People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1899-08-03

tracts that follow. A short time since,
Mr.. Lockwood appeared before the con-
gressional industrial commission and
there reiterated the more important por-
tions Of the speech. He is a Democrat,
prominent in Pennsylvania politics, and
an ardent supporter of VIM. J. Bryan and
the principles of the Chicago platform
and as the Chicago platform is the direct
result of Populist teaching and agitation
it is equally good Populist doctrine. The
following is part of Mr.. Lockwood's
speech and is an excellent presentation
of the only solution Of this great ques-
ton:
In 1897 the New York Assembly ap-
pointed a committee, known as the
"Hepburn Committee" to investigate the
trusts and the management OF the rail-
roads. A Cleveland refner testified be-
fore the committee, "that upon his ap-
plication to the Erie and New York CEN
trail Railroad for freight rates, he got no
satisfaction at all. A representative OF
the New York Central Railroad told him
that he was too good a friend Of his to
advise him to have anything further to
do with the oil trade" He says, do
YOU pretend to say that you won't carry
for me at as cheap a rate as you Will tor
anvbodv else?" The freight agent an
swered 81 am but human" This rehner
testified further that he got no satistac-
tiou except, "You had better sell" "
nBetter get clear" Kind of sub rosa.
"Better sell out" ''No help for it. "
He was finally forced to sell to the par
ties of the Standard Oil Co., as he says
at fifty cents OH the dollar. He told the
Legislature that he would not have sold
if he could have got fair show with the
railway TSee Reports of the Hepburn
Committee, pages 2525, 2527, 2535J The
old South Improvement company con-
tract by which the railways gave to the
narties of the Standard Oil company ex-
elusive control of the oil trade, is a mat
l. Ter of ancient history.
In 1873 the Standard Oil company pur-
chased the pipe lines Of the Empire
Transportation company. After that
time, the Pennsylvania railroad became
the'tool of the Standard Oil company.
From 1872 up to this time, there were a
few of the independent refners who had
been shipping over the Pennsylvania
railroad, but now the Pennsylvania rail-
road sent word to the independent ship
pers that they could not give them equal
rates any longer. The Pennsylvania
railroad was the highway over which
these independent refners must go tc
market or not at all. The Independents
asked TO be heard, and so the Third Vice
President of the Pennsylvania railroad
Mr. Cossett, met them, and this conver
sation took place. The independents
told him that they were the largest ship
pers of petroleum over the Pennsylvania
railroad. He acknowledged that. "Shal
we, after the first of May, have as low
rate of freight as anyone else?' they ask
ed. NO." he said, latter the first o
MAY we shall give the Standard Oil com
panv lower rates than YOU" "HoN
much discrimination will we have to sub
nit to-" the independent rehners asked
81 decline to tell you," was the reply
"How much business must we bring t
your road to get as good a rate as tn
combinations" they asked again. Il dt
cline to tell you," was the only repl
thev got. IF we will ship as much, WI
Won give us as low rates?" NO wa
=, the answer. Here the Pennsylvania raj
road, one of the highways Of the reput
lie. was absolutely closed to everybod
in the oil business, except the Stannar
Oil company. The independent rehnei
then went to the president of the Penn
svlvania railroad, and the only cohsol'
ton they got was that you had bette
90 and arrange with the Standard U
company" They asked him II the
could have the same rates as other shil
pers9" "No." IF we ship the san
amount of oil?" "No." IF we bull
our own cars?" mo" The history
their efforts before the Pennsylvania raj
road was the history of their efforts b
fore all the other railways, the highwa,,
of the republic.
In the case of the Commonweali
against the Pennsylvania railroad,
1869, the vice-president of the Pennsy
vania railroad was obliged to admit tn
they had paid the American Transf
company, one of the concerns of tt
Standard Oil company, in one year, s;
o93,75oin rebates.
In 1888, the independent oil refine
had built up great trade for their oil
the New England states. On Octob