The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-02-28
AT The CAPITAL.
How Congressman Campbell
Rose to Prominence.
just a Little Resolution Did the
Work.
WAS NOT NOTICED.
Members Didn't Realize What
1t All Meant.
Text of the Little Document
That Started Things.
NOT NOTICED.


sessions, some thirty odd years ago,
went a young Scotch boy. with father
and mother, who in generations time
was to grow famous between two days;
and be responsible for the inception of
the most important investigation of the
most important corporation of the ma
ton.
On February is, 1905, Philip Pitt
Campbell one of the youngest members
of the house of representatives, member
of congress from the Third Kansas dis
trict, introduced the following resolu-
ton in the house when it met at IL
a. m:
Resolved, That the secretary of com
merce and labor be, and he is hereby,
requested to investigate the cause or
causes of the low price of crude oil or
petroleum in the United States, and
especially in the Kansas field, and the
unusually large margins between the
price of crude oil or petroleum and the
selling price of refined oil and it's by
products, and whether the said condi-
lions have resulted in whole or in part
from any contract, combination, in the
form of a trust, or otherwise or con-
spiracy in restraint of trade and COM
merce among the several states and ter
ritories, or with foreign countries; also
whether the said prices have been con-
trolled, in whole or in part by any cor
porate combination engaged in COM
merce among the several states and ter
ritories, or with foreign nations, also
whether such corporation, joint stock
company, OF corporate combination, in
purchasing crude oil or petroleum. by
any order or practice of discrimination,
boycOttS blacklistS, or in any manner
d1ScriminateS against any particular oil
field; also to investigate the organiza-
ton, capitalization, profits, conduct and
management of the business of such
corporation or corporations, company or
companies, and corporate combinations,
if any, and to make early report of its
findings, according to law, to the end
that such information may be used by
congress as a basis for legislation, or
by the department of justice as a basis
for legal proceedings"
Having consulted previously with
Joseph G. Cannon, speaker of the house
of representatives, Mr.. Campbell was
promptly recognized when he arose to
introduce his resolution, and he secured
its immediate consideration. It was
unanimously adopted.
It did not dawn on the average states
man and reader and observer of things
for nearly "a hours how wide was the
scope of the Campbell resolution Then
it began to be recognized what Won
drous power the skillfully Worded
phrases contained. 1t delegated to the
department of commerce and labor, and
through it, the commissioner of corpOr-
atiOnS, vast authority for a most COM
prehensive inquiry into not only the
transactions in the Kansas oil fields Of
the Standard Oil company, but into all
workings and financial dealings of that
gigantic corporation.
Greater grasp on the situation came
with the words of the president to
James r. Garfield, the young commits
sioner of corporations, to begin his work
under the Campbell resolution at once;
to go to the bottom of things; to report
his findings early.
There are now engaged in tracing the
alleged Determinations of the Standard
Oil company against the oil-producers
in the Kansas fields the most adroft
and skillfu1 of the special agents of the
bureau of corporations. Indeed, there
is excellent authority for the SUPPOSE
ton that Mr.. Garfield himself will per-
sonally direct the investigation.
After the Kansas investigation shall
reported to the president for his dispo-
sition, either to the department of jus
tice or to the congress of the United
States, for legal or legislative proceed
ing, then will come the more thorough
inquiry into Standard Oil matters gen.
orally. Indeed, there is no reasonable
way of ascertaining just how far into
the future this investigation, under the
Campbell resolution, may not proceed.
Philip Pitt Campbell is but 40 years |
of age. He was born in the Province
of Nova Scotia. His father was hardy |
Scot, who thought to try the great |
west OF the American continent, anu
to Kansas a generation since. |
The lot of the young representative who /
has initiated this fight against Stand |
ard Oil was not prepossessing in his |
early youth. The routine of the farm; |
the country school; the pleasures and |
rieidities of poor parents-this is not |
unlike the experiences of many Amer1-
can public men; but 1t IS not entirely a
deIightful life After the country schools
came through his own exertion, the
modest but rugged and virtuous Baker
one of the Oldest institutions
in the state of Kansas, situate at the
preceded Mr.. Campbell two Kan
sans who have made records
creditable to themselves ana
their state.Joseph /. Bristow, late
who purged Cuba of postal frauds ana
cleaned the postoffice department OF
graft and scandal so recently; and the
Rev. w. A. Quayle, divine, pnllos-
to the American continent. In this ex-
,ellent little college Mr.. Campbell laid
the foundation for his future
Having graduated at Baker unlVer-
struggle of life, as he prepared for the
bar. the profession he had marked
out for himself. He finally engaged
In practice at the then little town OF
Pittsburg. Kansas. which has grown
10 now to be the center of the great
coal region of the southeastern sec
ion of Kansas Here Mr.. Campbell
1uiIt up a lucrative law practice.
For years this young man was
known in his state as a bright attor-
1ey. a cultured young gentleman, and
4 strong public speaker But it was
lot until 1902 that his first essay into
politics occurred, when he received
he Republican nomination for con-
yress in the Third Kansas district. For
he second time in fourteen years he,
IS a Republican, carried the district
He came to Washington and modestly
md becomingly remained in the con-
yressionaI background until late in the
.econd session of the present congress.