The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-12-09

cents a barrel it was 1856 barrel
in the United states. The price paid
the oil operator here for his product
then was not enough to give him
fair profit for his efforts; in fact, in
some cases 1t made oil production by
the independent, almost prohtbttive.
Now, what seems to me tn be "A
most unfair trade practice was that
while the price of crude oil here in
this country was either $3.50 or only
81, the retail price of gasoline sold
throughout the states did not mater
tally change. In other words, q sys-
tematic robbery was taking place
with the automobile owning public
land the independent oil producer, the
goats. The Standard interests were
taking Just as much money out of
the public purse at a cost of only 81
as was taken at cost of $3.50.
with these facts faced squarely,
I openly ask the public II such prac-
tees are fair. II demonstrates con-
clusively the power OF the Standard
Oil company within the United
States.
Qulcting the Public.
practically all of the time this
! legalized banditry was being carried
on, the public in the non-oil produc-
| ing sections was being administered
well plNItiL Nd pl Opb Stiilhh I'D ~ W ny
gasoline was selling at such prices.
Whenever revolt against gasoline
! prices seemed in the offering, "A de-
luge of figures was poured into the
| newspapers, telling of the great de-
| crease an domestic production and
| the raVenous inroads of salt water
| upon the Mexican fields. The public
was made to believe that the Stand
ard Oil company wac a sort OF savior,
! y IL a
body OF Gopher Prairie, MINI, 10
have sufficient fuel for his car.
! 1T Is my contention" said the sem
ator. that an adequate protective
tariff should be placed upon the i'm
portation of Mexican crude so that
the independent oil producer in this
country may receive a better price
for his product. Such an enactment
could possibly have no effect upon
the price of gasoline to the consum-
er, unless it would be a direct con-
spiracy on the part of the Standard
| Oil company to boost prices. The
reason that the gasoline price should
not be affected, is borne out by the
| facts that have given above, in
showing that the price was practical
ly the same when domestic oil was
commanding either $3.50 or 81 per
barrel Such tariff would greatly
aid the independent oil Industry.
Certain patents covering the re-
filming Of crude oil have been granted
the Standard Oil COMPANY" stated
Mr.. Harreld by which they can get
twice as much gasoline out OF bar
rel Of crude as any independent re-
finer.
suits have been filed, asking. that
these patents be cancelled. 1t IL my
advice that all OF the independents
get together and push these cancel
latlon suits and make these patents
} OF common use. because believe
that the public good demands such
action. There are several preced,
ents upon which this action can bt
based.
! The Teapot Dome.
THE lack o, a tariff on a Mexican
, crude aS a menace to the independ
, ents, was greatly increased by th'
bringing in OF huge gushsrs on tht
: Teapot DOME" declared the senator
} Both do not make the outlook seen
/ very bright for the Independent oi
; man. A prominent Judge once sale
, that the law OF supply and demand
/ was Just as inexcrable a the law o
gravitat!on. l agree with the judg'
3 that the law Of gravltation has beer
} ] oYerCome-by the magnet-and 50
; has the law of supply and deman,
I been overcome by the magnate. tn
s gasoliue-cOnsuming public shOul'
0 Join with the independent oil pro
' ducer and demand that the preSeu
4 state Of affairs be Immediately rem
5 edied."
;. In defending his stand on the OF
{ question, Senator Harreld in explain
ing that some might think he wa
/ furthering his own personal inter
a ests, said: 1T is true that at on
. time l have been an Independent ol
i producer, and am the only praCtica
I oil man in the senate / was yer
h successful IN the Headlton field nea
Il Ardmore, Okla, where my first
n wells were all producers. However
g upon entering congress, ! PRACTICAL
: gave up all of my oil connection
with the exception OF holding a fe'
r. stocks Of very uncertain value
i some small independent concerns
j. together with the possession OF
few small royalty Interests