"A. You would not let us get it.
"Q. How could we help it?
"A. How could you help it? I think you would bring out your power to enforce the conditions of the Sherman anti-trust act pretty quick. If you will let us, I will go and take the Santa Fe to-morrow.
"Q. You would take it to-morrow?
"A. Why, certainly I would; I would not have any hesitation; it is a pretty good property.
"Q. Then it is only the restriction of the law that keeps you from taking it?
"A. I would go on as long as I live.
"Q. Then after you had gotten through with the Santa Fe and had taken it, you would also take the Northern Pacific and Great Northern, if you could get them?
"A. If you would let me.
"Q. And your power, which you have, would gradually increase as you took one road after another, so that you might spread not only over the Pacific coast, but spread out over the Atlantic coast?