The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1914-07-26
ArdmOre, Sunday, July 2e, 1914.
IN SLEEPS CLOTHING.


Some weeks ago the independent
oil producers of this state met in con-
vention and drew up a memorial to
congress asking that body, among
other things, TO enact legislation di-
yorcing the pipe line companies from
production. W. b. Johnson and Writ
Franklin Of this city and other citi-
zens OF the state, accompanied by
Attorney General West and Corpora
tion Commissioner Henshaw, went be-
fore congressional committees and
before the president with this memor-
ial. Soon after that, Senator Gcre
introduced bill in the senate which
had for its purpose the Legislation
requested by the Independent oil men,
who felt that they were being wronged
by the oil monopoly and their proper.
ty was being wasted.
Following this activity in Washing
ton, General West of this state filed
a suit against the Texas and other
companies, which has for its object
the very demand made by the inde-
pendent producers, and asking for an
order of court in line with the Gore
bill in the senate.
Amos L. Beatty general attorney
of the Texas company, who lives in
New York, came to this state to ap-
pear at the filing of the suit and to
answer that portion of 1t which asked
for the appointment of receiver.
While here Mr. Beatty issued a state
ment, which was puhIshod, in which
he admits that his companies are In
technical yioi1tion of tho law.
When that suit was filed a great
cry was sent abroad hat General
West was "fcurrlushng There are
a certain number OF people in every
state and certain number OF news
papers IN every state which claim to
be friends to independent oil men
and independent re1meries but upon
every occasion when these indepand
ent interests make move to better
their conditions they are cried down
by these professed friends. When the
corporation commission said 1t would
regulate the price of oil these same
people hooted the idea The oil bust.
ness was saved to the men to whom
the profits belong not because of
the help of these professed friends,
but in spite of them. In the crit.
cism which has gone out against
General West in the oil suit the news
papers and politicians are being used
as sewers through which the slime
of monopolistic control reaches the
people. The man who takes up the
refrain and censures his public office
holder, the man paid by the state
10 prosecute such suits, is being used
unconsciously by these same people.
The criticism is: "Why was the
suit not brought at some other time?"
That is the same voice that is trying
10 deceive the public and to break
down the public servant of the state.
If any man would know why the suit
was not brought earlier let him try
one time to get information to base
these suits upon The highest-priced
attorneys in the United States are
paid salaries to conceal such informa-
tion. Not until the oil agitation was
started and not until inquiries were
held, and not until friends of the
state We're placed in the fields. could
any information be had. That the law
was being violated was patent, but to
procure information upon which a
suit could be brought and sustained
is another question. That suit will
not be disposed of before the cleo
tion, and General West will not be
vindicated before the ballots are cast,
but there is every reason TO believe
that the oil companies will not fight
it, they will make a compromise un-
der the terms of which they will not
violate the laws OF the state.