El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-04-29
Tempering The Wind

association Of oil investors has been formed west
n Texas its purpose being to investigate companies which
have not come up to scratch Particularly It intends to
force companies to an accounting wants to know
they paid dividends when they have producing
wells In the cases of other companies it wants to know
what they have done with the money contded TO the
session Of the officials and directors by the stockholders for
the purpose of getting oil Threats Of forced receyershps
accompany Of the formation Of the nyes
tors association.
This association may do some good Companies that
have producing failed pay dividends may
be scared into paying or giving satisfactory reasons for
continued failure to pay companies selling stock may be
scared being crcumspeet in their transactions
They may be obliged to be economical in the matter
Of expenses They may put Of their money into drill
ing and less into promotion"
There are companies which have in good faith spent the
money entrusted to them BY their stockholders and yet
have failed to get oil well may he sunk with utmost
skin within stones throw Of a producer but turn out
aduster That element Of chance has to be taken any
oil seeking enterprise and all investors doubtless under
stand that It is to be presumed that the investors
citation viii have fault to find with such companies
But the very class Of rascas the association needs most
to catch almost impossible to catch. They the
Rufus Waingfords who trimming the public and get
ting away. If they make any kind of showing at all in
the matter Of drilling, what be done with them Their
representations Shrewdy made in the first place with
careful eye against violation Of the law against fraud BY
mail the obtaining Of money under false pretences They
have defenees ready against almost any kind Of criminal
procedure.
How about civil actiOn7 It is not hard, If one has
good case, to obtain judgment but the collection it
another matter IS said the investors association hopes
what is possible TO- 20 or even 80 per cent out
Of the wTage Of of the companies but even that
is doubtful
The worst part Of the whole matter is that the black
eye the INSCRIPTIONS promoters giving the oil industry
Texas is hurting badly It is fast getting the point
where honest cannot capital That unfortu-
nate but inevitable result of the skiuning tactics that
have been perperated in this state AH5 the investors as
ISOLATION with its very best efforts temper only slightly
the wind to the shorn lamb.
Fl Paso pastors could have found fine illustrations Of
hope and faith in the large number men, boys and even
women who were fishing IN the river in ponds and even
mudPuddles down the valley Sunday.
Might let Mr. Hohenzoern wander the streets Of
Texas oil town and be down and ground undeoot By
the wild horde Of rainbow ehasers.
-o
boy Of 10 IS seeking divorce from wife q years
Old the widow Of his grandfather That woman isn't mar
red She Just took boy to raise.
Senator Borah to have from the shoulders
Of Uncle Sam the task Of defending Monroe doctrine
Postmaster general Burleson has decided there Is too
much gret IN trying TO be auoat Of the telegraph table
Why should Germany vote On the peace terms? That's
lne dose that is better swallowed without tasting
The league Of nations is thinking Of calling in the
president Of Switzerland as umpire.
Premier Orlando is rampaging around as though he
were the man who put the It in Italy.