Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1905-02-10
FOR STATE OIL REFINERY.


providing for state oil refinery, 1919 senator's
voting for it. A few of the senators said that,
in voting for the bill, they voted against their
own personal convictions, but the sentiment of
their constituents was for it, and they consid-
cred it their duty to represent the wishes of the
people who elected them.
The people of Kansas are tiied CT the meth
DDS of the Standard OIL Company, and they are
determined, if possible, to free themselves
from the tentacles of this great octopus. The
first step is the building of state oil refinery.
This, with equitable freight rates, rigidly en-
forced, will relieve the people OF Kansas-it
will save them many thousands of dollars each
year.
The newspapers of the state are almost
unit in favor OF a state refinery. They have
been powerful factor in creating sentiment in
favor of the plan; or, rather, in showing the
"way out of bondage"
The sentiment in favor of the state refinery
is not confined 10 the present oil field, but the
people all over the state are clamoring for it.
The Topeka State Journal, in recent issue,
said, among other things
''The Kansas Legislature might just as well
meet the situation squarey and bravely, not
one fourth way or timidy, and order an oil re-
fnery-not an experimental or toy establish
ment, but real factory.
''It is evident that if the state is going TO hit
the Standard Oil Company, it must hit hard
It's also quite true that the establishment of
state refinery will mean other legislation to
support it, such as a maximum freight rate on
oil and declaration that pipe lines shall be
common carriers.
,tIf the one little item of Irvine necessary to
tie wheat into bundles demanded the states
attention in a practical way, what should be
said of the item of coal-oil, which is consumed
by the great masses of population?
"The Standard Oil Company is the conlbin-
alton which, except in public refinery, has
universally triumphed over states, over indi-
viduals, over independent companies and over
every effort made to curb its rapacity, or to Sc
cure competition in OIL 1t has grown strong
not only in its control in the oil fields, but by
its mastery over transportation by special rates
and rebates.
"The legislature of Kansas now in session,
might as we'll recognize the inevitable and go
ahead with the establishment of an oil refinery"
The Kansas City Journal opposes the plan,
and calls it Socialism; whereupou, the To-
peka Herald, Gen. J. K. Hudson's paper, takes
the Journal to task. The Herald says, among
other things:
''The ground work of the Journals article
is based on the idea that Kansas is not Social
istic. In one sense, it is true that there is no
larger pet cent Of our population who believe
in Socialstic doctrines than is to be found in
other states. But the fact that Socialism is
rapidly growing in Kansas, and that very
large number of our citizens, regardless OF
prrty, desire to see some experiments made in
municipal and state ownership, which may be
called Socialistic, is also true. The vote of the
last election indicates this, and the everyday
discussions among the people, from the day
laborer to the capitalist, fully proves that peo-
pie who, three, five or ten years ago, would not
admit the possibility of any good coming out
of any municipal ownership of electric light
and gas plants, water works, street railways,
etc. have become convinced that the extor-
tons and expressions of corporate greed may
be successfully met by adopting this much So
cialism, These citizens who have been grad
ually forced to this conclusion by the changing
in industrial conditions and the extraordinary
consultations and mergers of great property
;n,arests. are not Irresponsible wild-eyed agi-
,ators, but careful, intelligent prCperty-owning