The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-08-30
BY LOUIS zooRocK.

have an oil policy. Oil has become
the great international issue of the
hour It's Importance is such that even
the most solid political alliances" are
subordinate to it. There is no discus
sion Of treaty among the great pow
ers of the world today that can be I'M
derstood without considering the Pc
troleum conditions of the territory af-
fected. World politics has become
the politics of oil. No move is made
on that chessboard where imperialist
diplomats disport themselves with the
fate of nations that is not tinctured
with oil.
The situation in the Near East is
saturated with oil. Oil rules the fate
of Mexico. Every revolution for the
last 80 years in Mexico has been in
stigated by the large oil corporations
of the world. Oil made the United
States pay Colombia S25,O0O,OOO repa.
ration for the loss of Panama. Oil
keeps the British in Messopotamia.
Oil ultimately makes frontiers, wars
and peace.
1.-THE country which dominates by
means of OIL said Elliot Alves, head
of the British controlled oil fields.
will command at the same time the
commerce of the world. Armies, ma
vies, money, even entire populations
will count as nothing as against the
lack of OIL Where does oil, then, de
rive this formidable power? What
has made it more precious, more pene-
trating and more influential than gold
The Importance of Oil.
Until 1880 the United States was al.
most the only important producer of
oil. After 1880, Russia came into the
field. Mexican production began in
1901, but was of little consequence
until after 1910. Up to date the Unit
ed States has produced about 20 per
cent of all the petroleum known to
have been produced in the world. At
present the United States produces
nearly two-thirds, and the United
States, Mexico and Russia are produc-
ing nine-tenhts of the whole Of the
worlds annual production. Persia
has recently swung forward to fourth
place, and the Dutch-East-Indies hold
the fifth place.
For half a century oil was used pri-
mainly for Illuminating purposes; its
use was confined to the lamp, and oc-
casionally the domestic stove. And
even in this modest sphere It had to
contend for mastery with gas and cleo
tricity. Between 1900 and 1910, the
invention of the gas motor and the
prodigious development of the auto
mobile gave it new lease of life. A
few years later a German engineer
named Diesel invented the internal
combustion engine for heavy OIL
Crude oil (mazut) when admitted to
the cylinder under high pressure,
forms an explosive mixture which
without sparking-plug or magnetic
drives the pistons precisely as in an
explosion motor; and since it comes
from a worthless by-product (mazut)
the Diesel engine can be operated
very cheaply.
The Diesel invention produced q
revolution in fuel. Oil, confined at
first to industries on land, began to
conquer the seas. The advantages of
the Diesel engine are enormous. With
this machine there is no longer any
need for boilers, and it takes up less
space than steam engine of the same
power. A vessel fitted with a Diesel
engine can sail for 81 days without
re-fueling, while with a steam 6ngine
it could not sail for more than a fort
night. Weight for weight, crude oil
furnishes 70 per cent more heat than
coal. 1t is less bulky; II is cheaper.
1t is easily manipulated, for it flows
by itself into the machine, and per-
mits marked economy in the engine
room personnel as well as quicker
changes in speed.