New-York tribune., 1910-06-19

lot fSlISdLillcul-
This Is an example of the d1nsence ol
the Pesrsons in safeguarding the good
name and reputation that are inseparapiy
associated with any enterprise to which
tho firm OF s Pearson & Son gives Its
style and support.
When sir Weetnan decided to enter the
MEXICAN market for a share of the trade
in petroleum products his first step was
TO effect an efficient sales organization
The Waters Pierce Oil Company had
trained men such as Sir Weetman re-
uuired Many Of these men when 1t be-
came known that Sir Weetman was to
engage in the refined oil business in Mexi-
co sought positions with him.
A Great Accomplishment.
The precipitance with which they
focked to his standard not only evinced
their confidence in his ability to accom-
plish what he set out to do. but also de-
monstrated their eagerness to quit a system
which boasted of "extorting' the maxi
mum of effort for the minimum of pay
Thus from the start Sir Weetman was
able to accomplish what few men, under
the circumstances, could have done-name-
", to turn TO his own use the same human
factors that had striven faithfully for
years to the profit of Mr.. Pierce and his
company. The next important step was
to win the confidence of the oil consumers
in the pernanency of the Aguila OIL Com
pany (the Pearson selling organization)
in the oil business. By experience ard
observation the public had been brought
TO a frIff realization of the lengths to
which the monopoly would go In its, treat
rnent of consumers that had dared to de-
ferred his patronage from the Waters
Pierce Oil, Company to a rival oil selling
corporation. and was obliged to return.
resumption Of the former relation was
possible only on the terms dictated by the
monopoly.
With manifold disduieting object les
sons before him. in and out of Mexico,
the Mexican consumer lacking a guaran-
tee that Sir Weetnan was in the oil bust
ness to STAY was prone to stop and ponder
q long time before bringing himself to
quit the Waters Pierce Oil Company for
the Aguila company. AS the months went
by and the aggressiveness of the Agulia
pioneers became more pronounced, the1-
position in Mexico more unequivoca1 and
strong, and their prices more attractive.
doubts as TO the permanency of the Pear
son interests vanished. The tide turned
with a rush.
Once this happened. it was all clear
sailing for the Aguila company. With
plenty of oil, a selling organization COM
posed of the pick of the former Pierce
men, low prices and the slogan National
Products to conjure with, the terror Of
monopoly reprisa1s lost its force and the
Pearson trade went upward by leaps and
bounds.
Where Patriotism Figured.
The Pierce forces found in the "Na-
tional Products argument Of the Aguila
a nut much too hard for them TO
crack. Patriotism is a predominant ele-
ment in the Mexican character. There is
no people more patriotic than the Mex1-
cans As between an article produced In
Mexico and vended at a higher price,
even than a similar article manufactured
abroad and imported here, they will in
variably choose the one with the Made
IN Mexico brand
The memory of thirty years during
which the Waters Pierce had compelled
them to lay down top notch prices for oil
and the arrogance of its tactics operated
te the disadvantage OF the monopoly with
all the crushing force of the traditional
curses which come home to roost- Every
man who bought the Pearson oil did 50
with the consciousness that the patronage
of himself and his fellows acted to but
tress the Pearson interests and to insure
against the return to full power of the
monopoly, with its grinding methods and
greed for profits.
There has been humor in the war too.
In its zeal to build up its argument tha-
nothing but disaster could overtake Sir
l,i- civ 1ac,r
tie, the monopoly has vociferously pro-
claimed the strength and resources of the
Standard Oil Company. and its invariable
success in competition. 1t was ostenta-
tiously set forth that in reality. Sir Weet-
man was fighting, not merely the Waters
Pierce OIL Company, but the parent mon
opoIy, horse, foot and cannon.
Here is where the laugh comes in. Mr..
Pierce's company not SO many years ago
was quite as diligent IN denying and view
ing with alarm all suggestion that the
company was affiliated with the larger
corporation as latterly his press agent,
speaking for him, has been to point with
pride to the same alliance. When the
state of Texas first brought suit to debar
the Waters Pierce OIL Company from do
ing business in that state on the grounds
of its alleged relations with the Standard
and violations of the antitrust laws, 1t
was asserted that there was no such con-
nection between the corporations Later
on. when Missouri proceeded against the
Waters Pierce Oil Company, inControverti-
BILE rroof was advanced that the Standard
owned and controlled a majority of the
Waters Pierce stock. This proof was
seized upon as ammunition by the state
authorities Of Texas when they renewed
action against the Waters Pierce Oil
Company in that commonwealth This
time there was no salvation in Texas for
the monopoly. which suffered the loss of
its property in that state, was forced TO
pay a fine of $1,000 600 gold. and barred
forever from traff1cking in Texas
The Standard Oil left Mr.. Pierce 70
shift for himself when his company wss
prosecuted in Missouri and Texas It
gave him no aid or comfort In Mexico,
too he IS playing a lone hand BY hold
ing aloof AMI leaving Mr.. Pierce TO work
out his own destiny, the cautious gentic-
men at No. 26 Broadway, like Shake
speare's hero. will be able TO say, when
Mr.. Pierce energes from the wreckage IN
Mexico and presents himself TO explain:
Thou canst not shake thy CORY locks at
me and say. Thou didst IT. 80
Attitude of Standard Company.
So far as concerns the attitude of the
Standard Oil in the Mexican war. it seems
to be clearly and impartiaIy defined III