Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1900-06-29

Here are some little facts to con-
slider:
The Standard Oil Company was or
ganized in 1870 with capital of ST.
100000. 1t has just distributed quar-
terly dividend in cash and script OF
$23,000,00O, representing an annual
profit Of $92,000000. But even II we
admit that the last dividend is excep-
tional. the actual returns for nine
months shows that the Standard Oil
profits fcr the current fiscal year can
hardly fall below $60,000,O00. There
was a dividend three months ago Of
$4,000, 900, and one three months be-
fore that Of SS.000.0O0.
The United States government was
organized under the constitution in
1889. Its total gross income-not
profits-was less than S52,00O,0O0 as
late as 1852, when it was seventy-three
years old. The net profits of the
Standard Oil Company are greater
now than the gross income Of the
United States government was at more
than twice its age.
In the four years 1896. 1897, 1898 and
1899 the profits of the Standard Oil
Company amounted to 1927, 900, 900. In
the same four years the income of the
United States government ran behind
Its expenses to the amount of $40, 414,-
307,27. Is not Mr.. Rockefeller already
bigger man" than old Uncle Sam?
The Standard Oil Company, which
thirty years ago was worth S1,0O0,00O
at the outside, is worth now on the
basis of the market quotations about
$4,000, 00O-an increase of fifty-five
thousand per cent. AS an income pro-
ducing property 1t is worth twice that.
In the same length Of time the ag-
gregate wealth of the United States
has increased from $3O,O6S, ,507 to
about 100000, 100000, or about 23O
per cent.
How long will it take for $4,000 per
cent to overtake 23O per cent? Work
out that problem and you will know
how soon Mr.. Rockefeller and his
partners will own the United States.
You will not put the date quite early
enough, however, for these figures do
not show the full extent of the growth
Of 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-
tolerated velocity. In the next place
the oil business is altogether too small
to furnish opportunities for the invest
ment of all the wealth that is pouring
in upon the magnates of the Rookie
Teller group. They are reaching out
for the control of every branch of in
dustry. They employ $4,000 men in
Standard OIL alone-a larger army
than the United States had before the
war with Spain-but that is only de-
tail.
They own the greatest iron mines
in the world, carry their ore to the
lakes on their own railroad, and thence
to market on their own steamers. They
have enormous fleets of freighters on
lakes and ocean. They are heavily
interested in the great passenger ships
of the International Navigation Com
pany. They come near to controlling
the copper 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 immense interests in street
railroads. They are building up colos-
sal banks and controlling the money
supply.
With from s5O,OOO,OOO to 100000
900 to invest every year in income
producing property which makes the
revenue still larger the next year,
what can keep the Standard Oil Com
pany from owning the United States?
Nothing but another trust too rich to
be bought and too strong to be
crushed. or legislation to keep the
concentration Of wealth within bounds
There are no indications of the ap-
pearance Of the former antidote, and
the people will have to get to work
without much more delay If they wish
to be in time for the latter.