Mass Meeting of Oil Dealers at Titusville
Cleveland Daily Leader, February 28, 1872
Special Dispatch
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Titusville, Feb. 27
The most intense excitement which has ever prevailed in the oil country prevailed here this evening. At an early hour, processions, headed by bands and torches, commenced parading the streets. Long before the appointed hour, the Opera House was densely packed and hundreds were turned from the doors, unable to gain admission. The meeting was in response to a call from the producers, refiners and dealers of the oil district, to take measures against the South Improvement Company — an organization suddenly developed within the past few days, with a capital of many millions, for the purpose of controlling the entire oil trade.
On the background of the stage were posted placards bearing the inscriptions: “No Compromise”; “Never Surrender”; “United We Stand.” Delegates from all the points in the oil regions, from Erie, Meadville, Corry, Buffalo, Jamestown and New York were present.
The great importance of the protection and preservation of their oil interests were fully entered into by all. And all were unanimous that to this end steps must be immediately taken to break this combination. The meeting throughout was enthusiastic and imposing. The delegations from abroad were, by courtesy, assigned the parquet1.
Edwin E. Clapp, of President, Pennsylvania, was chosen as temporary chairman, who, in taking the chair, said that the critical moment had arrived, and called for mutual consultation and united action on behalf of the producing interests, to rescue them from the grasp of a monopoly destined to utterly ruin us, unless circumvented.
On motion, H. C. Bloss was appointed temporary secretary.
Dr. Shamburg moved that a committee on permanent organization be appointed by the chair. Carried.
The chair then appointed such a committee, which chose C. Heydrick, of Franklin, President; James S. McCray, of Petroleum Centre, as Vice President.
After some minor movements and discussions, the following resolutions were read and adopted:
WHEREAS, The prosperity of every branch of business and the welfare of the people depend to a great degree upon the freedom of commercial intercourse; and,
WHEREAS, Recent developments have revealed the existence of a systematic and dangerous combination which threatens to deprive the oil regions of Pennsylvania of all the advantages flowing from a commerce unfettered by power and untainted by fraud;
Resolved, That we declare our hostility to every form of monopoly, every unholy conspiracy against the natural laws of trade, and every selfish combination of capital and power, to impose its burdens upon this hitherto free and favored region.
Resolved, That we demand of our Legislature, now in Harrisburg assembled, the immediate enactment of such legislation as will relieve this section from a burden legislated upon us in defiance of law, equity, honor or patriotism.
Resolved, That we pledge ourselves each to the other that, throwing aside all preferences and political considerations, we will enforce this demand by the use of all such means as the exigencies of the case may justify.
The meeting then adjourned to meet at Oil City at two o’clock on Friday next. Although there was but little definitely accomplished or acted upon, yet there was enough to form a basis for future concerted action and to prove the unanimous feeling to combine against this gigantic Ring.
- The main floor of a theatre (Merriam-Webster). ↩︎