The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-15
OIL INDUSTRY IN 5
NATIONS IN 1 HEAD
American Petroleum Institute
Is Organized at Dinner in
BiltmOre Hotel.
A. G. BEDFORD Is HONORED
France Bestows Legion of
Honor for Great Part Taken
in Winning War.

Harmony, as never before realized in
the petroleum world, was sealed at a
dinner last night at the Biltmore, fol-
lowing an all day session OF oil men at
which the American Petroleum Insti-
tute was organized. In the new organi-
zaticn is represented every phase of the
petroleum industry in the United States,
Canada and Mexico. 1t, embraces both
representatives of the Standard Oil Com
psny, and OF almost overy other corpor-
ate oil interest, subsidiary and indie
pendent from the producer to the broker
and the cooper who makes the barrel.
At the dinner last night, which was
held to celebrate the comforting Of the
cross Of chevalier of the Legion
dHonreur by the French Government
on Alfred c. Bedford. chairman of the
board of directors of the Standard oil
Company and chairman OF the National
fotr oieum War Service Committee. at
east tentative Government approval for
tho new organization was bestowed in a
letter from Harry A. Garfield, National
Fuel Administrator, in which, after re-
viewing the services OF tfe committee in
The war, no said:
The National Petroleum War Ser
vice Committee, which so effectively and
generously cooperated with the Govern
'nent during the war. will unquestion-
ably see both the wisdom and the ne
cessity Of continuing that cooperation to
make safe the democracy for which we
have fought"
The din er was marked further by
striking tributes from the French and
Br th as to the part played in winning
IN. w"r, by American gasolene and oil
prodL !, CASTOR Liebert. French Consul
General at New York, told the diners
that If the flow of gasolene to tine west
crn front had not been maintained unin-
terruptedly by Mr.. Bedford and his COM
mittee the French army would have been
unable to rush reenforcements by motor
truck to Nerdun, whittier the railroads
had been destroyed by long range Ger
man artillery.
Capt Arthur Snagge. r, ". naval
attache at the British Embassy in Wash
ington. revealed that As per cent OF
the British navy is now driven by oil
burning engines.
How 1t Helped the Navy.
"Four-fifths of our oil supply" he
said, came from the United States. Had
II been interrupted by the delay Of even
a single steamer the result would have
been frightful anxiety. Because it wa:
uninterrupted the British navy was able
to maintain its marvellous average Of
cruising an aggregate of more thar
100000 miles a month in the waters
surrounding the British isles.
without American oil It Is only fair
to say that 40 per- cent. OF the British
navy' would have been paralyzed. It 1:
needless to say that without 1t 100 pei
cent. of the air activity would have been
impossible"
The new Petroleum Institute. of which
Mr.. Bedford is slated to be the head, Is
analogous TO the American Iron and
Steel Institute in the steel trade. In
dicative of the character of yesterday
and last nights gatherings II was stated
that probably never before had mar
Ike Mr. Bedford sat around the festive
board with such men as Henry l.. Do
herty. who acted as postmaster; Z. c
Lufkin, president OF the Texas Company
George $. Dawson, president of the Gull
Refining Company Judge VI. j. Byrne
president OF the Independent Oil Men,
Association f. L. Doheny. presiden: o
the Mexican Petroleum Company; r. L
WEIGH, general counsel OF the Western
refiners; the presidents OF several o.
the State Standard oil companies anC
numerous other officials OF that organi
station.
The presentation of the Legion o
Honor to Mr.. Bedford was accomplished
with striking ceremony. The main ball
room OF the Biltmore was powered in thu
flags OF the United States and the Allies
The formation of the Petroleum Insti
tute Is the direct-outgrowth of the wa
ts,.tti 30 h. troll on vsh I'M a
was pointed out last night, have cooper
sted with the Government almost who'll.
without Government regulation OF an.
sort. First steps were taken at meet
ing held in Atlantic City early in De
cember. To-day's meeting adopted tn
bylaws. and the organization will b
completed by the election of officers a
q meeting to be held in Chicag
March 81.
Bedford Tells of War Work.
Mr.. Bedford In his speech of accept
ance of the honor from France gave thi
account OF the achievement OF the Amer
lean oil industry during the war:
1.-The contributions of America o
petroleum products to the Allie
amounted. to so per cent. OF the tota
The basic problem OF our petroleum in
dustry was to see to il that there shout
be a sufficient production OF crude oil
and that the prices should not undul
advance.
THE second problem was transporta
tion-both in the sense OF getting tn
oil 10 the refneries and then OF deliver
ing the various petroleum product
where they were needed TO do thei
work
When America entered the war rep
resentatuaAx Of tire various ol-sr nm