Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1905-02-16
Kansas Gets Into the Field
Against the Standard
REFINERY BILL PASSED
An Appeal to the President Against
the Oppression ard Methods OF the
Standard Oil Trust in the Sou
Western Field.

Topeka, Kas.. Feb. I5.-A bill pro-
viding for state oil refinery passed
the Kansas house of representative
today. Gov. Hoch Will sign the bin
at once. Under its provisions a refn-
cry will be located at Peru. Kansas.
and another penitentiary viii be built
there to provide convict labor for the
refinery
An appropriation of SAFE. 900 is made
for the buildings and maintaining the
refinery and penitentiary This ends
one Of the most bitter fights ever made
in the legislature. The Standard oil
company and the railroads have main
tanned strong lobbies here. Vainly try
ing to defeat the bill.
The Kansas oil Producers associa-
tiOn yesterday afternoon sent the fol
lowing telegram to President Roose-
welt:
'"To Theodore Roosevelt. Washington
'The undersigned. representing the
oil producers of the state OF Kansas
and speaking for the intelligent ana
industrious people of the state and
VOicing the spirit of American fairplay
everywhere, appeal TO you and through
your secretary of the interior. and by
you to the congress of the United
States for help in the undertaking -
the legislature Of the state To protect
the oil industry OF the state from she
oppression Of the Standard oil trust
Because the legislature presumes to
: exercise a natural function % govern
ment by legislatinS for the welfare and
protection of industries within the bor-
/ ders of the state against the oppression
| of all mOnopolies; and because the les
3 a
of a public oil refinery as a means 90
preserving and making profitable tho
! oil industry. the general manager %
+ the Standard Oil company has declared
a boycott upon Kansas oil. and one 90
his subordinates has insulted our Pco-
pie by expressing in the public prints
a groundless fear that they viii de-
stroy the company's property.
I'VE further represent 20 YOU that a
menace 10 the crude oil market IL the
continued ownership by the Standard
oil company of what is known as the
Foster lease of the Usage Indian res
ervation. This reservation includes
one and one-half million acres or land.
which contains a reservoir OF petro-
leum so rich that if the Standard oil
company should own and develop Il.
that company will have a supply of oil
that will make il 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 STAN
dard Oil company and the producers
appeal TO the president. the secretary
of the interior and the congress 20 70
fuse the application now pending for
its extension. 1t is too much FOR the
government to give 10 the Standard
Oil company or its agents. an organ
ization which is already so powerful
that it presumes to be greater than the
people and the government The kan
/ SaS oil field has been developed on the
promise of fair play and good prices
, by the Standard oil company. bu-
: now that the supply is sufficient To-
the needs of the company. il. as IL has
; done in other fields, has reduced the
price below a profit. and the men who
) have invested their money will lose u
: and the field will languish. unless the
government state and nation refuses
5 to confer upon the company addition
al rights and franchises and turns in
, the other direction and legisiaIes for
/ the people awhile.
Respectfully submitted.
kansas Oil Producers Assn
by H. D. West. President
HH r Parker Secretary