The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1922-01-03
Tariff Opposition
Is Discrimination
Against Industry

Refusal Of the general public to be.
come acquainted with the details Of
the petroleum industry at time when
such acquaintance is of most vital
Importance to one Of the greatest
fraternities Of commercial men in the
world has caused u deplorabe stua.
tion in business circles of this coun.
try.
1t has caused associations composed
OF American citizens TO discriminate
against American industry, and TO
favor foreign enterprise while the
American producers are being forced
to the wall. Selfish motives on the
part Of the discriminators have been
responsible to a great degree in such
unpatriotic action.
The manner in which representa-.
tives OF the American Automobile as
sociation and the American Steamship
owners association have expressed
their opposition to a tariff on the
importation Of Mexican crude be-
fore the senate committee at the hear
ing on the subject conducted last
week, is proof either Of ignorance Of
the petroleum industry on the part OF
the obiectors, or pure selfishness with
utter disregard as TO the possibility
of existence Of the independent opera.
tors of this country.
The yellow races OF the world are
barred from this country chiefly be-
cause OF the low rate OF wages at
which they can be hired and which en-.
ables them to supplant American la.
Dor. The mode of life OF the members
of the yellow race Is far below that
OF the American. Virtually the same
condition exists with reference 10
American and Mexican oil production.
except that II is on n much larger
scale and thus Of much greater i'm.
portance. And with such great In.
terests at stake, there exists n much
greater reason for action TO be taken
similar to that relative TO the yellow
race question.
The cheap cost OF oil production In
Mexico and the great volume OF oil
brought forth from such operation. en-.
| abes the operators In the southern re.
public To put the product on the mar.
ket at figure which will drive the
American Independent operators in
10 bankruptcy should he make effort
10 compete. Tho American independent
does not want an excessive profit, but
I does desire a reasonable income from
/ his efforts. something which is diff.
cult TO obtain with the Mexican crude
coming into this country as II is at
the present time. These statements are
not derived from supposlton but are
based on facts and figures which have
been published time and time again.
Refusing 10 observe the threatened
Generalization Of the American petro.
leum market due 10 the Mexican flood
OF oil. and with base for their argu.
mont inspired solely by fear OF higher
priced petroleum products. the op.
pononis Of the tariff are making n
hard fight TO prevent the placing OF
tho duty.
II is 10 be hoped that at least one
Of the arguments of the opposing fac.
iions Is 10 be taken into serious con.
sldcratlon boy the senate That Is rela.
tive 10 the freight rate question. The
representative of the American steam.
ship owners association. during the
Washington hearing. placed ompha.
sis ON the fact that American ships
are using almost exclusively Mexican
oh because the high freight rate Of
midcontincnt production to the coast
is prohlhI,iye. % is the duty of the
government to Immediately take ac.
tion on this phase OF the situation. as a
very uniayorable example is set when
American ships patroni1cd foreign mar
kets at time when American supply
is available.
The freight rate question has beer
brought up time and time again. and
Investigations and then some NOR,
Investigations" by the government
ami other groups have been started
Judging by the exorbitant rate which
stiil exists on petroleum products. tn,
investigations" are stlll under way
3 And while the investigators are inves
tlgating the independent oil man. es
} pecially the refincr is being forced 4
z the wall and today the refinery uues
tiUn is perhaps the most vague o
: any In the country. due 10 the freigh
rates. Refinprs are unable to carry oi
J their business In "a confident OF stead,
] manner FOR railroad rates are too hiEl
J to permit entry into profitable mar
I kets and they are at loss to knov
/. jus, what ;he final outcome ~ TN
! vestlgations" is going 70 BE-.
I -
r Three presidents of the Unite'
States we're horn IN New York state.