The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-24
a MODERN INSTANCE.
a Simple Trust Story, but Not a Story
Of Simple Trust.

The Interstate Commerce commits
sion has been hearing q case in the
last few days which is a very simple
story. A firm Of sellers of oil in
Brooklyn were doing a prosperous
business. They bought their supply
from the standard Oil company. When
the business grew big enough to be
worth while to Rockefeller greed the
trust was not content 10 make its pro-
fits on the oil sold to the firm az
wholesale; it wanted both its previous
prNfi1 Of wholesale and the little ArIn ;
prori1 at retail II determined that the
ffrrn must get out Of business. 1t was
bound to swallow the whole thing.
Note the method. simple as the story.
A competitor came into the helu-
The complainants declare thal tne
competing outfit was set up BY the
trust, to Kill off the firm which was
earning the profits coveted BY the
Rockefellers. At any rate, the StaH-
dard Oh began to raise Its wholesale
urfce on the firm sentenced TO be eX-
terminated This forced the victims
IL raise the retail price or lose money
BUT the newly arrived competitor did
not raise prices for the reason, the
complainants charge, that the whole
sale price was not increased on the en-
terprise which was to drive out the old
concern. obviously the condemned
firm must get cheaper oil or go out OF
business as the consumers would not
paw more to 1t than TO the other for
10 get cheaper oil the firm which
had been marked for slaughter BY the
Rockefellers went west to independent
PRODUCERS and made arrangements to
shin oil In tank cars. The price was so
favorable the service so satisfactory
tie other benefits so striking, that the
firm was able to do more business than
before It built UP large trade 1t
n m
only was holding its former trade,
gained when dealing with the trust
but IT was taking trade away from the
Standard Oil and its agencies This
was considers bly, more than the trust
had bargained for. 1t had arranged
10 ruin a retailer by putting up the
price of his supply on him where he
could not live in competition, but 6y
driving him to an independent source
OF supply il had shown him now to
make more money and how to dim
inish the business and profits of the
trust This was also to be stopped
The firm. now independent and
prosDerous found that 1t could not GET
fhe railroads to haul and deliver its
tank cars containing the Independent
OH. The railway agents said the bust
mess was too dangerous. The dripping
Oil might catch fire in the terminals
and burn up railroad sheds. trains Of
freight whole terminals. There was
no telling what damage might not
happen to property and lives from
hauling these tank cars Of oil supplied
bv independent producers and TO be
sold BY an independent firm in com
pet5tion with the Rockefellers. The
railroads could haul cars Of the stan
dard Oil Trust; they could take care
Of the shipments to dealers in the
trusts oil. no great danger here But
not So with the independent producers
and handlers. Their oil must not be
handled.
What the independent firm wants
the Interstate Commerce commission
70 determine is whether tie standard
on Trust has the right to arrange
that common carriers shall transport
only standard Oil products. What the
arm wants to he Informed about is
whether the United States government
sarrtfons. conditions whereby when the
standard Oil can't club a dealer to
death directly with its own weapon
o9 pipe lines, prices and delivery. IT