The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-01-12
Monuments sac Cemetery WORT
TIME TO CALL A HALT.
Standard Oil Company is Too Arrogant
BY Far.

BY Far.
from Fridays Daily.
The American people are now con-
fronted, and squarely, with the question
of whether this is government along
the lines laid dawn by LINCOLN, whether
it is a government of the will of the
majority as expressed through the
ballot box, or in reality and at
bottom but a government of, by and for
money Are our real rulers but aggre
cations of corporation magnates, or the
ones chosen by the people?
That the Standard Oil company and
other corporations of vast wealth have,
through their agents, corrupted legis-
lative bodies, defeated the enactment of
laws drawn up for the protection of the
people, and forced the passage of, bills
in the interest of said corporations and
for their protection, people have long
since been convinced, even previous to
the recent startling life insurance dis
closures. But now comes the Standard
Oil company, through one of its hirlings,
with the impudent declaration that that
corporation in owning congress is great
er than the government, and that John
ID. Rockefeller is bigger man than the
president of the United States. Wheth-
er Mr.. Rockefeller throws down the
gauntlet or whether the words are but
those of brassy braggart, is not
known One of the United States agents,
who has been investigating under the di-
rection of Mr.. Garfield, was suddenly
brought up standing, the other day, by
an official of the Standard Oil COM
pany with the following amazing threat,
coupled with the boast that that cor
poration has no fear of this government.
Here is what he said. Read it:
Eve are bigger than the government.
Standard Oil is stronger than the United
| OUdItS. VIC OMU CuC SCLdJC anu tiiV
house. If you pursue your inyestiga-
tons beyond the point necessary to fool
the public we will have you removed.
We can secure the instant deposition of
the secretary of commerce and labor,
Mr.. Metcalf, and the commissioner of
corporations, Mr.. Garfield. If you perse-
cute us in the slightest degree you will
be out of your job, and if you keep at
the business you will find what we say
is absolutely true. Rockefeller is big
ger man than Roosevelt"
There yau are, not probably so uneX-
pected as surprising. Are not the peo-
liabilities that there is too much truth in
this representative declaration? In the
face of such boast is it not time that
the honest people of the United States
were arousing themselves? OF the au-
thenticity of the utternaces quoted there
can be no doubt. 1t was probably not
authorized but it comes from and was
made by an official of the Standard Oil
company who believed that he knew
what he was talking about, whether he
was so instructed or not.
President Roosevelt. above all the
presidents this country has ever had,
is the best equipped to lead the fight
that must be made if we are not to be-
come nation of classes, of upper-ten
oppressors on the one hand, and low
down. oppressed millions upon the other.
The president cannot be corrupted with
money, swayed by party pressure or
cowed by politicians. The demand he is
making of congress for governmental
supervision of railway, insurance and
other great corporations must be hearth
" and earnestly seconded by the peo.
ple.-Wichita Daily Eagle.