The Labor enquirer., 1883-09-08
standard Iniauitx.E

The Standard Oil company, without
doubt, is the grandest monopoly that
this country has ever had inflicted on it
In the forms Of the law and under the
pretense of its protection it assumes, in
the simple garb of manufacturing com.
pany, to dictate the prices for its various
products, and at the same time brings to
its feet the great railway corporations
and, with the air of an autocrat, dictates
the prices to be paid for transporting its
various commodities to the different
markets of the country. 1t silences the
press by wave Of the hand of its king,
Its policy in this direction is to keep the
people ignorant of its movements. Its
advocates are found occupying a place in
the United States senate and the lower
house of congress There is not legis-
lature in any of the states free from the
influence of this mighty octopus. By its
influence legislatures adopt the standard
of tests for illuminating oils, or refuse to
adopt tests for the safety of the con-
sumer. In one state a high test is
ordered, to-wit: Michigan in another a
medium test in others no test, so that
in the latter the Standard may dispose
of all their low grade of oil with safety
to itself, without incurring suits for
damages for personal injury resulting
from explosions, fire, etc.
A more patient people cannot be found
than the American public. The Standard
knows its patience, temper and endur-
ance, and while these conditions last it
will 60 on heaping up millions yearly by
crushing or buying out all competitors.
Every avenue leading to the door of the
company's office is lined with the
skeletons of ruined homes, hopes and
industry. destroyed by this octopus
Thousands of families are to-day beggars
wrought bv its hands. 1t has heard the
widows wall, the orphans cry, and the
honest mans prayer, but it turns deaf
ear and listens only to the gains that fall
into its Golfers, and silently but boldly
proclaims that it will control the oil
trade of the world, and that everybody
must keep out of the business. Buta few
years ago its managers were book keepers
or small dealers in whisky and artisans
with the bare means of substance;
to-day the same persons revel in wealth
counted by millions.
The Standard started with four ten
barrel stills as their greatest refining ca
pacity; to-day their Cleveland works
alone can refine $4,000 barrels and their
works outside this city can add the same
amount. If every independent retiner
was destroyed and it is only question
of time when this will be done-it can
refine daily and put on the market all
the oil needed to light up every house
hold in America. An idea may be
1OTlleU Oh JllG DISlIlcSS lItS lllLuuG vi
this monster reaching into every quarter
of the globe, when we say that its dis
for salaries and pay to its
exceed yearly the receipts and
disbursements Of the state of New York
How long shall this state of things con-
tinue in cur midst? We live in free
country, so called, yet we permit con-
diton of things to exist that would not
be tolerated in any of the monarrhes of
Europe.
Destroy the power of the Standard,
and instead Of the aggregation Of capital
and the control of this vast interest by a
half dozen men, we would see hundreds
of retineries in the different manuiact-
uring centers Of the country, giving en-
plOyment to thousands, and in the race
of life others would have a chance to
win. Down with monOpolies They are
the incubus which destroys the energies
of the people and makes slaves Of the
many for the enrichment Of a few men,
Cleveland Messenger.