The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-02-17

company or any other corporations
have been violating the law.
When the Standard Oil company I'M
dertook to boycott and blacklist the oil
producers of Kansas it evidently did not
realize the storm it would raise. The
situation in Kansas has been subject
to constant attention here from the out
set and report seems to indicate that
the Standard Oil company has acted In
manner which is even more outrage
Gus than its customary methods.
People have been driven from their
homes Private property has been de-
stroyed. business in oil towns has come
to standstil, and there are said to
be, without exaggeration, thousands of
people who have lost their all as a
result of the attempt of this greedy
monopoly to capture the oil fields for
its own use and profit.
Representative Philip P. Campbell
of Pittsburg, Kan, took the bull by
the horns and after consultation with
Speaker Cannon, who was entirely
agreeable, secured recognition for the
Introduction of a resolution under sec
ton of the law creating the depart
n1ent of commerce and labor. which
declares the secretary shall also from
time to time make such special inveS-
LEGATIONS and reports as he may be re-
quired to do by the president or by
either house of congress or which he
himself may deem necessary or
urgent"
The house was in entire sympathy
with the member from Kansas, and
his resolution was passed by unani-
nous consent without the formality of
being referred to a committee. 1t does
not have to be submitted to the SEN
ate nor approved by the president The
secretary of commerce and labor is
Immediately required, therefore, to in
vestigate the oil question.
Representative Campbell is in dead
" earnest, and he thinks a trail has
been struck at last which may bring
the Standard Oil company to it's knees
begging for mercy.
"The Standard Oil company is mere
w a commercial bully he said in talk |
ton. "It has resorted' to all sorts OF
unlawful means to destroy its COM
petitors. It has robbed the people OF
nv section of employment, ruined
others, and generally acted in re-
straint of trade. We want to find out, |
once and for all, whether the United
States of America or the Standard Oil
comnanv is the bigger concern, and
whether Theodore Roosevelt mas more
mower than John Rockefeller.
ssThis resolution" continued Repre-
sentative Campbell, was inspired
merely by the condition of affairs
brought in my state by the unlawl n!I
cornDanv When oil was discovered IN
kansas its development was under
aiken by the farmers who owned the
IheX
whenever one was hot an agent OF the
Standard Oil company was on hand 20
nat the farmer on the back and tell
him TO go ahead. They furnished the
money in advance. took the oil at a
dollar q barrel, and shipped 1t to Kan
sas City. thus encouraging production
and stimulating the digging OF weils
tbroueho1lt the whole field.
s"Then came the Standard OH com
,an1y,s nine line. The owners equip
11ad their wells. made the necessary
cconnections at their own expense, ana
nrenared to ship their oil, with visions
Of fortunes at the promised rate OF FL
. barrel. Tank cars disappeared, the
nine line became indispensable, ana
then the price dropped and Kept on
dronping until it reached Al cents.
s.This may have been an old game
through Pennsylvania, but IL was
,1e1,- one for Kansas. The people nao
heen encouraged to spend their money
sinking wells and developing the terri
to,-v When the development had reach-
Cd lie limit the Standard Oil company ,
oI,+ down the price, and as there was
10 other nine line and no other refinery
there was no market for the product.
al This stage of the transaction, :
continued the Kansas statesman, "a bill
vas introduced into the legislature pro
vidiner for a state refinery as the only
way for making a market Tor cruue OH
while this bill was pending. and IN or
der to prevent its passage, the Stanoa1o