OLEOMARGARINE. 51 



patrons of the creameries; this results in larger shipments of the fresh 

 product. Then, too, there is still a large stock of refrigerator butter 

 not only here but at other storage centers, and holders feel that the 

 time has come for disposing of as many of these goods as possible. 

 Naturally, the freezer butter fills a large place because of the difference 

 in price, and this is urged as a reason why no further advance should be 

 attempted. In view of the conditions prevailing, we regard our market 

 as quite high enough for safety." 



I will also read the following from the Elgin Dairy Report, D. W . 

 Willson, editor, under date of November 15, 1900, indicating increased 

 business in Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, and Boston, which are 

 the four largest butter markets in the United States. The Elgin Dairy 

 Report is supposed to be the organ of the creamery people in Illinois. 

 This is an article on the increased consumption of butter. It says: 



u Inquiry in Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, and Boston indicates 

 an increased consumption of butter by the people who depend upon 

 those sources of supply. The reason given for this increased con- 

 sumption varies according to the opinion of parties giving the same. 



"The New York people claim that the increase in population and 

 the better class of goods arriving on the market and the better condi- 

 tions prevailing among mechanics and working people has increased 

 the consumption of butter in their city. 



' i Boston people say about the same thing. However, whatever the 

 cause may be, it is a gratifying result to all interested in the developing 

 and upbuilding of the dairy industry. We have contended for many 

 years that improvement in the quality of butter placed upon the mar- 

 ket will induce greater consumption. We all know that if on our own 

 tables or on the tables of hotels or boarding houses the butter is good 

 we will use more than if the butter is poor. 



"We call attention to the readers of the Report to this increased 

 consumption as reported by parties who are handling the goods, that 

 it may be an inducement to the makers to put more skill and more 

 care into the manufacture of their goods. While the proportion of 

 good butter has increased during the past ten years, it is not yet what 

 it should be. The reason of this large proportion of medium to poor 

 butter placed upon the market is a problem that the education and 

 enlightenment that has been promulgated through the dairy press and 

 the dairy associations has not solved." 



Mr. Chairman, good butter needs no legislation to give it a price. 

 Good oleomargarine asks no legislation against chemically mixed and 

 chemically purified butter. The makers of butter and the makers of 

 oleomargarine ought to be equal before the law. Each industry should 

 thrive or decay because of its own merit or demerit. Those who wish 

 to buy oleomargarine because it is as wholesome and cheaper than 

 butter should be free to do so. The dairymen have obtained protec- 

 tion against oleomargarine interests because they are more numerous. 

 They are protected at the expense of the people, not because they are 

 more deserving, but because they are stronger. It is a system of 

 might against right, which, if extended, will soon deprive honest 

 American citizens of their liberty or hope for constitutional redress. 



The prejudice of the masses comes from the jealousy of the farmer. 

 Because of the fear that he might be injured by the production of oleo- 

 margarine, the press of this country have given columns to the conten- 

 tions of the agricultural interests whenever its representatives went to 



