The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-09
WELCOME TO HOWARD ELLIOTT
]. ]. Hill Speaks at Banquet to N.
2 President

St. Paul, Mimi, Jan. e.-Howard
Elliott, president of the Northern Pa
chic. was rendered a reception in the
parlors of the Commercial club Friday
night, thus marking his formal entry
into the business life of St. Paul
About 200 business men of St. Paul
were present and a large delegation
from the Minneapolis Commercial club
Joined in the welcome to the new presl-
dent of the Northern Pacific. For half
an hour Mr.. Elliott and President Smith
OF the club We're kept busy shaking
hands, and later Mr.. Elliott was the
central obieet-of a number of sDeechas
OF welcome from prominent business
men. To all of these he responded in
an earnest manner by carefully pre-
pared address in which he spoke hope
fully of the future of the northwest
and the Northern Pacific railroad as
one Of the essentials to that success.
Probably the most important address
one which commanded the closest at
tention-was that of President ]. J.
Hill of the Great Northern road Mr.
Hill introduced his remarks by calling
attention to the contrast between the
present and the future; of what growth
and success had come to the twin cities.
and said. THE Northern Pacific road
has been one of the most important
elements in this success and that of the
great empire to the northwest. Mr..
Elliott, the seventh captain of this ship,
has grown UP with the west. He knows
advance its interests
Suddenly Mr.. Hill, in his brusque
manner. broke off and began to talk
about restraint, and that was the key
note of his brief talk.
"A great many people," he said,
think that the business of a railroad
IS to restrain trade. I want to assure
you that a railroad that restraints trade
will go broke. A railway to be success
full must make it possible for the people
to develop the natural resources of the
country with profit or that railroad will
be wiped off the face of the earth II
a man does not prosper he can move,
out a railroad is there and must stay.
Mr.. Hill then took up the question of
reciprocity with Canada and strongly
urged the necessity of such action He
referred to the people of Canada as the
folks who live north Of us and people
who wear Overcoats are good CONNER
cially because they usually pay their
debts.''
New then he continued, IF your
future prosperity is narrowed down to
from the soil and your neighbor puts
tax on its production of 43 per cent you
won't like it,
Mr.. Hill took up briefly the question
Of inducing immigration to settle the
vast domain Of the northwest and Incl
dentalIy remarked that the state of
Minnesota only had an immigration
agent but that later the business had
been turned over to the railroads.
He referred to the Panama canal as
a good thing for a man who had an
appetite for bananas He would like it
built and it might be some good. but it
would not help the people of the north
much even though they did pay part of
the expense of building it.
> Mr.. Hill closed his remarks by ten
dering a hearty welcome to Mr.. Elliott,
saying he was q man in whom much
confidence was reposed and who, it was
believed. would ably fill the position to
which he had been chosen.
Archbishop Ireland also extended
welcome to Mr.. Elliott