Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1905-10-26

TEE srArpARp OrL COMPAMY.
Some Reasons For IT. Dominance
Over the OIL Industry-A Brief
Resume Of It's Policies and

Inc 0bhuuhEu va oVuPe"y
many critics and is Of course legiti-
mate subject for criticism. TO the
volume Of adverse comment this paper
has contributed from time to time.
But II occurs to US that not all OF the
criticism has been justified BY the
facts. 1t Is natural for failure to
envy success, for those who have not
to criticise those who have. Expert
ence has shown us that this corpora
ton 10 capable Of taking care Of itself
10 the face Of opposition or criticism.
Therefore in this article we are not
attempting to pose as the defenders
Of that company. We have NO brief
| for the defense. But the success OF
this concern, rightly interpreted
carries q lesson and q moral. And
we always desire to be fair in our
treatment Of all questions. all inter-
ests and all individuals and corpora
tions.
The charge is made that the Stand
ard has profted very largely by Sc
curing from the railroads rebates and
concessions not granted to other
shippers. To this charge the COM
pany has submitted q defense in
which 1t has admitted that years ago
before the era Of general railroad con-
solidatiop, when many railroad lines
we're in active competition for bust.
ness and the published rates were
simply basis upon which to begin
figuring private rate agreements they
did secure many concessions from the
railroad companies. 1t is claimed
that these agreements were sanctioned
or at least not forbidden by law, that
they were granted not alone to this
company, but to all other large
shippers and even in many cases to
competitors OF their own. They adj
init that such concessions are wrong
In principle and they further claim
that since the enaction Of the Inter-
state Commerce law, prohibiting such
agreements, they have Scrupulously
refrained from it's violation. Whether
this claim is true or false is to be de-
termined BY court Of inquiry, not
by noisy assertion,
1t 10 charged that this company is
a monopoly and that 1t has BEEN OPP
pressive in its dealings with Competi-
tors. The first charge 10 untrue on
its face, for this company has not q
monopoly Of the oil business, But 1t
lie true that it has dominating con-
troll of tho majority o. the business in
this country and controls an imPor-
tant minority Of the business abroad,
| and is enabled, to some extent, apart
from the law Of supply and demand,
to establish prices for the crude Pc
troleum it buys and the manufactured
product it sells.
i As to the matter Of "cruBhing Of
competitors" probably the defense
would be made that this company has
fought for its own side seven as you
and l." It issaid that competition is
the life Of trade" but 1t 10 also "war"
land ''war is hell" The grocery man
strives in every way to hold his own
trade and to win to his counters the
patrons Of bis rival. II he has advan'
tage over that rival In the way OF bet
ter location, lower rent, shorter haul,
ability to grant longer credit or what
not, he uses them all unsparingly to
enhance his prosperity at the expense
Of his rival. That the Standard has
used all its advantages to gain, to
hold and extend its markets there is
no doubt. II in this fight 1t has been
brutal, ovsrbeAring, dishonest as
many allege 1t should be condemned.
i II 1t has transgressed the moral law,
it should be scored by the lash Of pub
lilo sentiment; IL it has violated the
statute law 1t should be punished as
would be any private offender.
] But all these things SO charged do
not explain the wonderful success Of
this company. and 1t is to some Of the
other reasons for its continued pros.
perity, which We believe to have been
the most potent that we desire to call
attention for they must be considered
in making up the judgment on Tie
company.
rhe Standard differs from the other
great, dominating corporations In
that it is not q combination Of COM
mating companies, bat an association