MR HEARST'S CANDIDATE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3047, 18 November 1908, Page 3

MR HEARST'S CANDIDATE.

It was really tc6 tad of a ccrresixndent of "The linns," Lordon, just about the time when Mr Rockefeller was telling the world that the Standard Oil Trust's relations with its competitors were irreproachable, to describe Mr Thumas Hisgen, the Presidential candidate of the Independence Party, as probably the only business man in America who had fought the Trust and not beer, worsted. The story of Mr Hisgen's career, as told by himself, and the correspondent is most interesting. He was one ■of a family of eleven, supported by an axle-grease invented by the father. The sons - travelled about selling it to farmers, and Thomas used to carry a violin with him and play to his customers. In 1889 the little factory and its contents were burned, and the young men started business again with a capital of only .£l9, and acted as their own salesmen. In nine years the business had grown so large that they were able to build ■what was claimed to be the largest axle-grease factory in the world. Then the Standard Oil Trust appeared on the scene. It had been doing a considerable business in'axlegrease of its own manufacture, and rinding the competition of the Hisgens severe, offered them £120,000 for their factory and invention. The Hisgens declined. They were very proud of their business. Then, according to the story, Standard Oil began to make things unpleasant* The Hisgens had difficulty in getting material, lost scores of men, and had to contend against the influence of Standard Oil with the railways, which resulted in discriminating rates being levied on their goods. The Hisgens then decided to carry the -war into Africa, and went into the oil business. Standard Oil's opposition became more acute. The price of Standard Oil in the district 'Where the Hisgens did business dropped by degrees from 12J cents to 6 cents, a price below the cost of production, and oil was even offered free. It is alleged that the Trust •opened the Hisgens" tanks and wasted .-a large amount of their oil. The Hisgens appealed to the people for support, pointing out that if they allowed the firm to be crushed, they would have to pay the same price for their oil a-i was paid in other places where there was no competition. The people responded, and the Hisgens have been selling plenty of oil at higher rates than those of the Standard Oil, while their axlegrease is sold all over the United States. No wonder Mr Hearst, whose great plank is war on the "Trusts, put forward Mr Hisgens .as the candidate of his Independence Party, "a man who has tasted in his own soul of the oppressions of predatory wealth." There was not the least chance of his being elected, but it will be interesting to see how many votes he polled.