The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1905-02-03
"A Great Fight

legislature is on. 1t is simply the
rights of the people of Kansas
against corporate greed and mono
poly.
The oil and gas corporations VIII
be assisted in their fight by the
mighty railroad corporations. In
fact the Standard Co. seems to be
making its fight through It's pals,
the, railroads.
The members OF this Legislature
will be thoroughly tried, and If
they have a weakness 1t will be
found.
The attorneys and lobbyists of
the great systems are in Topeka and
they are backed up by the oil and
gas corporations with their millions
of m oney and the right will be sorely
tried. 1t is to be hoped that the
members have the nerve and innate
honesty to withstand the influences
that will be brought to bear this
winter and stand firm, firm for
Kansas and Kansas interests.
This is the most important ses'
sion of the Kansas legislature tol
many years. There are more I'm
portant questions to the state q
stake right now than we nave
grappled with almost since we nave
been a state or are likley 10 meet II
manl wear to come. The question
simply is shall the people OF th'
state have some voice in the dis
position and management OF he
wealth or shall the whole state b
run and controlled by the big TOR
eign corporations. This is TN
turning point. If these corpora
tions carry their point this tim
they will have US in their clutche
and we will be bound up so tigh
that it will be next to useless t
souirm. The Standard Co., as,
well known, PRACTICAL controls tn
policy of our great railroads, an
they dance to her bidding.
AS soon as the Standard had he
pipe line into Kansas City ana
was to her interest to have highe
rates on crude oil, the price doubleo
When small independent rehner
starts in to refine a little OF tn
surplus Kansas oil that the Stan
dard cannot handle, discrimlna
ing rates are made against Its pro
ducts in the interest of the Star
dard.
The Standard Co, will sell Il
refined product over the state ger
orally at15 to 2oc per gallon e.
cept in the towns by the indepet
pent product where it sells for II
or less And now when the pre-
dncers of oil ask for the state
Kansas to put in an independeI
refinery and operate it with convl'
labor. we find the railroad lobh
very strong at Topeka, workir
against the proposition, because
is against the interests of their gre'
natron and dictator, the Standar
OIL Co.
Could a state refinery be estal
Iisbed it would be a solar plexu
blow to this great monopoly. On'
Kansas the leader in so many II
forms, shows to the world th'
tits not afraid to tackle the gre'
monopoly, other states viii follo
and the rights of the people VIII
vindicated But let Kansas fali
this. her golden opportunity an
the great monopoly is fully II
trenched within our borders.
The eyes of the whole Unite
States are now upon us. The wo'
has gone out that Kansas has line m.
up against the Standard Co, wni'
has controlled, made or broke II
great industries of the east at n
will and we have the sympathy
the people with us. Succeed an
NE maintain our we'll earned repui
ron of being a fearless progressi'
people, fail and bow to the oic'a'
a the grea. corporation ana
hut become a laughing stock II