The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-03-05
Oil and the Public


There is desperate need of a new moral leader
ship in the oil industry.
The oil industry itself needs it. Indications are
that the industry not recognize this fact but the
day rapidly is approaching when it no longer can
fail to see it.
It will see it in the form of disaster to its own
busness-just as the railroads began to see it some
thing less than generation ago.
few weeks ago there were indications that young
John D. Rockefeller was about to take over this
needed leadership
One of his Subordinates, Col Robert w. Stewart
head of the Standard Oil of Indiana, fagrantly had
houted the United States Senate. He had shown
his contempt for the countrys highest law-naking
body as that body endeaoed to learn further facts
of the demoralizing corruption connected with the
lease of naval oil reserves He fatty refused to tell
the Senate What he knew.
Young John D. Rockefeller-called young because
the elder Rockefeller still lives actually he is 81
years of age-came to Washington. He sat before
the Senate committee and declared his dspleaS-
ure with his subordinate.
He discoursed eloquenty on business morals. He
persuaded the country that in himself the crooks OF
oil industry have no champion; that in him, indeed
they might find a severe and righteous taskmaster.
Late last week the stockholders OF the Indiana
Standard Oil Company met in person or by proxy
to elect chairman of the board. They reelected
Col Robert w. Stewart They said, in effect, 1--WE
support Stewart in his before the United
States Senate We support the infamous Cont
mental Trading Company deal, to which he was
party"
This, in effect, was the attitude of those stock
holders who voted What did young John D. Rookie
Teller, one of the largest Of the stockholders and
wielder of greater inuence among them than any
other, doP He didn't vote!
"Ill not vote for Stewart or against him." said
this pious young person.
No moral leadership in that And none to be
looked for from this present colorless holder of
name that once dominated the oil industry.
But leadership there must be. Oil men generally
seem incapable of escaping the odum that the
Dohenys and Sinclairs have fixed upon them. AS
recently as December-with the undsputed facts OF
Sincair's and Dohenys criminal activities known to
all the world-the Petroleum Institute of America
representing the oil industry whole, met in Chi
cago and reelected Doheny and Sinclair to director
ships.
Decent oil men there are, but none, apparently
with the courage and the intelligence to set himself
openly against the crooks of the industry.
What will happen if the required leadership does
not reveal itsef-and soon-should be clear to the
blindest among them The country is ceasing to be
unnindful of their attitude. The country is growing
increasingly aware of the relationship between the
oil industry and the Government
The country can see that with Government aid
and protection taken from them arrogant oil
multi nillionaires would find life different thing
from that they have known.
The country soon will be demanding legislation
designed to srackle the oil industry. And the
try will get such legislation.
There time when railroad corporations rode
roughshod over legislatures. When they bullied,
bribed and bought State and National leaders, the
railroads, in due time paid for all this. They learned
their lesson, during long and unhappy years
1t may be that within the oil industry there
men capable of compelling the industry to set itself
in order 1t may be otherwise. But it is a safe
prediction that such men, if any there are will not
have much time in which to assert themselves