The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-02-16
GARFIELD TO SIFT
TRUSTS METHODS
Continued from First Page.

by the state Of an oil refinery, but he
declines to say anything Of his inten-
lions. The two bills passed by the house
yesterday affect not only the Standard
Oil company, but other combines. The
freight bill makes the railroads common
carriers and in this way all trusts are to
be fought. The antidiscrimination bill,
tomorrow, is said to have enough
friends to ensure it's passage. This
measure was drawn up with the inten-
ton of preventing any trust from en-
tering Kansas and underselling the
state.
Appeal to President.
The Kansas Oil Producers associa-
ton has sent the following telegram to
President Roosevelt:
The undersigned, representing the oil
producers OF the state Of Kansas and
speaking for the intelligent and indus
trious people Of the state and voicing
the spirit of American fair play every
where. appeal to you, and thru your sec
rotary of tan interior and by you to the
congress 9 he United States, for help
the state to protect the oil industry of the
state from the oppression of the Standard
Oil trust.
Because the legislature presumes to ex-
ercise a natural function Of government
by legislating for the welfare and pro-
lection Of Industries within the borders
of the state against the oppression Of all
monopolies; and because the legislature
proposes to try the experiment Of public
oil refinery as means Of preserving and
making profitable the oil industry, the
general manager OF the Standard Oil COM
pany has declared a. boycott upon Kan
sas oil and one Of his subordinates has
insulted our people by expressing in the
public prints groundless fear that they
will destroy the company's property.
Controls Rich Tract.
We further represent to you that men
ace to the crude Oil market is a con-
tinued ownership by the Standard Oh
company of what is known as the Eos
ter lease" Of the Usage Indian reserva-
tion. This reservation includes one and
one-haf million acres Of land, which
contains a reservoir Of petroleum so rich
that if the Standard continues to own
and operate 1t it will have a supply OF
oil that will make it Independent of pri-
vate production, not only in the west
but all over the United States.
The lease is nominally held by 'straw
men, but it really is in the grip of the
Standard Oil company, and the oil pro-
ducers appeal to the president, the Sec
rotary of the interior and the congress
to refuse the application now pending fol
it's extension. It is \too much for thu
government to give the Standard Oil com.
pany or its agents, an organization which
is already SO powerful that it presumes
to be greater than the people or the gov.
eminent, whose courts give it protection
Want a Square Deal.
The Kansas oil field has been DEVELOPED
upon the promise of fair play and goot
prices by the Standard Oil company, but
now that the supply is sufficient for thu
needs Of the company, 1t, as it has done
in other fields, has reduced the price be-
low profit and the men who have in
vested their money will lose it and tn,
| field will languish unless the government
state and national. refuses to confer upo,
the company additional rights and fran
chises and turns in the other directio,
and legislates for the people awhile.