FOURTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART V. 285 



thought it was all off with us, but the Government came to our assis- 

 tance and declared that illegal. 



What is the condition today in the Chicago butter market after one 

 and a half years under the new law? We have eighty-nine members of 

 the Chicago Butter and Egg Board, some of whom are in the butter busi- 

 ness, and probably about thirty or forty are wholesalers. We have 

 regained in a year and a half the business we lost in eight years. Wliat 

 is going to be the future if this gain continues? Chicago will be the 

 great commanding butter market of the United States, and you will need 

 it. For the proper distribution of this article you must have some gen- 

 eral distributing market in the Central West. The Eastern cities will 

 take care of their own trade, but the West must have a city which will 

 be able to distribute butter economically, carefully and well. In Chicago 

 we have one of the finest cold storage system raili'oads running to every 

 point of the compass; we also have the best banking facilities that it is 

 possible to have. You know, if you read the papers, that Chicago banks 

 are probably stronger than those of any other city — they were taught a 

 lesson in '93 and afterwards. All we require now is simply that we be 

 protected as a consuming market. 



It has been demonstrated to us that we can never become a great 

 distributing center unless we have the large local consumption which we 

 have today and which we hope we will continue to have. 



But gentlemen, it is a surprise to me to hear the report which Mr. 

 Knight has just made; hear him state that you creamerymen would not 

 contribute willingly one cent a tub to protect your livelihood and j^our 

 business. Why, it is a shame and a disgrace to have such a statement 

 made as Mr. Knight has just read to you. The merchants in th^ butter 

 business in Chicago have had their business practically annihilated by 

 the ever-increasing sale of butterine, but we have fought continually 

 and have contributed probably more money to the National Dairy Union 

 than any other city in the United States (even under the conditions 

 existing), and I do hope that this will be the last time such a report 

 will have to be made. You creamerymen should come forward with 

 your active assistance. It may be all right today, but tomorrow it may 

 not be so, as Moxley and the rest will not stand back and see their busi- 

 ness destroyed without making a desperate struggle. They know every 

 trick of the game, they can shuffle from the bottom of the deck just as 

 nicely as they can from the top, and unless you meet them dollar for 

 dollar they will win out. 



In conclusion I would say that you have the most efficient officials at 

 the head of your organization it is possible for you to procure, and I 

 trust you will demonstrate by your action tonight that you appreciate 

 the work they have done and insist that they remain with you. I thank 

 you. 



