Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1911-05-26
Fears Standard Oil May
Crush All Competition.

Independent oil dealer has lighting
chance to exist but not more than
that
III the public thinks that rebating
belonged TO the days OF long ago II
IL mistaken" continued Mr.. Hisgen as
he handed to the World correspond
ent the following letter from the pro-
prietor OF generai store In Ches-
hire:
Cheshire, Mass, March 6,l91s,--
We the undersigned, George T. Deane
& Son, merchants carrying on a gen
eral store business in the town Of
Cheshire. Mass, do hereby certify
that Thos l.. llisgen came 10 our store
and told us that the Standard OIL Co.
was selling oil to our competitors
across the street at a lower price than
what we We're paying them for oil,
out Of the same wagon and handled
by the same driver. on the Strength
Of Mr. Hisgen's statement we gave
him an order for oil; IN the meantime
We complained to the Standard on
CO.'S representatives about this un-
lodged the truth Of Mr.. Hisgens state
ment and gave us cash for the differ
ence between the price we paid and
what our competitor was charged, the
amount Of the cash there and then
paid us by the agent OF the Standard
on CO., commencing from the date Of
rebate they had given to our compe-
titor. We also received from the agent
Of the Standard on Co., rebate OF
one and one-half cents on oil pur-
chased afterward. At one time they
refused to further allow us the one
and one-half cents and we again
bought Of Hisgen Bros, and the Stan
dard OH Immediately gave US re-
bate as before.
The above is along the l,ne OF tes-
timony given under oath at Albany, y.
y, Feb. l2. 1908, in the prosecution
of the Standard OIL Co., by the United
States Government.
GEORGE T. DEANE & SON
The height of lndignity offered to
me personally continued Mr.. Hisgen,
was reached when Standard Oil
representative went to my customer RS
with long measure and showed that
oil bought of me was seemingly Of
short measure. The trick, however
was quickly exposed and reacted upon
It's sponsors,
zone feature Of the oil business
that has not received publicity re-
lates to the sale of lubricating oils,
vast quantities OF which are required
10y the railroads. | know from expert
ence that independent dealers bids
are practically excluded regardless OF
quality or price. The best eXplana-
tion of this situation is found on page
Of the governments brief in the
Standard OIL Case 1t is summed up
In a single sentence as follows: Pre-
llminary 10 the steps thereafter taken
to create the combination, Mr.. Rookie
feler secured several leading railroad
men to take an active interest in and
become stockholders of the Standard
Oil Company 1t might be added
that the interest became reciprocal
and that leading Standard OIL men be
came controlling factors in railroad
directorates.
THE Supreme Court decision has
come at timely juncture. The price
at which the Standard Oil Company is
now offering oil in New England
would ultimately bankrupt any inde-
pendent concern in the world which
attempts to meet current quotations.
The Four Brothers Company Ia able
to exist only because OF income deriv-
ed from other sources. An investment
Of several hundred thousand dollars
in the oil business does not return one
cent profit under existing conditions.
If the Four Brothers Company were
to quit business tomorrow Its equip
ment, which is up-to-date in every
particular, would bring only the price
Of junk. In no other business in
tellIgcntly conducted and backed by
ample capital do such conditions pre-
vail
The hope of the Independent deal
ers for relief from these conditions Is
that the government will see its way
clear to bring criminal actions. It's
a matter Of how close the attorney
general can get TO the highest officials
Of the company-not to hireling un-
derstrappers.