The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1914-05-25

in the tank farm, pipe line and der
rick country that producers Of crude
oil are practically unanimous in their
zeal in behalf Of the government own
ling a pipe line Most Of them are in
favor Of the government producing oil,
and many Of them would have the
government perform all the functions
Of producing, transporting, buying,
I selling and refining petroleum. Men
who are said 10 represent the oil mo-
nopoly have assented to the govern
ment suggestion as contained in the
Gore resolution, under which the com
mission is operating; and the pre-
sumption is that these men are sin
cere in their expressed attitude.
Commissioner Sells said that he is
amazed and immensely gratifed over
the change in the attitude Of persons
who were assumed to be opposed to
any government activity in the oil
business. He said yesterday that he
considers the position OF the pipe line
men who have made statements favor
able TO the government lipe line TO be
a result of the change that is coming
over public sentiment with reference
TO the attitude of the government in
controlling and regulating public util-
tiles. It is gathered from his remarks
that the commissioner is very favor
able disposed toward the project. It
Is his desire, however, that all argu-
ments that may have bearing on the
subject, be submitted to the commits
sion.
Protagonists of the proposition are
many. Either there is no opposition
or those who are opposed do not care
to 90 into the record in that attitude
and consequently stay away from the
hearings
Independents Are Heard.
At Tulsa today, Independent prOduc-
ers were heard through representa-
| tiyes. among them being eX-GOy. Has
kell, and they made a strong showing
in their argument for the pipe line.
! At night a smoker was given in the
rooms of the Chamber of Commerce,
at which number of men who did
not appear before the commission,
were able to be heard informally.
Commissioner Sells adhered to his
rule to keep everything specific that
went before his commission a pro
found secret He is certain that the
| commission can get frank statements
only in this manner He is generous in
giving out summaries of the proceed
ings. however, and his apparent sat
isfacton over the result of each days
work. coupled with his assertions that
the proceedings are gratifying, indi-
cate that the hearing is developing
the data that is wanted by the gov
ernment
And it is patent that the purposes
Of the resolution are not confined to
its terms, which predicate the investi-
cation upon the need of the navy for
fuel oil. The navy uses 1000 barrels
day, and the pipe line that is talked
about viii convey 1900 barrels a day.
Oklahoma oil is not fuel oil as it
comes from the wells, and it will have
to be SKINNED before it will be good
for fuel or economical business to
use it. That implies the necessity for
refinery TO be built by the govern
mcnt The refinery implies a market
ing organization, and a marketing or
ganization for the lighter products i'm
pies the necessity for a greater sup
ply OF crude so that the marketing
organization may have ample scope.
THE Entering Wedge"
Nobody, who is familiar with the
proposition. is inclined seriously to
argue that the naval fuel question is
not the entering wedge Of wide aper-
ture that the government is expected
to make in the oil situation-and no
body who appreciates this as a fact,
is making any noise at all in opposi-
ton to it. while there is a chorus OF
approval
/ But the investigation is very thor
|ough and the record will be useful in
any further Investigations that the
government may make Frank Sample,
assistant treasurer of Richmond, Lev
eriug and Company. of New York, ac-
companies the commission as expert
his firm having been invited by the
government to make a report on the