The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-06-17

Help the IHrcstigdtiOn-Not
HiRdcT

Tho Investigation of the leasing or
the Naval Oll Hoforvcs with which
IL coupled tho roHson for the recent
advances i1 gasoline, has been or
dcrcd hv tHa senate md will proceed
under the direction or the commit
toe on manufacturers which iq head
'd hy Senator La F0llette. The In
dependence of the senator from wis
COusin O.. Wcll known and sometimes
mlsiudrod. In this case he has stat
ed that the investigation would be-
full nrd free and. by Implication at
least that tho ruling win be IN nc
cordHncc with tho evidence which
will hc sought from al sourcos.-
Tho Independent OH industry
should not he mislcd by any fear Of
results from offering its testimony,
for no finding by this committee,
II It seeks the truth fearleHsly, can
do tho independents harm. They
should interest themsolves only 10
see TO n that the facts NJ presented
before tho senatorial investigating
committee are facts; not only facts
as far ns thoY 30, but the complete
story Of tho petroleum industry
free from suppression or distortion.
Highly paid legal minds can make
hlnck seem white ana white black
before such committees. See TO II,
as Independent oil men. that n true
light In thrown on q situation that
is ono OF increasing hardship for
tho independents not only or pres
cnt hardship but Of daily fenr OF
complete ruin 20 follow. No indo-
pendent oil company foels sure that
81 viii he In business h month from
a. yhp a tla
chief competitor who may not al
ways he brncious.
There IN no fear like the terror OF
the unknown. Let the truth be
known, not only regarding the naval
reserves and the price OF gasoline
but why according 10 the figures
OF highly organized reporting ser
vice. there was but 40 Der cent OF
the refining capacity OF the Mid
Continent field operating. causing.
Il Ia alleged. n scarcity OF gasoline
that forced the prices 10 higher lev
els? IL this is the truth II can
harm no one to have II known, least
OF ali the Independent oil man. Why
were not those idle reflneries op-
Grating 10 the same capacity as 9TH
er renneries7 There must be n rca-
son for II.
IL Il was because the prices OF
gasoline we're so low last year that
the refiners went broke, then let us
have the real canso OF tho strong
arming OF the price OF Mid-Contt-
nent crude down from 1880 TO 81
barrel iust before the season OF
greatest demand and back to 81 a
barrel when the need for n higher
price was greatest In the inventories
OF the largest organizations.
Our martyred Lincoln said that
this nation cahnot stand half free
and half slave. Can the oil iudustry'I
continue half Independent am half
Standard?' When the Hon and the
lamb lie down together in the epic
OF the independent petroleum In
dustry,l which has been Jonah md
which the whale? II may he that
II the Independent industry will in
sist on n frank and complete pre-
sentation Of facts before this sena-
torial committee. II IL will not ne
deludedl by whispered warnings of
"lnoppoftune," and "lll advised
and great damage 10 the Industry"
Il NAV get some relief. There is
but one more step In the future OF
the Independent petroleum Industry.
IT must be either upward toward
freedom or downward towards the
final stages OF ultimate extinction
This investiEntidN. which In a way
may have been born Of political GU
pidlty may he yet no directed and
assisted, II the Independent oil men
so Will. that II may free them from
the constant threat of that final
sauceze which preccdes the end
Which shah It be, n manful fight
with success assured 40 long as the
fight is made in honor and for an
honest end or slavish subseryience
10 the tyrant whim OF the billion
dollar combination? II is for the
Independent oil, man to decide and
that quickly.--National Petroleum
Marketers Association Bulletin.