Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-06-07

petroleum industry from every an
gle. to the end that It's workings may
be unified. that wastea,pnd overlap
ping may be eliminated, that prof-
teering and holding g--Uf which there
have been minor examples may
be put an end 10. The adminstra-
tion recognizes not only the de-
mnnda OF the nation and Of It's al
lies. but also the possibilities lnher-
en-; In the Industry 10 meet these de-
mands. But therc is 10 DO more
regulation in the future than In the
past, although MIR. Hcqua viii give
the Industry an opportunity not
alone to present It's eide OF the case
but to carry out the suggestions
made, largely In It's own way ana by
its own methods,
In his address before the Natural
Gas association Mt Pittsburgh last
week, Chairman Bedford snmmar-.
izod the attitude OF the oil admins
traitor and of Mr. Reun briefly but
none the less candidly, as follows
"Whcre Is tho present emergency
leading us2 Where Will It end2
"lf tho industry conducts Itself
as II should, the board principles
established by Mr. Ncqua will work
out. He expects the Industry 10 gov
crn Itself. He will assist whore the
Industry cannot itself decide The
government does not desire drastic
control Of tho Industry. and that VIII
not ho necessary II Shc industry con-
duets Itself rightly. Tho principle
that the small man must ivc has
been established Production must
be stimulated but that is no occa-
sion for runaway prices Whoever
takes advantage Of thc situation 70
exact cNorbltant pricoa viii feel the
stern hand OF tho government n ls|
tncitly understood In tn" fuel admin.
lstration that prices are 20 remain
aS they are"
Mr. Bedford explained tho modus
'operandi should any producer or re
finer think that prices should be
changed lIc Is first given the OPP
portunity 20 present 9hls case 10 th'
district committee 0f the general
petroleum war service, committee
That subcommittee. after cunsldcra
tion, passes tho question along to
the general committee II the gues-
tion is other than n local ono The
judgment Of the general committee,
which under present conditions viii !
hc tho Judgment OF the industry |
itself, is then given to MIR Requa, |
who VIII make such changes as he |
deems necessary IN the clrcum.
stances.
This I, not prlcc-fxing as
serted Mr.. bedford "lt is rather
an agreement on the part of tho in
dustry To work with tho government !
that fair prices may prevail during
tho period Of the war"
beyond his announcement OF the
attitude generally OF the oil admin
istration toward the petroleum in
dus,ry, which has been summarized
IN the opening paragraphs OF this
editorial, and which Mr.. ilequa has
fhany times stated, the oil admin
istrator again emphasized the fac.
that The oil problem ls largely one
of transportation since the tankers
were converted TO the Atlantic coast
wise service. The consolidation OF
the oil industry Is needed to meet
that situation. Sales managers of
large selling organizations are meet
ing regularly in New York city
Their cards are all on the table and |
there are no secrets! Whore there !
is shortage, some ono somehow |
steps in and meets H. In no other
way could the situation be met. Such |
n policy would be impossible with. |
out government approval, since II |
involves abrogatlon OF the sherman
law
This Is frank talk plain talk, and !
In direct contrast to tho camouflage
OF some Of the ti-a-year experts
who are IN the practice OF withhold