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 MEXICO. Dee. 27.-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 on Co. through its
subsidiary concern, the Waters-Pierce
ON Co. is lined up on one side, while
.on the other is the Compania de Pc
.troleo ell Aguila de Mexico, which
translated into English is the Mexican
Eagle Petroleum Co. The Eagle Is the
national emblem OF Mexico. and this
rev company is playing the eagle for
all u IS worth The emblem OF the
Waters-Pierce Gil Co. is the rooster.
II Is a fight between the eagle and the
rooster.
Both concerns have adopted remark
able methods for attracting the atten.
tion OF the common people OF the coGn'
try 10 their oils. The Mexican Eagle
Petroleum Co has n capital stock OF
S25. .000.0 600. II has for its president
Guillermo Landa Escandon. governor
! OF the federal district In which this
city is situated Its stockholders are
made up OF a 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 10 the
people for their patronage on the
ground that II is Mexican concern.
II has been the aggressor ever since
the warfare started II made the first
tr, 81
gone few notches below every price
fixed by its competitor. II has estab-
Iished retail agencies In every city and
town OF any size in Mexico.
IL recognizes the fact that the H.
100000 natives OF the lower class are
the ones who use the bulk OF the re-
fined oils in this country. Many or
these people cannot read. and in order
10 reach them the Mexican Eagle Pc
troleum Co. has a small army OF
smooth-tongued orators who deliver ad-
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 ride
through the streets OF the cities and
towns each day and finally stop at the
most public corners or upon the plazas
and begin 10 hand ont a line OF talk
to the crowd that quickly collects.
The Old Way.
IL is the old patent medicine style
OF doing business. II 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
Won a little entertainment-all abso-
lutely free. | assure you the orator
begins. II represent the great Next
can Eagle Petroleum Co, concern OF
which every true Mexican should be
proud. We are doing a great work for
the development and upbuilding OF
Mexico. The oils which we manufsc-
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
ing out samples OF the oils in small
bottles. The band plays a few tunes
and the open air orator and MS retinue
go To another part OF the town.
The Mexican Eagle Petroleum Co.
is making much 10 do over the fact
that the Waters-Pierce Oil Co. is 4
foreign corporation. That IL is wag-
| ing a telling campaign for control OF
| the oil trade is evidenced by the big
increase in it's sales OF refined oils and
a corresponding decrease In the retail
business OF the Waters-Pierce Oil Co.
The company has issued a series oi
cartoons in which the rooster" is pic
tured as being driven TO the henhouse
after being cock OF the walk Ia
Mexico for so many years. The eagle
sits triumphantly upon the henhouse
where the rooster is supposed 10
have taken refuge.
"If il is not Eagle il Is not Nation