The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-09-16
DISINFECTION NEEDED.

Few people realize to what extent
the Standard Oil Company sometimes
goes to force it's tsmonopolistic prices up.
on the people. 1t controls prices in
oil and crushes compe tition as effectu-
ally as if it had the exclusive fran
chise to furnish creation with light.
Since oil refining became an industry,
this combine, the outgrowth of the
old South improvement Company. has
gradually reduced the number of re-
finers until tod ay an independent pro-
ducer is rarety. The Standard Oil
Company is doubtless the wealthiest
corporation in existence and it's op-
pressive power is increased according
ly.
Whenever it is desirable a raise Of a
few cents on oil can be made at will by
this ombine, which means millions
to the company, and the people pay it..
A raise Of quarter of a cent per
gallon would mean small fortune
each day. Estimating the daily con-
sumption at 100000 gallons, which is
exceedingly low, the combine would
realize gain each day of $500,0O0, a
handsome sum, and would soon set
Alright any fins ncial loss or embar-
rassment the oil kings might encoun-
ter.
But since the United States Govern
fused to interfere in behalf Of the pil-
laged people, where is the remedy?
There is none, there can be none, un-
less the people simply become patriot
ic enough to form another tea par
ty." 1t is useless for private enter
prise to attempt compel etition, as has
repeatedly been demonstrated in the
past. Wealth Against Commonwealth
furnishes an excelle Mt example Of such
attempts. The merchants of Colum-
bus, Miss, had been buying Of the
Standard and the price gradually
crept up until they were forced to sell
oil at 20 cents in order to make ends
meet. A new retiner came to the res.
cue and furnished oil so that the re-
tail price could be put at IL cents. No
sooner did the Standard learn of this
than scheme was born to force the
dealers Of Columbus to handle Stand
ard oil, and accordingly an agency was
established where oil was retailed be-
low the wholesale price. The mer-
chants of the town and the citizens
organized an association and the
agency was boycotted, the people 10y
ally supporting the home merchants.
Seeing that losing game was being
played, the Standard people resolved
on more vigorous plan to coerce the
business men. They established a
general store where everything was
sold almost free, hoping thereby to
crush entirely the home merchants
and punish them for daring to display
a spirit of. independence. This was
also boycotted and no one save a few
low class negroes ever patronized the
place. 1t was considered disgrace
to even enter the portals of the pluto
cratic den.
This local warfare was carried on
for three years, during which few
thousands successfully bucked mil
lions, and finally drove the obnoxious
institution from the place. The peo.
pie won by simple display of loyalty
In the vigorous and untiring push Of
systematic boycott, the only weapon
aside from violence that the people
have to fight such "God'-giyen wealth
as John D. Rockefeller possesses.
It would be, as has been shown, a
useless waste of time and energy to ap-
peal to the government, which yirtu-
ally Is Rockefeller & Co., In disguise,
and relief will never come from that
source until q radical change Is made
in our system and the people take the
reigns Of government and pull them
to the tune OF the masses. As long