The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1922-06-09
A PORTRAIT IN OIL
By Senator Robert NJ. La Toilette

by SENATOR hODeft VI. La GILLETTE
Within the past fortnight the Am
erican people have had painted fol
them what appears to be an excel
lent likeness of this administration
done in oil.
There are now pending in the Sen
ate two resolutions which contem.
plate a searching investigation of the
activities of the oil monopoly of this
country; first, in respect to its ac.
ton in robbing the public domain of
its oil reserves through the conniv-
ance of faithless public officials
and, second, in respect to the pres
ent eXtortionate and unwarranteG
prices exacted by the monopoly for
gasoline from every customer who
uses car, gas engine, or an oil
stove.
The two subjects are closely knit
and both touch vitally the welfare OF
the general public.
The circumstances which attended
the leasing of the naval oil reserves
to certain favored interests are fully
I dealt with elsewhere in this issue.
Suffice it to say here that unless
the Congress investigates this sub
| iect to its foundation, plainly indi-
eating those who are responsible for
the grabbing of the naval oil re-
| serves, this scandal will prove more
disastrous to men now in office than
did the Ballinger- Pinchot contro-
versy over the Cunningham coal
claims in Alaska. to the administra-
ton then in power.
The damning circumstances which
surround the leasing of the rich oil
reserves held in trust for the people
call for an examination of the whole
case of the most sweeping charac-
ter.
The Senate has already adopted
one resolution which | introduced
calling for an investigation of the
leasing of the reserves. | later pro-
posed another resolution broadening
the scope of the inquiry and cloth
ing the committee with authority to
employ experts, counsel and stem
ographers, send for papers and per
sons and require witnesses to tes-
tify.
Under the authority of these reso-
lutions, the committee is amply arm
ed to unearth the facts. 1t has in
it's hands an opportunity not only
to bring guilty men to Justice, but
to save the Senate from further re-
sponsibility for a transaction with
out parallel in the history of the
conservation movement in the United
States.
In the final analysis, the secret
leasing to the Sinclair interests of
the naval oil reserves--for the pub
lie was kept in ignorance of the
whole affair until the deal was con-
ummated-meant the turning over
to private interests for private ex-
loitation-without excuse or justifi-
cation-property belonging to the
public. valued at hundreds of millions
of dollars.
The projected investigation of the
recent advances in gasoline prices
should awaken the American people
to the vital importance of the policy
of this government in respect to oil.
The brazen effrontery with which
the oil monopoly has exploited the i
people on the very heels of the naval
reserve grab is warning of what
the public may expect if public Of |
ficials fail in their duty under the
law.
The time has come when the exec
utive branch of this government
must enforce the plain letter of the
law and check monopoly, or it must
turn the people over bodily into the
hands of exploiters grown impudent
and ruthlessly aggressive through
long years of wanton violation of
the law.
The people have it within their
power to get relief. This govern |
ment was not fashioned so unwisely
that it has not the capacity under
the law and the constitution to pro-
tect its citizens against domestic as
well as alien oppressors if public
officials will serve the public rather
than private monopoly.
1t is the peoples movement. Presi- |
dent and Congress are answerable |
to the people. Assume nothing. In
vestigate carefully. Get the truth |
and then act. You have the power.
You have the responsibility. You
will do your full duty.