, 1921-10-20
KNOCKOUT
'''''''1 PROPAGANDA
The old GAME OF CRYING "STOP
Thief" AGAIN WORKED ON
The dear lPUBLIC

The Associated Advertising Clubs
have done a splendid work in clean
ing up fake oil promotions and put
ting fake promoters out of business.
The country generally has beer pretty
well cleaned up in this respect dur
ing the past eighteen months. No
live under the constant barrage
maintained by the Advertising Clubs
OF the United States.
In the meantime. however, some
of the big oil who have
been fostering the cleanup methods
and crying more voraciously than
anyone else. stop THIEF have
been putting it over not only on the
small legitimate oil companies, but
upon the public generally and Uncle
Sam in particular, judging from what
we hear generally and facts gathered
from published statements. 1t is
the old, old story of the big fish
swallowing the little ones. The not
unusual methods were followed.
Taking advantage of the general de-
preston and which, in all fairness.
it must be stated did justify some re-
ductton in the price Of oil and oil
products, the reduction process de-
veloped into a continuous operation
until Wyoming oil dropped from
$2.75 to fifty cents per barrel.
Did pipe line companies (all
Standard) reduce carrying charges?
No. They continued to charge csc
per barrel, or one-half the value of
Lost Soldier oil.
Did the R%efineries reduce the price
of gasoline and the many oth.,r by
products obtained from this fifty
cent per barrel oil. No so anyone
could notice it.
With one hand pressing the head
of depression, under water and the
other gathering in the best of the
Independent operators, practically
all the refineries in Wyoming and
otherwise fortifying against COMPETE
ton, Is 1t any wonder what a storm
Of protest has set up against this
monstrous wrong?
The Midwest Refining Company
was organized early in 1914. and to
October 1920 has paid CASH divi-
dends to the amount OF ~$13,580.-
086.O0 and had a property valuation
in excess OF $4,000. 900. 90. In
1913 the gross earnings were In ex-
cess of $4,000, 0OO.O 90.
Out OF So refneries reported in
Oklahoma. 16 reported profits from
100 per cent to 200 per cent per
year and the remaining SO gave
their profits from 200 per cent to
500 per cent per nnu
The Texas company was organ
ICED in Beaumont II years ago and
has paid its stockholders over thirty
five million dollars in dividends.
One hundred dollars invested in the
original capital stock is now worth
over s100.000.00.
The Golden Rod Refining Co..
after operating rs days paid its
stockholders 100 per cent dividends.
Any we'll organized and properly
managed refinery with an adequate
supply of crude oil controlled AT
THE. MARKET PRICE. can and
should earn more than the ordinary
industrial plant because OF the
greater physical and business haz-
card. But when unrestrained price
control of crude oil Is permitted and
unrestrained price control of refinery
products is permitted, in the face of
a righteous public protest, the State
has a right to step in and call a halt.
Usually the pendulum swings too
far the other way as in the case of
our railroads when northumberland
and the saloons when they persisted
in evading our laws and the de-
mands Of the public. The next time
! the dear public takes hold of the oil
| monopolies 1t will not escape as did
the Standard a few years since.
The Associated Advertising Clubs
Of America has not yet completed its
work.