Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1906-08-01
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST L. 1906.
A hUMBUG ISSUE.

this state the republicans have
been anxiously hunting around
for an issue that would take with
the people. Cole thought he had
a good one in state development,
but as the people had been work
ing on that for half a century or
more, having accomplished some
wonderful results in that direc-
ton before Cole ever thought of
coming to Minnesota, it was
found that this could not be re-
vamped into something apparent
ly new that would cause a wave
Of popular enthusiasm. Then
the search for an issue started
again. Now comes the St. Paul
Dispatch with an old and almost
forgotten skeleton, which it has
wired in such a way as to make
it wiggle in order to make people
believe it is a live thing. The
skeleton is the old merger"
issue.
, Most people had come to the
conclusion that this matter was
settled. The Northern Securi-
ties company was knocked out in
court and it's holdings of stock in
the constituent companies were
redistributed among the holders
of the trust company stock.
But the Dispatch finds to it's
horror, what everybody else has
known for years, that the Great
Northern and the Northern Pa
citic railways are operated by
practically the same group of
capitalists, and it calls frantically
on Gov. Johnson to stop this.
AS it knows very well the COVER
nor can do no such thing it is
evident that the only purpose in
raising the cry is to make people
believe that Johnson is in cahoots
with Jim Hill and protecting his
interests.
This hum'bug issue should fool
no one. There is no way of pre-
ventingpeople from holding stock
in two or more railroads, and if
the majority of the stock of two
alleged competing roads is held
by the same group of capitalists
all the laws in the universe can
not compel them to fight each
other. There was a time when
the people were made to believe
that competition between roads
would give fair rates. This in
spite of the fact that the majority
of the people were so situated
that they had access to only one
road, and all the competition at
junction points and terminals
would not help them a bit; in
fact, these people had to pay
higher rates to make up for the
losses at competitive points.
What did it benefit US here in
Kandiyohi county, for instance,
if the G.. N. and the N. P. were
fighting for the business in the
twin cities?
Everybody was glad to see Van
SAINT tackle the merger, for they
appreciated seeing a public Of
ficer enforcing the laws. But
those who had studied the ques-
ton somewhat expected from
this movement nothing more
than a stirring up among the
people and forcing some action
more in line with present econo-
mic development. 1t was neces-
sary to establish the fact that
competition could not be forced
before the people would be ready
to demand some other action
This has been accomplished.
The national government has re-
cognized the futility of trying to
force the roads into fighting each
other and has tackled the pro-
position of providing for just and
equitable rates.. That is working
in the right direction. If we can
get fair rates what does it matter
to us whether Jim: Hill or Harri-
man or any other man holds the
stock in the roads we are using?
It may be found that the present
railroad rate bill is not sufficient
ly strong; it: may be even found
necessary to make the roads
public property in order. to get