OLEOMARGARINE AND OTHER IMITATION DAIRY PRODUCTS. XVII 



or trusts (and if butterine is killed they will soon be in one), and make them a pres- 

 ent of the butter market, so they can either rob the people or make them go without 

 butter. It is the rankest kind of injustice to kill one industry that is right and 

 legitimate in order to accommodate another. We want butterine; we know what 

 it is; we would rather have it than butter, and it is an outrage, in order to gratify 

 the people who make butter, that we should have to go without it and pay two 

 prices for butter which we are compelled by law to eat, and which, nine cases out of 

 ten, is not fit for human use. It is getting to be pretty serious when the Congress 

 of the United States is asked to go into the business of booming certain interests, and 

 for their accommodation driving their competitors out of existence simply because 

 they are competitors, and for no other reason on earth. A great deal is being said 

 about butterine being a certain color. Now, the only reason that a kick is made on 

 that color is because it helps to sell that commodity. If the butterine makers were 

 to use red or black or blue, these patriotic statesmen, and others so solicitous for the 

 people's protection, would raise no objection, because that would make the same 

 point that they want to make by law, and that is to hurt its sale and thereby tickle the 

 farmers and advance the interests of the creamery trusts. The ingredient used in 

 butterine which gives it its color has been proven by official chemical analysis to be 

 a natural and healthful product. As there is no reason to kill butterine but because 

 it hurts another business, then why not do away with these hose painting machines 

 because they hurt our business? 



"We know it would be unreasonable to ask this, but it would be no more so thae 

 for butter makers to try, as they are doing, to drive butterine out of existence becausn 

 it hurts their business. 



"I will close by saying that we consider any further legislation by Congress tam- 

 pering with the butterine business as a prostitution of that dignified body to the greed 

 and avarice of certain corporations and individuals, at our sacrifice and that of the 

 people in general who don't own farms or creamery factories; and in the name of 

 my union, under its seal, and by its unanimous instruction, I earnestly request you 

 do everything you can to defeat all measures that provide for the increase in the tax 

 of or further interference with the manufacture or sale of butterine." 



#.-'* \ #.'*,'#..,.'.. 



From the Chicago Federation of Labor: 



CHICAGO, March 21, 1900. 

 Hon. WILLIAM MCA.LEER. 



DEAR SIR: The following resolutions were unanimously adopted by the Chicago 

 Federation of Labor at regular meeting, Sunday, February 4, and I was instructed to 

 forward a copy of same to you: 



1 ' Whereas the Chicago Federation of Labor is deeply interested in and desires to 

 encourage every legitimate industry which furnishes employment to the laboring 

 classes; and 



"Whereas efforts are being attempted by contemplated legislation at Washington 

 to destroy the manufacture and sale of butterine, thereby displacing large numbers 

 of the industrial element and preventing them from gaining a livelihood as well as 

 the use of an article of food which has received the highest testimonials of every 

 chemist in this country and the indorsement of every standard work that treats on 

 the subject of hygiene; and 



"Whereas we believe the efforts to place a tax of 10 cents per pound on colored 

 butterine is inspired by selfish motives, so that the manufacturers of butter may 

 charge an unreasonable price for their commodity and enable the large creameries 

 to establish surely and securely a butter trust which may raise prices as their cupidity 

 may dictate; and 



"Whereas justice demands equal rights for both manufacturers of butter and butter- 

 ine, both products having equal merit, any adverse legislation against either must 

 be condemned; and 



"Whereas the late published reports furnished to Congress by the Secretary of the 

 Treasury proves the legitimate arid growing demand for butterine and discloses the 

 large amount of revenue derived therefrom; and 



"Whereas we believe that the present Federal law taxing butterine 2 cents per 

 pound and the additional regulations imposed by the Commissioner of Internal Rev- 

 enue are sufficient to properly regulate the manufacture and sale of butterine: There- 

 fore, be it 



"Resolved, That we, the representatives of the industrial classes in Chicago, and 

 voicing, as we know we do, the sentiments of the mechanic and the laborer through- 

 out the country, protest against the passage of the Tawney, Grout, or any other bills 

 that have for their object the further increase of tax or the relegating to the different 

 States the right to enact laws that are opposed to the interests of the people and in 



S. Rep. 2043 n 



