The Oklahoma Labor Unit (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 2, No. 1, Ed. 1 Saturday, June 26, 1909 Page: 3 of 8
eight pages : ill. ; page 22 x 15 in. Digitized from 35 mm. microfilm.View a full description of this newspaper.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
m I m ipl
i HOP ■T
- ^1
GIVING the PUBLIC the FACTS
There is no reason why the relations between
the people of Oklahoma City and the Gas and
Electric Company should not be the friendliest kind.
We are most anxious for a continuance of
such a mutual attitude. We know that our success
depends upon the good will of the people and we
are not ashamed to ask for it.
Friendliness toward us is not desired in order
that we may take advantage of the public and ex-
tort unfair gain. It is sought because we realize
most keenly that we MUST have it as the first
essential of honest, legitimate, profitable conduct of
the gas and electric business.
We make no secret of the fact that one of the
objects of the extensive advertising campaign which
this company is carying out in Oklahoma City is
to strengthen our position with the people. We fail
to see how we can be rightly criticised for wishing
to stand high in the good opinion of the community.
As we have tried to make clear, we are perfect-
ly willing that the material facts in the history and
development of our business should become public
property. We have not hesitated to go before the
people in the most public way possible and state
frankly just what we are, what we are trying to do,
and to declare our principles, methods and practices.
When a public utility company comes before
the people and frankly ask their co-operation, is it
not fair to assume that the company is using its
very best endeavors to deserve good will ?
Good will is something that we care a great
deal about. It is an asset which the old-fashioned
utility corporation often neglected, to its own loss and
to the discomfiture of the modern operator, who has
had to overcome a nation wide prejudice before he
was taken as sincere.
There have been bad utility companies in this
country just as there have been bad insurance com-
panies, bad public officials and bad church-goers, but
the majority of utility concerns, like the majority of
the classes specified, have been and are useful ele-
ments in the community.
Unfavorable sentiment toward utility compan-
ies, however, has been especially harsh because of
the widespread misconception that a condition of
non-competition meant arrogance, high prices and
indifference.
As a matter of fact this very condition of
non-competition COMPELS the utility company
to be far more careful of the rights of the public
than would be the proprietor of a mercantile estab-
lishment.
The slightest neglect or appearance of indiffer-
ence to the demands of consumers is immediately
charged up to "corporation methods/' Genuine
good points of the service are lost in the feeling that
the company thinks it can do as it pleases be-
cause service can
be obtained nowhere else.
The utility company that regards its privileges
this way has a rocky road to travel. The company
at all times has official dealings with the city and
sometimes has to ask for concessions and favors.
There are times when the strongest corporation is
embarassed and in need of help. These occasions
ate days of reckoning if the public has been treated
badlv.
Gas and electric companies are always in strife
with certain kinds of competition. There are other
kinds of fuel and light besides gas. There are other
sources of power in lighting than electricity. The
oil companies, for instance wage an active campaign
for the sale of kerosene and gasolene, and keep high
priced experts at work devising new oil-consuming
appliances. The manufacturer may decide to stick
to steam instead of using the motor drive.
Is general good will toward a utility company
worth anything, do you think, when a salesman
goes out to obtain a contract for new business ?
Does it help when he asks the privilege of figure
ing costs or demonstrating the advantages of our
service?
Has it any influence with the citizen's decision
as to wiring his home for electricity?
These are questions which WE are forced
to ask OURSELVES. We are forced to
answer in just one way. If you could come
on our side of the counter and see the situation
from our viewpoint, you would be convinced
in half an hour that the good will of the public
is the last thing the Oklahoma Gas & Electric
Company can afford to ignore.
We understand just as well as you do that
good will is neither created nor maintained by
good words. We might use up all the printers
ink in the United States and not gain the confi-
dence of the people unless we make good by
living up to our declarations every day in the
year.
Don't think for one minute that we think
the people are fools or that we can fool them.
Fooling the people is not the purpose of these
articles. We expect and hope to supply Okla-
homa City with gas and electric service for
many years. There will be many times when
we will have to deal with the community as a
whole, and when our record will be the thing
that counts for or against us.
We have bought space in the newspapers
and told about our company and its affairs in
order to impress the situation upon those who
have given little time or thought to the subject,
and to remove any suspicion or distrust against
us which might exist.
We want the public to know us and to
treat us accordingly—in the light of all the facts.
OKLAHOMA GAS M ELECTRIC COM'Y
BY F. H. TISRAM. GEN. Mfiis.
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
The Oklahoma Labor Unit (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 2, No. 1, Ed. 1 Saturday, June 26, 1909, newspaper, June 26, 1909; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc107623/m1/3/: accessed May 3, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.