The Watonga Library has a copy of book highly recommended to me called Oklahoma: A History by W. David Baird and Danney Goble. Baird was former head of the history departments of Oklahoma State and Pepperdine universities. In the chapter on ‘Twin Territories’, they write “Before the mass production of and distribution of automobiles, the main use of refined petroleum was kerosene, which was used as ‘illuminating oil’ for lamps in those days before widespread use of electric lights. Refining companies reduced manufacturing costs by mixing a bit of gasoline (then a nearly worthless by product) with the kerosene.
“The adulterated mix earned high profits but had a very low flash point, meaning that it tended to explode when ignited. Some of the companies said to be engaging in the practice were part of John D. Rockefeller’s Standard Oil Company, often damned by progressives for its alleged insensitivity to consumer interests in its unbridled pursuit of power and profit. In Oklahoma territory the charge that Standard Oil adulterated its kerosene added to the criticism.
“Responding to the charges, Governor Thompson B. Ferguson asked the territorial legislature to require that all kerosene sold to residents first be inspected to eliminate the dangerous mixes. The Republican legislature passed a weak bill that required each county to employ a single inspector for all kerosene sold. Appointed by the governor, the inspectors added to the army of patronage employees and thereby benefited the party. Because the inspectors were paid no salary – and were authorized instead to keep a small fee for each railroad carload of kerosene they actually inspected- it was not surprising that the inspectors performed their assignments with les than rigorous devotion. In fact, some learned that they could collect more in oil company bribes not to inspect the product than what could earn from the legal fees. After a woman and her two children died in a fired traced to the illegal mixture, Gov. Ferguson demanded that the next legislature change the law to provide for salaried inspectors who would be independent of the companies. The companies plied the legislators with money and other gifts, and in the end, not only did the legislature defeat Gov. Ferguson’s reform, but its final bill eliminated any form of inspection whatsoever.
“When Oklahoma’s progressives wrote Article 20, Section 2 of the Oklahoma Constitution, they had episodes like that in mind.”
The Article reads “SECTION XX-2. Kerosene oil - Flash test - Specific gravity test. Until changed by the Legislature, the flash test provided for under the laws of Oklahoma Territory for all kerosene oil for illuminating purposes shall be 115 degrees Fahrenheit; and the specific gravity test for all such oil shall be 40 degrees Baume.”