Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-03-03
H|1 Trust WITH SPUDS
Potatoes May Play an Import
and Part In the Fight
y Against Standard Oil
THE FusEL OIL PRODUCT
Germany Produces Large Quantities
From Potatoes, and Sells 1t In Com
petition With Petroleum Products
Good Money in the Rusiness-May
be Encouraged in United States.

Washington, March 3.-For the first
time in the history of the country, fed
eral and state authorities seem COM
bining for the purpose Of bringing an
oppressive trust under proper regula-
ton. It is the understanding here, that
IL the inquiry into Standard Oil affairs
by western states and the government
develops the insufficiency of existing
laws to correct the evils complained of,
the president will make the subject
prominent in his message to congress
next winter, asking for supplemental
legislation. But If, on the other hand,
the government already has the requi-
site power the Standard Oil Company
is to be given shakeup in the courts
similar to that now being prepared for
the beef trust.
General Movement on Trusts.
It is undoubtedly the purpose of the
president, during the next four years,
to make q general forward movement
against the trusts, without fear or ia
vor. His course thus far is merely a
promise Of what is to come. 1t is his
laudable ambition to accomplish some-
thing worth while in the interest OF the
people against these modern represen-
tatives of medieval feudalism, and
when he says that the whole machinery
of the federal government is to be
brought into play to that end, the peo-
pie may confidently believe that he
means what he says.
Meanwhile, the recent agitation
against the Standard Oil Company has
brought out suggestion which may
prove to be Of the highest value. The
suggestion comes from Representative
Stevens, of Minnesota, who is one of
the stronges. men in congress from the
middle west. 1t is well known that
the Standard Oil Company, in addition
to supplying illuminating oil, manu-
features large number Of by-products
from crude petroleum. Several years
ago, during the agitation in congress
over the Cuban reciprocity treaty, 1t
was discovered that alcohol produced
in Germany, France and Sweden con-
tanned 10 pei. cent more heat, light and
power units sthan petroleum. and was
sold at retail in those countries for the
same price that petroleum demanded in
this country.
Tariff Club Over Standard Oil.
This discovery may serve an impor-
tant purpose when congress gets ready
to revise the tariff, possibly at it's next
session. Such a revision as Mr.. Ste
vens has in mind would strike the
"a Nod III
perhaps, do more than all things else
put together to bring this offensive
trust to relizaing sense Of the rights
Of the people. Mr.. Stevens would have
the schedules covering potatoes, sugar
beets, corn and like products so amend
ed as to establish in this country a
market for tremendously increased
yield Of those articles. This excess
yield could then be converted into al
cohol, after the existing custom in the
European countries just named, and
this alcohol would come directly into
competition with Standard oil petrole-
UNI for the generating of heat, light
and power. The trust would here
present the tenderest spot in it's body
to the inviting thrust Of the knife of
competition in the hands of the public
corn, ETC., can produce grade of al
cohol costing much less than petrole-
um used for the purposes enumerated,
substantial progress would at once be
made toward depriving the trust of
much of it's present power.
The alcohol thus made, would, Of
course, be denaturalized, SO as to pre-
vent its use as beverage. Thus the.
sition from temperance people.
Good Thing for Farmers.
Mr. Stevens believes that this sug-
gestion of his offers ready avenue OF
escape from Standard Oil oppression.
and he will be ready at the proper time.
to press it on the attention of congress.
He calls attention to the fact that the
agricultural products which he names
can be grown more cheaply, both as re-
CARDS money and toll, than almost any |
other of the farm crops. The opening; |
up OF a greatly enlarged market for
these crops would add immeasureably |
to the agricultural wealth of the eoun
try, and Improve the condition of the
farmer CORES pondingly. A large price
and reader market would always;
be waiting for these crops, and in time.
the Standard Oil Company's richest
by-products would be driven out of the
field.
In this connection a recent repor,.
from Consul General Frank II. Mason
at Berlin is interesting. German fusel
oil is by-product of the manufacture
of alcohol, from potatoes, corn and
other grains, the refuse of noIasses
and the refuse from sugar-beet factor.
the crops which are re-.
ferred to by Mr.. Stevens Until a few
years ago the Germans regarded the
by-products from which fusel oil Il,
made as mere waste. Today the Unit.
ed States buys nine-tenths of the total
German output of fusel oil and Great
Britain the other one-tenth. This oil
Is used in manufacture of varnishes,
perfumes, certain explosives. and. it is
said. certain grades of confectionery
The demand for it in the United States
developed very rapidly and the ex..
ports from Germany increased to 223
AfrtD $Nr t,, |