The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-10-05
MISSOURI HAS
MERGER FIGHT
Gould Ramsey Battle Over the
Wabash May Furnish Parallel
to Minnesota Combat.
Journal Special Service.

journal Special Service.
st. Louis, Oct. 5.Missouri state Of
1cials have been asked to take cogni-
zance Of certain fundamental points
indicated in the injunction suit Of
President Ramsey Of the Wabash and
to depose by legal process the minority
control of railroad afinlanciering;
tion to proceed at law is expected with
in a day or two, and it is probable that
special counsel will be appointed by the
attorney general to conduct the prose
cution. Il
Action of this kind would naturally
bear upon the affairs Of other roads
terrelated and it would lead toward
an extension of the ruling in the cele-.
brated Northern Securities case.
The question to be determined is
whether group Of fnanciers may
legally acquire ownership or control Of
one road by small margin, then ex
ercise this control to have the road
issue, bonds in order to SECURE control
condition of one group of minority se-
curity holders dominating large sys-
TENS, which, in fact, they do not own.
Rights Of the Minority.
The definite question will be whether
It Is legal by. such manipulation for an
"active and energetic minority to
ma;a4gIfv t Is properties Of an inactive
When the Ramsey. petition for an in.
junction was filed, fnanciers expressed
! concern that the suit might be followed
| by official action in Missouri and else
| where, and exhibit the whole method
of railroad consultations.
! The Missouri procedure will be in
~ hn ION o,,i+ nd Nv
Ramsey, SO far as is known, will have
no connection with it. But some of
the evidence which is to be produced in
the Ramsey suit probably will serve as
| the basis for the contemplated action.
"Competing Line.'' J
Friends Of Mr.. Ramsey said today
election at. Toledo next Tuesday. will
probably prevent Mr.. Could $ being
elected to the presidency Of the
| Wabash, and perhaps also being elected
to the craftsmanship Of the Wabash
board of directors. ~
The laws Of Missouri provide that an
! official Of one line cannot hold office
II competing lia 49, The The contention a2s p OF
cifc and Wabash are. competing lines
| at least between st. Louis and Kansas
| City, and that Gould and Bird cannot
be officials in both. This contention
may not affect Mr.. Gould g plans with
regard to the Wabash, as it is believed
here that he does not wish to be elected
president. He proposes, it. is thought
to have Vice President Delano elected
to this office. +,
Another contention is that the office
Of vice president. in charge Of traffic
on all the Gould lines, was moved from
St. Louis to Chicago with the specific
object Of putting Mr.. Bird beyond thu
province Of the Missouri law.
For Control Of Wabash.
Mr.. Ramsey alleges that the Goult
interests first obtained control of tn
Missouri Pacific and then Of the Irol
Mountain thru the Missouri Pacific ane
that they are endeavoring, thru thei
control Of these two roads, to contro
the Wabash. ....... ..--
The Ramsey petition for an iniunc
ton will be heard Friday morning b,
j Judge Taylor. Mr.. Ramsey has beer
instructed to. appear as a witness. Gen
eraI Solicitor Cochran of the Missouri
Pacific and the Iron Mountain, and Gen
eral Solicitor Blodgett Of the Wabas
say that vigorous defense will b
made.