The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-04-06


ltion that can but be bad for the mil
| liens invested in the fields OF this
state. Knowing the history of the
cases in other states and realizing all
that Is at stake, the conservation
with which this great concern must
be handled and regulated is the great
est and gravegt matter to come before
the peopls OF Oklahoma for many,
many years.
And The Leader knows there are
operators in the state who will tell
members Of the legislative body a
quarter million OF dollars will start
state rnnary. and that there Is
money In that class OF refneries II
tle state enters into the business, II
must be with the full knowledge that
twenty millions OF dollars would only
make It a very poor competitor OF any
one OF the great Standard relnerigs,
and an additional ten millions would
not moro than get started in this
business,
The question OF handling a gigan-
tic commercial enterprise can not be
settled in one day, one or even ten
years For four hundred years Eng
land had to contend with one trust.
and the struggle at times almost
wrecked the empire And this great
octopus has more millions in cash, to
be secured any day, than can he
raised by the present method OF taxa
ton OF any state IN the Nation in five
years time. Il sells to the consumer
the refined prciuets for a fourth less
than any other concern could afford
10 sell. and it has control of its own
railroads, ships, and, we at times are
led to fear that it has had some little
I influence 8t washington
An illustration can be cited in the
case OF the Illinois Central railroad
4 fight The oil fields OF Illinois were
opened in 1905. and the next year the
prices were held up and tae field rap.
/ idly developed The field was tray-
erscd two ways by branch lines Of the
Illinois Central railroad company and,
when the Standard claimed the pipe
lines would no handle the production
and stopped the taking OF oil. many
Of the operators were caught like
rats, and forced TO sell at whatever
they could save from the wrecks.
About this time The fact that oil was
lWOrla IN the fields bui 6i cents per
barrel and that the users I'm Chicago
OF crude oil would cheerfully pay So Is
per barrel. the illinois Central pu' on
Ioil ears and commenced 10 ship oil
for the independent producers.
Under the law OF Illinois the Stand
ard was unable to trarract business In
! its own name, but that. Of course was
a hindrance. not "A prohibition
The lllinoia Central commenced to
haul train load after train load of In
dcrendenily produced oil into Chicago.
and, behold, Hartman Standard traf.
! q master at once commenced 20 get
a1id OF the great railway system; re.
quiring three years TO acquire.
The result was that the oil field
passed into the complete control of
tho Standard aud, to make assurance
doubly sure The octopus just took I'm
the railroad that was trying 10 aid
self and the operators.
These patent facts. reader. are 50
easily followed that all can understand
| open warfare on the market place for
| oil, at this time Is but an invitation
10 paraly2e the oil interests Of okla
! home
Governor Haskell as related in his
speech. knows these conditions and
is expecting 10 work along the line OF
conservatism; holding the common
wea IN view as ha proceeds
VIII you, Mr. Reader aid. and be
calm IN the meantime?