, 1921-10-20

'~''' va oNN'il FilolllhS SOlllttIllS.
We both know that the Midwest
Refining Company has violated the
law of the State; that it has dis.
eliminated in its dealings with the
producers of the crude oil and the
purchasers Of the refined product;
that it has ignored its duties as q
common carrier: that it has evaded
he pa! ment of taxes which are due
rom it to the State; that by arbi.
trary price fixing it has deprived the
State of school and road money; that
by unfair methods it has e~ndeavored
to create. and has created. q
monopoly. A conference can change
nnither the facts, nor our knowledge
Of the facts.
While | would be very glad to
confer with you. and with any men
or group of men. relative to the ex.
isting industrial and financial situa.
ton in the State yet. prior to any
conference for the purpose of de-
vising means of accomplishing
something" in the oil industry,
would suggest that both of you and
| carefully consider:
l.. That it would be embarrass-
ing for the Chief Executive of this
''hlt " We Pt NStll at d tISollallf
invited conference. which might de-
eide that. owing to the wealth and
power of the Midwest Refining Com
pany, it should be exempted from the
necessity of complying with the law.
2. That it has been suggested
that since both you and | have
stated to the people that we know
of unfair and unlawful methods
we toad nv tho NJtl,,nrt DoG.;rr
Company. hat we should give our
State Grand Jury.
3 . That the State royalty oils
cannot nov be utilized as a basis for
the creation of competition in the
oil industry of this State. inasmuch
as the State itself. during the admin
istration Of the present Chief
Executive, contracted the sale of
such royalty oil to the Midwest Rein
ing Company for a term of years.
4. That our laws provide for the
payment of taxes justly due. the
assumption by a public carrier of
certain obligations to the State, the
custer of a corporation which has en-
deavOred to prevent competition, to
control or influence productions or
'io ~ IVES lLSlC VI "ulSH mas
created a monopoly by unfair meth
DDS. and that a conference such as
you suggest might evoke the ques-
been enforced.
Officials have been duly elected, and
are not disqualified from compliance
with their oaths Of office.
That fhn n,n-.Enf for orrjn Ill
is controlled in Wyoming by the
Midwest Refining Company; that no
law can compel the Midwest Refining
Company to purchase crude oil from
any particular individual; that indie
pendent producers could testify re-
lative to, Or comment upon. the
illegal practices of the Midwest Re-
fning Company only at the price of
the d~isfavor of that corporation. and
their w financial loss: that, under
the circumstances. it would be no
discredit to a producer if he either
spoke in favor Of the present prac-
tees Of The. Midwest Refining Com
pany. or refused to speak against
that company (the fearlessness dis
his recent article. was, to me, a re-
markable exhibition.)
:. That the ordinary banker,
merchant or business man would not
care to incur the enmity Of the
Midwest Refining Company by advo-
eating compliance with existing laws
by the Midwest Refining Company,
and if such banker. merchant or
business mar advocated discrimina-
ton in favor OF the Midwest Refining
Company. or refused to protest
against it's activities. he should not
be blamed. Self-preservation is the
first law of nature.
3. That all taxpayers and citizens
instead Of the few oil men and bus
mess men. are interested in the