The Tupelo journal., 1905-03-03
BY H. E. BLAKESLEE, Jackson.

r Il WI dCIIOuS u tie pSopiC VI thAo
sissippi recently taken can be looked
upon as auguring great good for the
State in the future. They indicate a
breaking away from old alignments
and forming new connections for the
public welfare. That no longer Will
our people submit to the dictation or
New Yorker brokers as to the price
which they will accept for their cot
ton and that the Standard Oil Com
pany and allied interests OF insurance
companies, etc, shall determine the
price at which they shall dispose OF
crude oil from the seed mills.
The first instance referred to is the
forming of an association to handle
the cotton crop, prepare for storing
n surplus that may be raised II
the advancing of money on cotton
thus stored until g legitimate price is
offered. The successful termination
of this movement seems*to be near at
hand. and when the cotton planters OF
the State can defy the manipulation
of Wall street dealers much will have
been accomplished for the advance
ment of Mississippi. The action OF
Mr.. Wilson,, of Lexington, and other
moneyed men throughout the State, IN
offering storage and advances to aid
the attempted revolution, is highly
commendable and stamps them as
deeply interested in the welfare or
our commonwealth. 1t mean more to
Mississippi than the mere handling
simultaneously OF the cotton pro-
duced, and sets an example for u
people to follow in cutting loose from
the domination and dictation OF trusts
and combines that at present are prac-
tically in control of the whole country,
legislative and executive.
The second, and of equal impor-
lance with the first, is the movement
to build a refinery in the State for re-
filming crude cotton seed oil, thereby
fitting for export as well as home con-
sumption. There are 70 oil mills in
the State which are not controlled by
what is known as the trust, under
whatever name it may be locally
known. None of these mills have a
refinery and there is nom where their
product can be refined except under
control of the greatest trust the world
has ever known, the Standard Oil
Company, and its associated interests.
These rs mills then were compelled
to consult the sweet will OF the trust
and smilingly accept anything offered
for their oil. Representatives from
these mills met in Jackson a few days
since and formulated a plan for break
ing way from the trust and refining
their own product. Committees are
hard at work now completing arrange
ments and shortly a second meeting
will be held to put the plan into ex-
ecution. A proud day it would be for
Mississippians should they be able
to defy these two great influences that
are at present the terror of all indie
pendent interests in the United States,
and in a number of foreign countries.
These movements seemingly come
at a very opportune time. President
Roosevelt is waging a war against the
great transportation companies in rate
discrimination and has thrown down
the gage of battle to Standard OH.
What will be the result Of this activity
is only conjecture, the sincerity Of
the movement being questioned in
many quarters. However, the writer
believes that it VII not be without re-
suits of a beneficial nature. Kansas
has openly defie3 Standard Oil, Il
having it, passed a law to build its
own refineries and go into the market
as an Individual. Kansas is an oil
producing State and can accomplish
something along the line indicated.
Texas has entered the fight against
the oil trust with energy II is doing
well so far. The action of the cotton
and cotton oil men of Mississippi will
only strengthen the positions taken
by these States. There seems to be
something like a sympathetic move
ment against the trusts all over the
country, and our State is falling into
line very properly.
The campaign being waged by Thos.
w. Lawson, be he what he may, is
surely bearing good fruit. Lawson
was probably as deep in the mire as
Standard Oil and it's insurance CO.
horts, but there is much truth in the
old saying anent when thieves fall
out" etc. The people of Mississippi
have always expressed a desire to
fight combinations that were wont to
Cypress consumers of any product.
The opportunity is now offered them
and it goes without saying that they
will Loyalty stand behind the institu-
tions provided for that purpose. A
series of articles giving light upon he
nefariCus practices of the grea. trusts
are now being arranged to appear
during the spring and summer in all
papers throughout the State that de-
sire them. A campaign OF education,
supported by facts and figures, will be
inaugurated. More than two and a
quarter million dollars is paid by the
people of the State to a trust for one
commodity that has become necessary
about which some startling allegations
are made. National legislation is
largely made at the command of the
trusts and in their interest. In these
things all Mississippians are vitality
interested. A Greater Mississippi"
means that her people shall be ener-
getic, ~persevering, brOad-gauged and
well posted upon all matters pertain
ing to the general welfare. The time
to begin such a movement is right
now. 1t is a duty of every mar to
know these things.
The success of any man against
seemingly insurmountable obstacles Is
the admiration of an appreciative pub
lie. Where brains, energy and capital
win in fair combat with opposing
forces of a non-progressive character
the discerning populace is ready to
heartily applaud. Such has been the
case with Capt. j.. 7. Jones in his cam
paign to give mississippi a deep wa
ter harbor and safe port for handling
the commerce of the country.
Gulfport offers to the marine inter
ests of the world a safe and conven-
lent harbcr with something like TWEEN
ty-five feet of water. A direct north
and south line of road offers uneX-