Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-03-23
Rockefeilers
Responsible
For Growth
of Socialism
By
L ID WA X l. w.
OCH.
Governor of
Kansas

" CANNOT but REGRET that the supreme court of Kan
ss declared the refinery law unconstitutional. do not
crticise the Judges nor question their findings, but at the
-A@ same time cannot keep from wishing that they had found
it possible to put another construction on the law.
OTHER STATES ARE TAKING \ GREAT INTEREST
in the Kansas oil law. Legislators of several of our sister states have
secured copies of the Kansas laws for the purpose of studying and
adapting them to the needs of the interests peculiar to their common
weaEIs. Among them was a MAJ from Texas, Il ma prominent in
the legislature of that state, who took copies of all the laws pertaining
to the oil industry, the refinery law included. I'VE CAN HAVE A
STATE REFINERY THERE" he said. Our laws give the state
more power than yours do here in Kansas"
THIS IDEA that the state should have a refinery HAS GROWN
UPON Me. | did not like the plan at first. In fact, was opposed
to it because it seemed a step toward Socialism. But the more pom
dered over the situation in which the oil men were placed the better [
thought of the state refinery idea, until l AN CONVINCED that
it would have been "A great help
1t would have given the state "A direct interest in the development
of these great natural resources. Moreover, it would have enabled
the state t. observe from the inside the operation and effect of the sup
Elementary laws pertaining to the oil industry, THE CONTROL OF
FREIGHT RATES AND THE PREVENTION OF DIsCRTM-
NATION. And if it was found that these laws were inadequate or
insufficient the experience gained by the state through the operation
of the refinery and the marketing Of the product would form an Off
cal basis upon which our legislators might work to formulate other
and better laws.
A state refinery would NOT be A STEP TOWARD SOCIAL
ISM. On the contrary, in my opinion, it would do much ito stimulate
competition in the refining business. The amount of oil which it
would handle would be insignificant compared with the total produc-
ton of the field. But the fac. that the state a operating a refinery
ant ldt IL hu doplcd fNS Ip nc 'teclo :" te i'HhtlN eS"H9t
monopoly and stood ready to enforce these laws and guarantee to
every MAJ who might engage in the refining business a fair and equal
chance with any and all competitors, it seems to me, WOULD DE
VELOP THE COMPETITIVE SYSTEM along right and proper
lines instead of advancing Socialism.
THE BOOKSELLERS ARE THE MEN WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE
FOR THE CREATING OF THE SENTIMENT IN FAVOR OF SOCIAL
ISM WHICH is FOUND OVER OUR LAND TODAY. THEY ARE THE
ONES WHO ARE DOING MOST TO OVERCOME THE COMPETITIVE
SYSTEM. THEY ARE BUILDING UP THE SOCIALISM OF MO-
NoPoLY.
Unless they are curbed the people will come to the idea that
RATHER THAN ENDURE THE SOCIALISM OF MONOP-
| OILY, where all the industries OF the country are controlled by a few,
THEY WILL TURN TO THE SOCIALISM OF THE STATE
by taking these industries from the few and turning them over to the
many.
[ AM NOT A SOCIALIST. regard it a dangerous theory.
1t is a soponfc which would put the people to sleep don't think any
one can be waited to the skies on lowery beds of ease. Socialism is a
beautiful theory, but IT TAKES COMPETITION TO BRING
OUT THE BEST THERE is IN MEN. 1t is the man who takes
the hard knocks and presses on who wins. You don't hear anything
about the boys of Pierpont Morgan, of Wanamaker, of Stewart and
the like.
lens by which they are confronted and solve them right. Two of the
greatest aids of civilization in this country today, in my opinion, are
the rural mail routes and the telephone. BY them people arc kept in
touch with what is being done.
THE POLITICIAN WILL HAVE TO DEAL FAIRLY WITH THEM
OR THEY WILL DEPosE HIM.