The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-02-28
WHAT THE ORGAN SAYS
Standard. Oil Newspaper on Kansas
Oil Controversy.


An editorial appeared in the New
York Commercial of February II
which is significant. inasmuch as it
expresses the sentiments of the
Standard Oil party in their efforts to
belittIe the fight which has been begun
on the Standard Oil in Kansas, which
fight is already spreading to other
states.
The New York Commercial is owned
by Henry H. Rogers who with John
d. Rockefeller controls more railroad,
banking and financial Institutions and
industrial enterprises than any other
combination of men.
Mr.. Rogers is one of the Standard
Oil representatives who were recently
elected to the board of directors of the
Santa F'e railroad, which indicates that
the Santa Fe is amenable to the wishes
of the Standard Oil people in regard
to many matters in which that trust
is interested.
Because of the fact that the Com
merciaI is owned by Mr.. Rogers, it
may be regarded as the official mouth
piece of Mr.. Rogers, Mr.. Rockefeller
and the Standard Oil crowd. The
Commercial says:
Concisely stated, what the resolution
unanimously adopted by the house of
representatives on Wednesday calls for
is thorough-going investigation of the
Standard Oil company and its methods,
though that corporation IS not men
toned. The immediate provocation for
this sudden demand is the alleged do
ingS of the trust in the state of
Kansas. the resolution having been
introduced by Mr.. Campbell of that
state and calling for inquiry into the
cause of the low price of crude oil,
especially in the Kansas field" If
the action of the company has been
precisely that alleged, it is peculiarly
fragrant instance of the exercise of
monopolistic power and calls not only
for inquiry but for remedy; but there
( wis in he 9d0nfad
by the legislature of Kansas for meet
ing the situation by establishing
state oil refinery under an evasion of
the constitution.
The discovery of petroleum deposits
and the opening of oil wells in Kansas
is a recent development, and, according
to the statements of Mr.. Campbell, no
sooner did that become promising field
than agents of the Standard Oil COM
pany appeared and bargained with the
owners of the land for the output of
crude oil. It was allowed to introduce
its pipe lines and pumping stations, ana
practically to monopolize the field, on
the assurance that it would pay a dollar
a barrel for the oil. After it had got
full possession and ether means OF
transporting and disposing of the pro-
duct had been run out of the HELD the
price was cut down to fOrty-seven cents |
a barrel. and when an appeal was made !
to the legislature for some measure or
redress the Standard Oil company I'M |
uerIOOk TO Dr1nS the wen OWHSIS " /
terms by a boycott, ordering its pump |
ing stations to be shut down and refus- |
ing to take the Kansas oil at any price. |
This is the substance of the statement |
of Representative Campbell, and the de- |
mand for an investigation seems to be
quite justified, not merely into this par |
ticular case but into the questions pre-
scented by the resolution, whether the |
alleged conditions there and elsewhere |
have resulted in whole or in part from |
any contract combination in the form |
of trust or otherwise. or conspiracy in |
restraint of trade and commerce among |
the several states" and whether prices
have been controlled in whole or III part |
by any corporation or combination en-
gagged in interstate commerce by any |
order of discrimination, boycotts, etc.
Equally justified is the proposed inquiry /
into the Organization, profits, conduct |
corporation or corporations, company or |
and corporate combination, /
if any,
While the investigation under the au-
thority of the department of commerce
and labor. which has been for months
the ALLEGED beef trust, is /
desirable, it is not likely to afford a
prompt remedy for the situation com
planned of in Kansas; but the Populis-
tic method of dealing with it by the leg
islature of that state is the application /
Of a remedy that in its ultimate results
will prove worse than the disease. which
should be susceptible of much more eff
fective treatment. The bill which has /
already been passed with ill-eonsidered /
haste provides for the establishment of
a state refinery at Peru in the midst of
the oil fields, in connection with new
penitentiary located there for the pur- !