Montana oil and mining journal., 1942-12-12
What Con We Do About 1t?

tect The function Of this board is 10 assist
in the war effort as / understand il, and
not to set traps for our neighbOrs. It is about
time that the administration shall awaken
to the fact that the American people are
inherently honest and patriotic and that
this country thus far belongs to the Ameri-
cans, TO have and to hold"
The visitor diverted from his discussion
of "laow to trap EN-" and the meeting pro
ceeded with no changes in the membership
of the board
However, there has been a campaign of
10 years in which the public has been edu-
Gated that the word stock" is something of
derision "Oil stock is certainly good for
a laugh for any radio comedian. None has
bought any stock in the past 10 years The
youth who voted for the first time in 1888,
when the administration ended public
financing has bought no stock and owns
none today Naturally he hasn't much en-
thusiasm for public financing. Some of the
older people recall the days when it was be-
neved that man could invest few hun
dred dollars and get something back-like
those who bought Santa Rita stock in 1882
Lucky it is that Santa Rita was not or
ganized in the year 1884, it would not have
been financed.
We always enjoyed the story related by
the Wall Street Journal how New York
knitwear man who began with nothing once
passed up the chance to be "really rich"
When he first came to this country he used
to take care of the garden behind his place
of residence. The owner of the adjoining
house. who also worked In his garden even
ings, finally spoke to him, said he seemed
earnest and industrious, found ont how
vest all or part of it in a new business ne
was just starting ''the oil business"
The new arrival gave the matter thought,
sought others advice and finally told his
neighbOr:
"Thank you very much for the OppOrtun-
ity, MIR. Rockefeller, but could not think
of risking the savings for which worked
so hard in such an uncertain business"
Those who did invest with Mr. Rookie
feller became some of the worlds wealth.
lest men,
What chance does a potential Rockefeller
have today?
Well the order has changed. There surely
is New Order There isn't the slightest
chance of another Rockefeller arising in
this country, be it good or bad
New methods, new ideas and new theories
must be applied to business. Even If the
New Deal plan proves 100 percent wrong,
1t has made an indelible impression on the
American people that will never be entirely
erased The man who mopes around, crying
about the loss of the American Way of Life
Is doing himself ne good and contributing
nothing to the safety of the country.
There is no reason why Montana oil
producers should refuse to try to work out
ome solution to a seemingly hopeless
problem. They cannot sit back any longer,
Montana is going to make its important
contribution of petroleum to help win the
var. They must evolve plan to get wells
lrilled to keep those refineries operating
lot tomorrow or next month but six months
rom now. That will be the zero hour in
he war effort in which we have part
The arrival of Standard Oil New Jersey)
n the scene at this time is of keen interest
D everyone. viii this be the signal for the
psning of a definite plan of swift develop
lent. tied in with the Alaska Highway
larket or is this a postwar. long distance
natter which will make little change in the
Tontana oil situationP
This is a subject in our current publica-
on issued to members. Our policies are
rgely guided by the overall policies of
le north Rocky mountain oil industry