The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1900-11-24
WHITTIER ARE WE DRIFTING.
In Not Mr.. Rockefeller n Bigger Man
Than Uncle Sam.

The Standard Oil Company was or
ganized in 1870 with a capital of 81, 000-
900. It has just distributed a quarter
" dividend in cash and scrip of $685.
900 600. But even if we admit that the
last dividend is exceptional the actual
returns for nine months show that the
Standard Oil profits for the current
fiscal year can hardly fall below $780,
100000. There was a dividend three
months ago Of $10.000,000 and one three
months before that of $S,O00,O00.
The United States Government was
organized under the Constitution in
1898. Its total gross income-not pro-
fits-was less than $50, 900, 900 as late as
1862, when 1t was seventy-three years
old. The net profits of the Standard
Oh Company are greater now than the
gross income Of the United States
Government was at more than twice,
AtS age: =. :':i::" =: -, . :a-:
| In the four years 1896, 1897: 1898 and
1899 the profits of the Standard OIL
Company amounted to 1927, 00o, 900. In
the same four years the income of the:
United States Government ran behind
it's expenses to the amount of $170, 414,-
307.27. Is not Mr.. Rockefeller already
q bigger man" than Uncle Sam?
=, The Standard Oil Company, which
thirty years ago was worth $1,000 900 at
the outside, is now worth, on the basis
Iof the market quotations, about $685.
t,O00.o 900, an increase of $4,000 per cent
Ass an. income producing property it is
worth twice that.
/ In the same length of time the ag-
gregate wealth Of the United States
has increased from $30,065. SIS, 5O7 to
| about 100000, 100000, or about 230 per
t:cent.
How long will it take $4,000 per cent
to overtake $50 per cent? Work out
the problem and you will know how
soon Mr. Rockefeller and his partners
will own the United States.
| You will not get the date quite early.
enough, however, for these figures do
not show the full extent of the growth
Eof the Rockefeller monopoly. In the
first place the Standard Oil Company
is making money faster than it ever
did before. 1t is going ahead with ac-
celebrating velocity. In the next place,
| the oil business is altogether too small
TO furnish opportunities for the Invest
I ment OF all the wealth that is pouring
in upon the magnates Of the Rockefel-
Ter group. They are reaching out fol.
| the control of every branch of indus
try. They employ 5000 men in Stand
ard Oil alone-a larger army than the
| United States had before the war with
spain-but that is only a detail.
! They own the greatest iron mines in
the world. carry their ore to the lakes
on their own railroads and thence to
market on their own steamers. They
have enormous fleets of freighters on
lakes and ocean. The are heavily in
terested in great passenger ships of the
International Navigation Company,
! They come near to controlling the COP
per supply of the world. They own
coal mines, railroads and gas works all
over the country. They have a share
In the new salt trust. They have i'm
mense interests in street railroads.
They are building up colossal banks
/ and controlling the money supply.
With from $4,000, 900 to $100, 600, 900 to
invest every year in income producing
property which makes the revenue still
fiarger the next year, what can keep
the standard Oil Company from own
Ling the United States? Nothing but
another trust. too rich to be bought
! and too strong to be crushed, or legis-
lation to keep the concentration of
wealth within bonds. There are no in
dications of the appearance Of the
former antidote. and the people will
have to work without much more delay
if they wish to be, in time for the latter.
| -Exchange.