole tier Of states stretching to
the Pacific, this meant the cessation cf
all competition. 1t meant the smother
ing of the great development that has
proceeded under the management Of
Mr.. Hill. 1t meant the decline of these
cities to q dull and poor mediocrity. by
the transfer Of their business to Chi
cago and Omaha. It meant the starv-
ing of the northern territory to feed
the southern, and the triumphant reign
over all Of monopoly whose character
and objects and methods can be inter-
preted wherever the name of Rocke-
feller is known. # meant the dcstruc-
tion of a vast plan, wrought to COM
pletion, for control OF oriental markets
and the expansion of our national
trade. 1t was a menace instant and