488 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



pled manufacturer is enriched, and his competitor who tries to sell wholesome goods 

 is forced into a competition which drives him from business. It is no wonder therefore 

 that Ohio and Minnesota protect their dairy merchants; and no wonder that these 

 states, in common with New York and many other states, have made provision that 

 spurious vinegars shall not be sold as fruit vinegars, and not at all, if unwholesome. 



These laws are almost identical with our own. What we now need is some provision 

 for their enforcement, as, like all laws, they will not enforce themselves. A year ago 

 your committee arranged to act with a committee from the State Dairyman's associa- 

 tion, which had a bill drawn up and put into the hands of one of its members, who also 

 belonged to the state Senate. Unfortunately for our cause, he was one of the two sen- 

 ators who were unseated. In the political squabbles which followed, the dairymen 

 appear to have lost sight of their measure, and the bill was never introduced in the 

 senate. In behalf of your bill the committee did what could be done. Under Mr. 

 Foster's supervision it was entirely rewritten to conform to the Michigan requirements. 

 It was introduced in the house by Mr. Rowden and a hearing arranged for a joint 

 committee representing the dairymen and ourselves. We came to Lansing at the 

 appointed time and were given about forty-five minutes, the day being one of those 

 upon which a general political fight was in progress. Mr. Foster followed the matter 

 up and finally, in response to his constant pressure, a favorable report was made by the 

 committee on agriculture. It was then referred to the committee on judiciary, made 

 up of lawyers from several cities who were not in fear of their country constituents, 

 and by this committee tied up, though we felt confident of being able to pass the bill 

 even against an adverse report, as we were assured that sufficient votes were available 

 if it could only be put before the house. Defeat really took place because its friends 

 allowed the bill to lie without action until the close of the session was at hand, and in 

 deference to the belief of our governor that no new offices should be created. 



With all respect to this belief, I venture the prediction that not one, but many, new 

 offices will be created as the increasing needs of the times demand their creation. 



A hundred years ago, the place of our meeting was a forest. It is safe to say that in 

 that day a state inspector of insurance would have been a superfluity, either here or 

 elsewhere in the state. The salt brine underlay Saginaw then, as now, but no salt 

 inspector was necessary to mark the bbls. of salt as of proper grade, for the shipments 

 of salt from Saginaw were still undreamed of. The savage took from stream and lake 

 the fish necessary for his food, without let or hindrance, without a thought that some 

 day an office and an expensive equipment would be found necessary to prevent the extinc- 

 tion of many kinds of fish from our waters. Time has brought the necessity for an 

 inspector of insurance, for a salt inspector, and for a fish commission. We have them 

 all today, and all are for the profit of the state. 



With the adulteration of food now in vogue, time has also brought the need of a 

 food commission, and, in spite of the reverse of last winter, we can confidently look 

 forward to its creation. Too many of our neighboring states have such commissions to 

 bar out unwholesome food, and too much of the food rejected by them is marketed in 

 our state for Michigan, to remain passive much longer. 



There was much that was encouraging in the failure of last winter. Many assurances 

 of good-will were received. A large number of local organizations of Patrons of Industry 

 sent in petitions, copied, I think, bodily from our own. As already stated, the dairymen 

 united with us and will undoubtedly stand ready to do so again. Within a few weeks 

 the state grange has taken decided ground in favor of a measure like ours. I think, 

 gentlemen, you were first in asking for this law. Three other bodies are now working 

 with you, and I recommend that you appoint a committee to work in harmony with 

 them, to the end that all four bodies may be in perfect agreement on the bill to be 

 pushed. This joint committee should arrange all details as to petitions and mode of 

 procedure during the coming year, and be ready to push the bill through the legis- 

 lature next winter. 



I must apologize for taking so much time on this subject, but I believe it to be a most 

 important one for us all. Some, who are evaporators of fruit only, may not agree with 

 me. All such will agree that their most profitable years are when the great surplus of 

 fruit in New York and other states does not come into competition with our own fruit. 

 If the law proposed shall be passed, this surplus, I believe, will always find a market, 

 and you will be relieved of its competition. You should then be able to find a market 

 for your product, which in many years is a difficult matter as things now are. This 

 increased demand can be for cheap fruit only, hence, in years of shortage, when prices 

 are high, you will have no annoyance from it. You are, therefore, asked to heartily 

 join in aiding the work of the vinegar men. In closing this subject, I submit a copy of 

 the law last winter proposed by us. 



A very similar subject is the one of national legislation. Last winter a bill regulating 



