The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-02-10
STATE REFINERY BEST.
Governor Hoch says RockefeIIer's
Methods Cause Trouble.


Chanute. kan, Feb. 1o.-Governor
Hoch is still of the opinion which he
/ expressed III his first message TO the
/ Kansas legislature that Kansas should
have an oil refinery of its oWn-con-
trolled and operated by the state IN
/ an interview here he said:
4 cannot but regret that the su-
prenae court declared the refinery law
unconstitutional I do not criticlse the
judges nor question their findings, but
at the same time 1 cannot keep from
wishing that they had found it posi-
bic to put another construction on the
law.
Other states are taking a great in
terest in the Kansas oil law" Cover
nor HOch said. 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
commemorative Among them was
man from Texas, a man prominent in
/ the legislature of that state, who took
copies of ali the laws pertaining to the
( OIL industry the refinery law Included
/ We 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 rennery has grown upon me / did
not like the plan at first. In fact, I
was opposed to it because it seemed
/ step towards socialism. But the more
/ 1 pondered over the situation IN which
/ the OIL men were placed the better l
| thought of the state refinery idea, I'M
| til I am convinced that it would have
| been a great help.
1T would have given the state a di-
/ rect interest IN the DEVELOPMENT OF
these great natural resources. More
over, it would have enabled the state
! to observe, from the inside, the opera
| ton and effect of the supplementary
/ laws pertaining to the oil industry the
control of freight rates and the pre-
vention of discrimination. And if it
was found that these laws were made
| quate or insufficient, the experience
gained by the state through the opera
| of the product would form an official
basis upon which our legislators might
work to formulate other and better
laws.
"A state refinery would not be a step
/ toward socialism. On the contrary, inmy
opinion, it would do much to stimulate
competition in the refining business. The
amount of oil which it would handle
would be insignificant, compared with
the total production of the field. But the
fact that the state was operating a re-
| fnery and that it had adopted laws for
| the protection of the refinery against
monopoly and stood ready to enforce
| these laws, and guarantee to every man
| who might engage in the refining bust
ness fair and equal chance with any
and all competitors. that it seems to me
would develop the competitive system
along right and proper lines, instead of
| advancing socialism.
THE Rockefellers are the men who
/ are responsible for The creating of the
sentiment in favor of socialism which is
I found over our land today. They are
/ the ones who are doing most to over
/ come the competitive system They are
/ building up the socialism Of monopoly.
/ Unless they are curbed, the people will
4 come to the idea that rather than en-
dure the socialism of monopoly, 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 turn
/ ing them over to the many.
II am not d socialist" said the gov
| ernor with emphasis. Il regard it a dan
| gerous theory It is soporifie which
/ would put the people to sleep. I don't
/ think any one can be waited to the
! skies on fioWery beds of ease. Social
| ism is a beautiful theory, but" and he
/ waved his hands into the air with a
! gesture of dismissal.
/ TT takes competition to bring out the
/ best there is in men. It 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 Seward and the like.
! q believe that the people of the
/ United States will settle the problems
/ by which they are confronted and solve
/ them right. Two of the greatest aids
/ of civiliza ton in this country today. in
4 my opinion, are the rural mail routes
and the telephone. BY them people are
/ kept in touch with what is being done.
/ The politician will have to deal fairly
4 with them or they will depose him"
! The governor addressed the Y NJ. C..
/ A. convention here and was given a
/ great welcome by Chanute citizens.