Daily Kennebec journal., 1908-06-02
Maine and the Merger"

railroad svstenis, though it IS mat
ter of no small Importance to our
TRANSFORMATION and general business IN
terests. In Massachusetts, il we may
Judge by the newspapers, they talk
about little else The question has
coIorcd politics and business IN the
Rav State and the agitation has
aroused much feeling. In order to get
matter Bernard J. Rothwell, president
of the Boston Chamber of Commerce,
sent some letters Of inquiry into this
State. Mr. Rothwell is himself much
opposed to the merger and instead OF
publishing the reply received from
Frank L. Dutton, Esq, of this city,
secretary of the Augusta Board OF
Trade, he published only a sentence or
two which resulted in a complete mis-
representation of Mr.. buttons atti-
tude. Mr.. Dutton promptly sent the
full text of his letter to the Boston
Herald, which gave it place of
prominence upon its first page and
gave it the added distinction of col
u,nn Of editorial comment. After dis
cussing Mr. Rothwell's unfarness in
the matter, the Herald went on as fol-
lows:
II is natural that, in the absence of
;r sympathetic point Of view, Mr.. Dut-
ten should resent the fact that Mr..
Rothwcll quoted only two sentences
from his long and carefully written
letter, and to convey an impression
used them directly opposite to the
whole tenor of his reply 1t is not
strange that Mr.. Dutton should con-
slider such an act "dclibcratc misrep-
rcsentation." OF course, Mr.. RothwCll
did not intend to misreprcscnt Mr..
Dutton. He has told us that he de-
sired the actual opinion" of the men
of Maine, and, desiring that opinion,
with his well known opposition to
'noEopoly" ard his zeal for the pub
lie welfare, it cannot be assumed that
he wanted it for any other purpose
thar to share with the public his
thorough knowledge and understand
ing Gf New England sentiment. Mr..
buttons letter. therefore, forms an
interesting supplement to Mr. Roth
wells "guid" to New England opinion
upon the railroad problcm.'
In reply to Mr.. Rothwcll's queries
it appears that Mr. Dutton did say,
as he was quoted that he would not
favor the consolidation under one
management and one control of all
the railroads now operated in the
State of Maine. i G.. the Canadian Pa
cific. the Grand Trunk, the Maine
Central. and 50 on, But he also said
some other things in this reply to Mr..
Rothwell which apparently escaped the
eye of the President of the Chamber
of Commerce. For instance, Mr. Dut-
ton said:
'"Thc development of both of these
roads the Canadian Pacific and the
Grand Trunk) has been the result of
consolidation. All of the minor rail
roads. in their independent condition,
were not large factors in the develop
ment Of local industries. Not until
these unmportant railroads came into
the control of great international trunk
lines did they become important in
sfrum"ntS in the development of our
State, because not until then was
through traffic possible ut Il tariff en-
coGraEing tn the Investment of capital
in developing the resources of our
state"
MIR. Dutton also said to Mr.. Roth
we'll substantially what he had pre-
viously said to The Herald:
II believe that it would re for the in
lrrnSfG hn cf1t, ,,F Y,;,,
one through trunk line from its north
ernmost to it's southernmost point. pro-
Nidcd the proper Legislative restrictions
and control We're fully provided. and
such proper laws strictly enforced"
These statements appear to iusti-
fy the assumption that Mr. Dutton
is not opposed to a practical and rea-
sonablc railroad merger. Mr.. Dutton
is certainly not fearful of results. He
believes that public intelligence and
opinion safeguard the country SO that
there is less danger from misuse of
the wart of competition" than at any
time in the past. He has faith sin the
integrity. conscience and ability of the
people of Maine to protect themselves
"a faith, by the way. which seems to
be strangely lacking in Massachusetts
during the current merger discussion,
MIR. buttons closing paragraph is
strikingly pertinent. He says:
The law of economics is inevitably
compelling the consolidation of rail-
road companies for through traffic.
The people can retard, but cannot stop
that consolidation. 1t is bound to come.
What business economics demand. the
legislature will finally concede, and the
courts will approve. Therefore it is
idle, to attempt to seek temporary ad-
vantage, and cause a permanent injury
in preventing the consolidation of
trunk lines of railroads. The interest
and safety of the people lie in the regu-
lation of through traffic, and not in the
prevention of consolidation"
The, Herald. sharing with Aa Roth
ssF5 s1 sg SruP in