The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-02-13

ton of his own and the stockholders
interests The situation was IN sucn
turmoil in Kansas, Mr.. Young said
that he could do nothing but suspend
operations until some plan of business
/ was evolved out OF chaos
He continued: 1.-The legislature OF
Kansas has passed an act appropriate
ing $500. 600 for a state oil refinery. and
\ Is now framing laws for the establish
ment of a pipe line. 1t is said convict
I labor is to be used, and that the state
I in this way Will compete with the
Standard oil company
The closing of the plants and shut
ting down of the pipe lines VIII let the
( legislators and people see what ad-
dustries of the state and will probably
create sentiment among the people in
favor of the state abandoning the plan
of entering the oil field.
why. the state of Pennsylvania
would be as wise to enter the iron
business. issuing bonds and building
furnaces and rolling mills. 1t would
be just as sane and just as profitable
TO the state. 1t would hurt the bust
ness here as much as state competi-
ton will hurt our business out there
and were bound to take care of our
interests"
Good Wishes From Ohio.
Toledo. Feb. 13.-At a meeting Sun
day of the Western OiImen's associa-
ton, composed of crude oil producers
in the Trenton rock oil fields of Ohio
was discussed by the thirty or forty
members present and the fol-
lowing resolutions were unanimously
adopted:
Resolved. First-That it is the sense
of the producers and others interested
here assembled that the state of Kan
sas is entitled to sympathy and moral
support Of the oil trade everywhere in
its contest with the Standard Oil COM
pany.
Secondhand in the recent action
of the said company in promulgating
the extraordinary order suSpending
in the Kansas field it has violated high
class business principles and been
guilty of an act that is against good
public policy.
Third-That we hereby heartily in
dorse the Kansas legislature in it's ef-
forts to secure relief to the trade and
to see that justice be done
FOurth-That in view of the fact
that the rate of equal rights has been
ignored by the company. we hope that
the state will see that the Independent
producers have square deal and are
in a substantial manner In
their efforts to obtain relief from an
oppressive situation.
F'ifth-That in maintaining their !
priority rights. they should receive all
necessary aid not only from the state |
put from oil producers IN all other
1elds.
Resolved. That copy of these reso-
utions be forwarded to the speaker of
he house at Topeka, Kan.
It was the consensus of opinion that |
he action of the Standard OIL com
lany in suspending all work in the |
<arsas fields was not due so much to
he refinery bill now before the legis-
allure of that state as to the bill MAX
ng pipe lines common carriers.
Party Organ Weakens.
One of the administration organs,
he Kansas City Journal. is busy throw
ng cold water on the state refinery. 1t
avs editorially:
Can Kansas get along without the
standard company? In view of late
developments, that is a question which
hould be carefully considered. It may !
ssert, that the shutting down of the
Ompany'S plants in the state is all a
luff intended to influence legislati ton;
ut then, again, it may not be true. If
ot. how well can Kansas get along in
andling her oil output without the aid
f this great and experienced operator?
he question cannot be answered off
and. It requires serious study It is
ertain that the method which has been
dopted will be a failure; the state re-
merry project, besides being rankly
ocialistic, is clearly impractical. Might
s well attempt to bail out Lake Super
II with a hand scoop as to try to han
lie the Kansas oil yield with a little
wo-by-four state refinery. If there is
ny better method available it should
e brought forward"
The Kansas City Star throws up it's
at and says Kansas can lick the stuff
ng out of the Standard, and then fiat
2 asserts that the state refinery is no
ood- In this way the Star is lin line :
-hich ever way the bird flies.
Can't Forfeit Charter.
The opinion here is that the charter
the Standard cannot be forfeited by
s failure to buy Kansas oil.
Hill p. Wilson, assistant secretary of !
tate, who has been in office since the
ush corporation law went into effect,
avs that some other plan of making ,
'ouble for the Standard will have to
e found.
1T is absurd" said he, ito talk Of
sVoking the charter of the Prairie Oil
1mpany. This company can cease do !
lg business in the state today and
ever do another thing so long as its
larter exists and it cannot be driven !
ON the state unless it ceases to make
nnual reports to the state charter
flee out of the state. We have
lumber of corporations in the state
hich have done no business here for ,
N years. They are still in existence
owever, because they continue to
lake annual reports to the charter
0ard. This legislature might find some
leanS of compelling the Standard to .
eceive oil or forfeit its charter Such !
law would have to be carefully draft |
! so that it would not do an injustice
corporations which are seeking in
GOD faith to do business s
Battle TO the Death.
Speaker Stubs agrees with every
ody else that the Standard has made :
mistake He says: :
This is a battle to the death. and !
ome such thing as has been done by :
lie Standard might have been expect s
/. That was a very silly way to try z
} influence legislature, and especial '
a legislature made up of Kansas II
len. I believe that the men who are {