The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-10-14
THE COTTON OIL TRUST
AND IT'S POWER TO GRIND THE
PLANTER.
what IL Ii as Compared with the
standard OIL Company, OF Which
it's AN OnshOOt.

New Oheans Times. Democrat: The
Hon. O. O. Cordill, State Senator, and
larae cotton planter OF TeDsas parish,
was last Thursday made the subject
OF a Times Democrat reporters atten-
ton at the Cotton Exchange. The
conversation turred upon the subject
of the American Cotton Oil Trust
Company, and the rep orter asked
"How do you, as a planter, view
this Cotton Oil Trust Company"
at eeems to me the policy adopted
by the OIL Trust Company is wrong,
end will bring about that condition OF
affairs the company desires to avoid
viz: the formation of new companies.
The Oil Trust controls 90 per cent. oil
the producing capacity OF all the mill.
in the United States. Now their fret
move Ia to o.
40 REDUCE THE PRICE OF COTTON SEED
over, so per cent. compared with this
time ops year ego. Then seed sold
for $40 peftQn on the bank planters
are now of9fsd S.. One year ago
crude oil sold fot' n cents per gallon;
| il is now worn 20 cents. Meal and
cake both comm and better prices than
.ast s:a.on. So you see the producer
is compelled to sell for much less
than he received one year ago, while
the products from his seed command
a much higher price. / am aware OF
no instance in any country where q
few Individuals, to enrich themselves,
have made or attempted to make q
combination TO compel the tillerg OF
the coil to take certain fixed price
for the products OF their labor. Sup
ply and demand should fix the price.
Cotton eetd, like cotton, corn and
wheat, should have its ups and downs
in accordance with the temper oil
speculation in open market.
"Ifall the oil mills can and are per,
mitted TO comb ne and fix the price Of
seed at SIS per ton all the cotton mills
can combine and fix the price OF cot
ton at 8 cents per pound. This com
biuation Is wealth in itself; At II
stocked for an enormous sum-1omt
TWENTY-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS,
| bslieye--fiye or six times the cost OIL
the plant. Their only strength is the
weakness OF their 0pponents; they
know that 1t is almost impossible To-
agricultural people and laborers tC
combine fully two 6tths OF the cot
ton is raised by colored people, whit
sell their seed at any price Offered
them; the price now offered DOS no
pay the expense OF hauling to thu
landing or depot, as the case may be
The m Il men know this, and upo'
: this fact base all their hopes of sue
cess. II all agricultural people in tn
South would decline to sell their see'
for one year, make iertilz ,rs and re
store their poor land, this combina
ton would 20 to pieces OF its owl
weight"
"What remedy would you suggest ?
81 know OF no lawful remedy unles
the producers would go on strike"
: "What is your opinion as to tn
y, difference between the Cotton o.
}. Trust and the Standard Oil Compan
VI at the Ncrlh2"
n 81 think there Is q great difference
q In the first place,
THE OWNERS OF OIL TRUST
> cannot compare themselves to tn
y Standard Oil Company. The compan
o owns its own wells, owns the lane
a. upon which they ere situated, an
:. their refining factories. Now, II th
40 corpora ion desires to place itself o
70 the same footing they should buy q
N the plantations and make their ow
nj product, and become independent
every one, and then be able to do |
u the Standard Oil Company does-snS
O. their fingers in the fee of courts, lie
10 iSlatures and everybody else"
m "What would be the effect OF II
:, present policy Of the Oil Trust Cor
9' pauy upon egricuturists ?"
rs "lf this company continuesin its u
III just course toward
20 THE PLANTING COMMUNITY,
- hostility will grow up and continue
" increase. "A large number Of peopl
he many millions, inhabiting and co
OF trolling thirteen States, are engaged
or growing cotton. The agitation W
~ continue until II spreads among the
IL aud remedy for so great wrong W
a be found"
g. "What do you understand this CO.
% pauy proposes to do with lite product
' "My understanding is that this co
N' pany proposes to absorb the cotton
ID business in all OF is branches, to
of fine all Of its Gil, make soap, fertilize
mr. oleomalgarine, lard, lubricSting {
~ etc, and practically forbid or cru
al out all competition"
de "What will be the effect Of this p
by "a few will be benefited and
,es great industry will be paralyzsd in
~ infancy"