Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1939-11-18

recall the crimes peFpetrated under cover
of the name servatiOn"-espec1aily
those of us who bought up coal lands
against the day when the coal famine
was to arrive-we wonder that anyone
should again bring up the question. In
cidentaIly, we believe that when the oil
resources of the United States are eX-
hausted Yankee genius, if allowed a
free hand in the American way, will have
evolved q plan of making auto fuel from
Ignite coal and oil shales. That day is
at hand but offers no menace to the oil
industry so long as the fingers of pO-
liticians are kept out.
We have expressed our own opinion
of the Cole bill only after making sure
that this is the prevailing sentiment OF
our membership. Actually, we see no
great meance to the class of investors
who own landowners royalties. We be-
Iieve that under the rule of the Cole
bill the price of oil would steadily adj
vance. The oil industry would be divided
into two groups: the "cans' and the
''cants''. The "cants" would be slowly
starved out
The remaining leans" would of course
advance the price of oil and refined pro-
ducts. Unless there is an overwhelming
wave of communism that would deprive
the landowner OF his land, we believe that
royalties will not be adversely affected,
because industry and the public win need
more and more motor fuel as the years
go on, and unless South American oil
displaces our production our market
should increase.
Property rights, especially those of
the farmer, will be about the last yestage
of American rights to be taken away.
So long as the farmers property rights
remain, then our royalties will stand.
The farmer who leases his land to
oil operator reserves the right to receive
12H barrels out of every 100 barrels
produced and saved, free of cost of pro-
ductiOn. That right can be transferred to
others and the right to receive that oil
is called ROYALTY. That term Is SYM
boIic of the American principle that ev-
cry man is a king of his own domain
and instead of a portion of the gross
producing going to the ruling sovereign,
it goes to the landowner who is in re-
aIity the reigning American royalty.
1t is backed up by the highest courts of
the land and the title is as good as the
title to the land. So as royalty owners
we have no fear of a direct assault from
the Cole bill but we are interested in
the welfare of the operators who have
made money for us i'm the past and who
can make money for us in the future.
We know that we do not want the oil
under our lands set up as reserves for
a mythical famine" in the year 1905 or
the year $500 or any other time beyond
our span of years. We know that will be
the result for some0ne-perhaps us-if
the Cole bill becomes the law of the
land. Accordingly, we believe it worth
the while of every owner of royalty to
interest himself in defeating this meas
ure.
We want five or more persons from
every state to write to their congress-
men, urging them to vote AGAINST the
Cole bill as an un-American measure.
We want each letter to sound a warning
urging each congressman to think a sec
Ond time when he sees or hears the
words conservation" and WASTE, when
applied to the oil industry.
We want volunteers from our own
ranks to write these letters, as an act
Of public service. The average congress-
man knows nothing about the oil busi-
ness. He win appreciate an expression
Of opinion from any of his constituents.
II It does nothing more than to put him
On his guard against the subversive i'm
rIuences which are today imposing ON our
American form of government, it will
be of benefit to all of us.
Royalty owners, landowners, lease
owners and investors in oil companies
IF all sizes and type are urged to join
contact with those who are helping we
rs. In order that we may have some
ask that each one fill out and mail to
as the attached coupon.