The Detroit times., 1909-12-27
GREAT OIL FIGHT
IS ON IN MEXICO
Native Refining Company Conducts
Spectacular Campaign Against
the Standard Corporation.

CITY OF MEXlCO, Dec. N.-The
most spectacular oil war In the his
tory Of the world is going on in Mexico
today. II began several months ago.
The Standard Oil Co., through its
subsidiary concern, the WatersPierce
Oil Co., is lined up on one side, while
on the other is the Compania de Pc
troleo el Aguila de Mexico, which
translated into English is the Mexican
Eagle Petroleum Co. The Eagle is the
national emblem of Mexico, and this
new company is playing the eagle for
all 1t is worth. The emblem OF the
Waters Pierce Oil Co. is the rooster
1t is fight between the eagle and the
rooster.
Both concerns have adopted remark
able methods for attracting the atteh'
tion or the common people OF the coun-
| try to their oils. The Mexican Eagle
Petroleum Co. has a capital stock OF
S25 100000 II has for its president
Guillermo Landa Y Escandon, governor
OF the federal district in which this
city is situated It's stockholders are
made up of noted coterie OF multi
millionaires, all of whom are Mexicans.
with the exception of Sir Weetman
Pearson, OF London, England.
Appeals for Patronage.
The company is appealing TO the
people for their patronage on the
ground that II is a Mexican concern.
II has been the aggressor ever since
the warfare started II made the first
cut I'm prices OF refined oils and has
gone a few notches below every price
fixed by its competitor. II has estab-
lished retail agencies In every city and
town of any size in Mexico.
Il recognizes the fact that the H.
900 600 natives Of the lower class are
the ones who use the bulk OF the re-
fined oils in this country Many OF
these people cannot read, and in order
to reach them the Mexican Eagle Pc
troleum Co. has small army or
smooth-tongued orators who deliver adj
dresses upon the street corners on the
merits OF the company's product.
With flaming banners showing
bright colored pictures of the Mexi-
can eagle. sitting upon thorny cac-
tus, the spielers of the concern I1de
through the streets of the cities and
towns each day and finally stop at the
most public corners or upon the plaZas
and begin to hand out line OF talk
to the crowd that quickly collects.
The Old Way.
II ia the old patent medicine style
OF doing business. 1t is new to Mexico.
and is proving wonderfully effective.
Some of these street orators carry
bands of music with them and enter
tain the crowds with concerts between
times that talks are not being made.
"My friends. am here today to give
YOU a little entertainment-all abso-
lutely free, | assure you" the orator
begins. 81 represent the great Mexi-
can Eagle Petroleum Co, concern OF
which every true Mexican should be
proud. We are doing great work for
the development and upbuilding or
Mexico. The oils which we manufac-
ture should be In every home.' and So
on and so on.
The crowd is entertained with jokes
and funny stories and when everyone
is feeling In good humor the climax Is
reached by the spieler's helper hand
inc out samples OF the oils In small
bottles. The band plays a few tunes
and the open air orator and his retinue
go To another part OF the town.
Inc MEXICAN EdBt iONiS'NNHi W.
IS making much TO do over the fact
that the Waters Pierce Oil Co. is a
foreign corporation. That II is wag-
ing telling campaign for control OF
the oil trade is evidenced by the big
increase in its sales of refined oils and
corresponding decrease in the retail
business OF the Waters-Pierce OIL Co.
The company has issued series OF
cartoons IN which the rooster" Is pic.
tured as being driven 10 the henhouse
after being cock OF the walk" In
Mexico for so many years. The eagle
sits triumphantly upon the henhouse
where the rooster" Is supposed 10
have taken refuge
q " is net Eagle II is not Nation
a." read the billboard and street car
advertisements of the company.
Standard is Active.
This vigorous opponent OF the
standard oil co. Is operating n So
GOO 900 refinery az Mlnatitlan. on the
isthmus Of Tehuantepec. II has many
millions Of acres OF oil land and many
producing oil wells.
The Standard oil Co is fighting
hack With al its tremendous power