Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1892-03-11

III TIE early part VI oui-f
campaign opened, Mr. Phillips went to
Indiana and planned and put into
operation, forces which told with such
marked effect upon the results of both
State and general election that he has
been Justly accredited with having
done as much, at least, as any other
one individual by personal efforts to
secure the success of the Republican
cause in that important State.
Although never aspiring to, but al
ways declining office, he, nevertheless,
has, as a private citizen, taken an
earnest and active interest in the well
fare of his party and contributed liber-
ally of time and means to its success.
By his efforts in the campaign OF 1850
he was brought into such prominence
that in the Legislature of Pennsyl-
vania his name frequently appeared
among those who were likely to be Sc
lected as compromise to end the long
struggle and he repeatedly received
votes in the open convention of both
houses. Had he then been chosen such
was his influence with President Gar
field and his well-known conciliatory
character that the war offactions which
followed might have been averted and
the whole course of political events
changed.
In every movement for the protec-
ton or improvement of the important
industry of producing petroleum Mr..
Phillips has taken an active and lead
ing part. In 1856 he was largely in
strumental in securing the removal OF
the direct internal revenue tax on oil
of one dollar per barrel. In 1879 he
was placed at the head of committee
to oppose direct tax upon oil well
rigs of 81 900, or the alternative tax
upon oil of ten cents per barrel, pro-
posed by bill in the Pennsylvania Leg
islature. BY his thorough knowledge
of the business, his perseverance and
well-applied energy, he was of great
assistance to the members OF the Leg
islature from the western part Of the
State in securing the defeat of these
anomalous taxes.
In the recent movement undertaken
by producers of petroleum TO limit pro-
duction to enable the excessive stock
of oil In tanks to be reduced, by being
refined instead of wasted, and to put
the industry upon permanently bet
ter footing, he was the. acknowledged
and chosen leader. The undertaking
was eminently successful. He refused
to go into this movement to curtail op-
erations unless some provision was
made to compensate and protect the
labor engaged in the industry, and for
this purpose the profit which would
accrue during the year upon two mil
lion barrels of oil was set apart.
From this oil larger sum was real
lied and distributed to the labor en-
gagged in the oil business than went to
the producers themselves. This is the
first time in the history of any business
that the cessation of operation was ac-
companied with such just and ample
provision for the labor employed. On
account of the facts narrated above
there is no man, and this can be said
without disparagement of others, who
has so large and enthusiastic follow
ing in all the counties where oil is pro.
duced.
Mr.. Phillips business career has been
remarkable, both for its success and
for the tenacity of purpose displayed
1t was, however, attended with one
great reverse which would have ap
palled a less courageous man, but
which only served to bring out the
strong character of Mr.. Phillips. Just
prior to the unforeseen panic of 1875
the firm had bought large tracts of oil
land, with deferred payments, upon
the basis of the prices paid for oil
which was over 50 per barrel. The
panic and the discovery, about the
same time, of prolific-producing OF
fields deprecated the price of oil tc
forty-six cents per barrel, and CORE
spondingly the land they had pur
chased, and involved the firm in deb
which may be stated, in round mum
bers, at half million of dollars
They were repeatedly urged by
friends to discharge the debt by certi
ficates in bankruptcy, and the speciou
plea was employed that this would no
prevent their subsequently paying i
if they became able. This they de
clined to do, saying they would pa.
the debt and interest, and with in
domitable energy renewed the busi
ness of producing oil upon vast seal
and plan exclusively their own, mad
good their promise to their creditors
paying them, with the interest added
over eight hundred thousand dollars
in the short space Of Is years.
When tho debt was half paid, Isaac
the older brother died, in 1884. Thi
threw the burden on Thomas W., bu
he did not shrink from the work. III
not only accomplished this herculea
debt-paying task, but accumulated
fortune which may be safely estimate
at million dollars. 1t was the paymen
Of this Indebtedness which was the In
spring motive of all his energy an
plans. The business was organize
and conducted on basis commen
surate with the debt. The fortune nee
essarily followed its payment. 1t j
not strange that Mr.. Phillips has tn
} unbounded confidence and esteem G
all who know him. To sum up thi
sketch, it may be said in brief that
ia man of remarkable executiv
ability, possessed ofa strong, vigorous
logical mind, with great powers {
} generalization, large intellectual al
tainments, untiring industry and III
swerving integrity"
Ii was not till the fall Of 1890, tha
Mr.. Phillips was prevailed upon to be
candidate. The call was so urgent an
J unanimous that he was forced to cor
sent to allow his name to be uset
, He was nominated on the Republica
i ticket, for Congress in the Twenty
fourth Congressional District, con
} Drising Beaver, Butler, Lawrence an
Mercer counties, at Harmony. TIL