The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-02-26

1nOIldS L. I1kSBeH- IOTIueT lnuC-
pendent candidate for president. for
mer president of the Independent
Petroleum Marketers' association of
the United States and president OF
the Four Brothers Independent Oil
company, which has probably given
the Standard Oil company more
trouble than any other competitor,
was emphatic in this declaration.
The situation at present is critical.
Never since the discovery of pesro-
leum has there been more gasoline in
America, while not in recent years
has it sold at 50 high a price. In the
last five years, according to official fig
ures, the production of light oils
chiefly gasoline, has increased 10 per
cent
While the price of gasoline has in
creased EOS per cent in five years. the
processes by which it is produced have
been perfected until the proportion of
gasoline extracted from crude oil sur
passes anything in the history of the
trade Even natural gas is being
liqueffed and is used extensively as a
substitute for gasoline in the west and
middle west.
Denounces Talk of Shortage.
Every oil field in the United States
is producing more gasoline from each
barrel of crude oil than at any pre-
vious stage because OF modern eff
cheney. Figures based upon crude oil
production are deceptive. Figures
based upon gasoline production prove
that the man who talks of shortage is
either a chronic pessimist or an enc
my of truth.
The high price of gasoline braru
most unfairly upon two classes. auto
mobile owners and Independent deaB-
ers in gasoline. When the big oil
companies fill their tanks and sky
rocket the price they make tremer1-
| dous profits, while the independents.
who are not producers and often have
made contracts to deliver at lower
than prevailing prices, lose money
The period of high prices for gaso-
line is a period when the grip of
monopoly upon the country is in
creased. After the war, IL monopoly
/ has stified competition, IL will keen
prices up for years
The Washington authorities recent
I ly appointed a committee to investf-
! gate gasoline prices Congressman
Gillett at my request asked for the
names of the committee members.
The department refused to disclose
them. Why2 1 am associated with
1 independent dealers throughout the
United States and we had heard q
rumor that one of the men on this
committee was profiting heavily from
the increase in the price of gasoline.
These men are public officials. We
are entitled to know their names-and
we will know them.
Prices Skyrocketed.
when the war started in July. 1914.
gasoline was wholesaling in this ter
ritory at about IL cents It did not
reach 1 5 cents until a year ago. The
present price of "a cents CT cents re-
tail), probably will be raised another
cent within a week.
Right here it is worth while TO con-
trast the course of gasoline and kero-
sene prices. Kerosene wholesaIed at
Il cents a gallon when the war began
and now brings but cents a gallon
The explanation is easy. There was an
abundance of kerosene, and also OF
gasoline for domestic requirements
but the United States does not pro-
duce enough gasoline for it's own use
and that of Europe in addition.
Before the war we exported little
gasoline. but imported a considerable
quantity. At one time my company
was materially aided by supplies which
we received from abroad. Tank steam
ers already in service are insufficient
to transport the gasoline which
Europe is buying in this country, ana
immense quantities are being shipped
in fifty-gallon steel drums made exc
pressly for this purpose and 'scrapped'
after the gasoline reaches its destina-
ton.
only remedy. The Standard Oil COM
pany says that the advance in the price
of gasoline is due solely to the Law OF
supply and demand. An embargO
would cut off European demand and
likewise increase the available home
supply. If prices didn't tumble inn
rnediately the fact would be conclusive
evidence that something was out Of
killer in the supply and demand Jaw