Washington sentinel., 1900-03-31
How Soon VIII They own Us?

The Standard Oil Company was or.
81, ,ooo, 900. It has Just distributed a
quarterly dividend in cash and script Of
Sz3, 900, 900, representing an annual
profit Of $97, 900 600 But even il we
admit that the last dividend is excep.
tional, the actual returns for nine months
show that the Standard Oil profits tor
the current fiscal year can hardly fall
below 500, 900 900. There was a dividend
three months ago OF SO, 900, 900, and one
three months before that OF IS, 900 900.
The United States Government was
oreanized under the Constitution in
1850, Its total gross income-net
profts--was less than $5a, ,ooo. 900 as late
as 1862, when it was 70 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, 1893 and
1899 the profits of the Standard Oil
Company amounted to SI2E 100000. In
United States Government ran behind
its expenses to the amount of Sr7o,4I4,.
3o7.77. Is not Mr.. Rockefeller already
"bigger man" than old Uncle Sam?
The Standard Oil Company, which
thirty years ago was worth 1905, 900 at
the outside, is worth now on the basis
Of the market quotations about $780,
ooo, ,oOo-an increase of fifty-five thou.
sand per cent. AS an income producing
property IT is worth twice that
In the same length OF time the
aggregate wealth of the United States
has increased from $50, ,o6S, SIS, ,So7 to
about $Ioo. .ooo, 900 900, or about ago per
cent.
How long will it take for 5000 per
cent to overtake ago per cent? Work out
that problem and you will know 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 acceler-
ated velocity. In the next place the oil
business is altogether too small to
furnish opportunities Tor the investment
OF all the wealth that IS pouring in upon
the magnates OF the Rockefeller group.
They are reaching out for the control of
every branch ofindustry. They employ
$500 men in Standard 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 ireig alters on
lakes and ocean. They are heavily
interested in the great passenger ships
of the International Navigation Com
pany Hhey 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 i'm.
mense interests in street railroads. They
are building up colossal banks and
controlling the money supply.
With from $50 600, 900 to 100000, 900
to invest every year, what can keep the
Standard Oil Company from owning the
United Ststes9 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 ofthe
appearance Of the former antidote, and
the people will have to get to work
without much more delay il they wish
to be in time for the latter.