Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1905-03-04

our people submit to the dictatlon OF
New Yorker brokers as to the price
which they will accept for their cot
ton and that the Standard Oil Com
pany and allied interests Of insurance
companies, etc, shall determine the
price at which they shall dispose OF
crude oil from the seed mills.
The first instance referred to Is the
forming of an association TO handle
the cotton crop, prepare for storing
any surplus that may be raised and
the advancing of money OF cotton
thus stored until a legitimate price is
offered. The successful termination
of this movement seems to be near at
hand, and when the cotton planters OF
the State can defy the manipulation
of Wall street dealers much will have
been accomplished for the advance
ment of Mississippi. The action OF
Mr.. Wilson, of Lexington. and other
moneyed men throughout the State, in
offering storage and advances to aid
the attempted revolution, is highly
commendable and stamps them as
deeply interested in the welfare OF
our commonwealth. 1t means more to
Mississippi than the mere handling
advantageously of the cotton pro-
duced, and sets an example for our
people to follow in cutting loose from
the domination and dictation of trusts
and combines that at present are prac-
tically in control Of the whole country,
legislative and executive.
The second, and of equal impor-
lance with the first, is the movement
to build a refinery in the State for re-
fning crude cotton seed oil, thereby
fitting for export as we'll as home con
sumption. There are rs oil mills in
the State which are not controlled by
what is known as the trust, under
whatever name 1t may be locally
known. None of these mills have a
refinery and there is none where their
product can be refined except under
control of the greatest trust the world
has ever known, the Standard Oil
Company, and its associated interests.
These rs mills then were compelled
to consult the sweet will of the trust
and smilingly accept anything offered
for their oil. Representatives from
these mills met in Jackson a few days
since and formulated a plan for break
ing away from the trust and refining
their W product. Committees are
hard at work now completing arrange
ments and shortly a second meeting
will be held to put the plan into ex-
e%cution. A proud day it would be for
Mississippians should they be able
to defy these two great influences that
are at present the terror of all indie
pendent interests in the United States,
and in a number of foreign countries.
These movements seemingly come
at a very opportune time. President
Roosevelt Is waging a war against the
great transportation companies in rate
discrimination and has thrown down
the gage of battle to Standard Oil.
What will be the result of this activity
is only conjecture, the sincerity OF
the movement being questioned in
many quarters. However, the writer
believes that it will not be without re-
suits of a beneficial nature. Kansas
has openly defied Standard Oil, out
having it, passed a law to build It's
W refineries and go into the market
as an individual. Kansas is an oil
producing State and can accomplish
something along the line indicated.
Texas has entered the fight against
the oil trust with energy and is doing
well so far. The action of the cotton
and cotton oil men of Mississippi will
only strengthen the positions taken
by these States. There seems to be
something like a sympathetic move
ment against the trusts all over the
country, and our State is falling into
line very properly.
The campaign being waged by Thos.
w. Lawson, be he what he may, is
surely bearing good fruit. lawson
was probably as deep in tho mire as
Standard Oil and its insurance CO.
horts, but there Is much truth in the
old saying anent when thieves fall
out" etc. The people Of Mississippi
have always expressed a desire to
fight combinations that were won to
Cypress consumers of any product
The opportunity is now offered them
and it goes without saying that they
will Loyalty stand behind the institu'
tons provided for that purpose. A
series of articles giving light upon the
nefarious practices of the great trusts
are now being arranged to appear
during the spring and summer in al
papers throughout the State that de
sire them. A campaign OF education
supported by facts and figures, will be
i%naugurated. More than two and u
quarter million dollars is paid by the
people of the State to a trust for one
commodity that has become necessary
about which some startling allegations
are made, National Legislation is
largely made at the command OF the
trusts and in their interest. In these
things all Mi~ssissippians are vitalll
interested. A Greater Mississippi
means that her people shall be ener
getic, persevering, broad-gauged anc
well posted upon all matters pertain
ing to the general welfare. The tim
to begin such a movement Is rlsh'
now. 1t is a duty of every man tt
know these things,
The success of any man agains'
seemingly insurmountable obstacles !!
the admiration of an appreciative pub
lie. Where brains, energy and capita
win in fair combat with opposing
forces of a non-progressive charactei
the discerning populace is ready tt
heartily applaud. Such has been th'
case with Capt. j. T. Jones in his cam