The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-11-21
FIGHTING TIE STANDARD.
on PEODrCERS dND REFINERS G.fTLI-
ERTNG ron COSSTLTGTTON.


TO secure inform Mntca OF Freight.
An important convention Of oil prriuccrs
dealers and rcnncrs was Informally opened
yesterday at the s.. Nioholas Hotel. and is to
continue for several days Among the most
conspicuous OF is members wcro Mcsssrs c.
II. Graham Of Tairvicw, Ealoman Doc Of Pits
hurgh. r. jennings ~ QUO, ns,own. Goo Boul-
ton OF Oh City. O. Nobc Of Eric G.. II. Ncsbitt Of
pctrllia. and r. A. Stewart oi Pittsburgh.
Tho Convention. although NJ. large in num-
bcrs, represents n vast amount ot property. not
only in the shape OF oil we'll, lut in refining and
other Interests Il also r'pros n's tho oil
Producers Association of pcunsylyania-an
organization formed expressly to combat the
Standard OIL Company.
TEr SuS otthe 18Th inst gave full history Of
the Standurd's efforts t) inonopolize the oil trade
Of the country. and therefore OF the world. and
also portrayed the excitement existing among
the producers and thoir thousands Of depend
ents. bat 1t may bo well to rccito
some Of the causes that led to this
convention. rs learned from members.
One of the most serious complaints
is that the Standard OIL Company. by conspirng
with certain railroads have practically obtained
control Of tho oil sportation 10 the scaboard.
In other words they have so managed that no
small producer can send his oil 20 a good mar
kct without paving higher freight than
Is charged TO the Standard oil Company.
Thus well owners are forced to one OF
thrc1 courses either to ccnsc producing whcro
they own pumping ana not flowing wcllsl and
thus throw thcir hosts of workmen out of em-
pl0ymcnt. or 10 soil their oil at the wells for the
uitiful price fixed by tho MONOPOLY or 10 keep
on producing NJ "a frightful loss. AMI with added
eNuenses day after day for storage and tank
Thc STANDARD oil Company and their adher.
ents they say. attribute the low price Of oil (9j
ems barrel AZ the wellsl 10 ovcrproducupn.
Tut this they deny. II the giant monopoly strain
every neryc 10 break up Su'h reilherins MS they
cannot buy. 10y unlcrs 'liing thom ia
their own marNet NE dGmnnd Tor
refinery stops work. ana hence not only the
rehnerS but the producers are directly suicr-
cas-. That the standard OIL Company have
long PURSUED this course. there IL abundant
proof. and cases are cited wherc rlucky reHnors
Who refused TO sell out 90 tie monopoly
ont Tho process was very simple They hal
g. pay double prices fox thc transp sportli!On of
tlc Standard r"nners colll. ami soon found
thrm- Ives ruinou-ly undrr-yli. Ong reAarr.
ioashit iG as 1ns as he 5c6ud hoi out Gai was
eventually iorrei 10 surrrn Ter and SOL his
property Tor 10000 to the Standard.
The fight between the producers -and tho
monouoly has hcen eging on ior sopc years,
and 20 one tlgIe 10 WIS Thought that tho power
ithe great ring was broken. ~ sooner had
the producers subsid "a into quletness than the
stan lard irelrrs W"r3 Ou bee mora lut forth,
and In n short time tho uroducsr- found thom-
selves practically bound hand and foot Then
they began TIE ight again through Congress
and the Pennsylvania Legislature, and the
standard made oycriurcs for % truce.
Tho members oi the Convention are very
ret cont. hut admit that the points ub we hintnd
~ Will be fully discussed. and that an effort will
he made to deEtse some scheme hy means {.
which produ 'tion and TRANSPORTATION may he
regulated. and the price Of crude Oil brought
oil Company is To- bc ultimately sue-
c'ssiul in It's alleged conspiracy they say.
II - only question of time when the gram
trade. the lumber trade aud other Interests de-
pendent upon transportation to soaboard mar
officials and moro corrupt speculatcTs.
VI WAS said Yesterday that Mr. lckcicller,
sut - tho standard Oh Company. Ind
hu.s'"d tie white nag ~ signal of com
promise lut tiiS could not Toe proved II will
hc one of the objects of the ConN .ntlsn. SHOULD
10 induce Congress 10 pass a law compelling
raiirOad COMPANIES t9 carry produ 70 az regular
rates AMI without rebate 90 favored patrons.
Ia the latest contest between the Standard and
the pr1du 'nrs. the ultimatum Of the producers
VS. as iolloM-i o. All oI must be shipped
Through the ENe 'utive Committee of the Pro.
duecre' Cuion: rn equitable rates OF freight
railroads cannot he induced or compelled To-
cancel thcir contracts with tue South Improve
meut Company. In nlunty lays we VIII have a
line ~ our own running % water communict-
tipn with the soahoard.'
IL i~ probable that the same terms will Zee de-
man led hy tais convention. aud TINT they viii
combine the forces of tie pro luecrs ami rcilu-
ers 20 resist the St'nIard's crushing process t.
tIr Uu"rWl-t.
The Convention is 90 h- regularly organized
to-day aud Us deliberations arc 10 be strictly
secret.