OCR Text |
Show ; i .' The Big Stick and the Standard. ' They have succeeded in starting something in Kansas that seems in every way likely to result iu all sorts of trouble for that delicate infant industry, the Standard Oil company. We recently alluded to the severing of diplo- matic relations, between the Standard and Kansas' due to the discourteous action of the Sunflower State legislators in attempting to regulate the big company's methods of doing business, and we expressed ex-pressed a belief that it might some time lead to the divine right of the Standard being questioned by the Government, but we did not expect to see mat- j ters come to a head so soon. A Kansas Congressman quickly followed the I lead of the Legislature of his State and introduced ! in Congress a bill providing for an investigation of " the manners and customs of the Standard. It struck a responsive chord in the breast of President Roosevelt. Roose-velt. He made haste to direct Commissioner Garfield Gar-field to begin a rigid and comprehensive inveStiga-' inveStiga-' ' tion. Mr. Garfield is certain to conduct it in the manner desired. That young man is made of the I ' right stuff. We are glad to see Mr. Roosevelt swing the big stick in the direction of the Standard's head. It is said that Mr. Rockefeller expressed surprise when told that an investigation was on the programme, but we venture that he will be more surprised before be-fore the incident is closed. The President has a way ft keeping everlastingly at it that is calculated to cause public-spirited concerns like the Standard no end of worry and annoyance. The Standard is powerful Itecause no one has had the courage to fight it. It has had its own way because of lack of determined opposition. We believe be-lieve it is like any other big bully in that it can be soundly whipped by a small but resolute foe. It seemr a big undertaking for one man, even though he be President, to attack so gigantic a corporation , . . as the Standard, but we are willing to give odds on J Mr. Roosevelt. 1 1 |