OLEOMAKGAEINE. 243 



ment they make up the very best sample of oleomargarine they have 

 got, put into it a certain percentage of butter in order to make it as 

 near like butter as possible, take it to a chemist, and ask him to analyze 

 it; and of course it is good. But go out in the open market and buy 

 the oleomargarine that is sold in the open market, and the results are 

 entirely different from the analysis of the chemist on a special sample 

 entirely different. 



Now, Mr. Chairman, we oppose the sale of oleomargarine when 

 colored in imitation of yellow butter because the temptation is con- 

 stantly to sell that article as and for butter, and the temptation is too 

 great for ordinary human nature to resist, because of the money in it. 

 And the better the price that butter brings, the greater the temptation. 

 But now we say, "Add 10 cents a pound to the price of this product 

 in the shape of a tax, and there is not so much temptation to make 

 that money." Why should not 10 cents a pound be added to it? Why 

 do we pass our protective-tariff bills ? Why do we impose protective 

 tariffs upon products brought from foreign countries except to give 

 protection to our American industries ? Here is an industry which 

 competes with another industry that has been established for years. 

 Why ought not the farmers who have been in this .industry, these 

 farmers whose all depends upon the butter trade, to have that protec- 

 tion? 



Now, what can our oleomargarine men complain of? They have 

 their choice. We say to them, "If you want to color oleomargarine 

 and compete with butter, then pay 10 cents a pound to the Govern- 

 ment for that privilege. If you think that money can be made by 

 selling colored oleomargarine, pay a revenue tax of 10 cents a pound 

 for it, and come in on equal terms, in a fair competition in the market, 

 and sell your product. But if you think that that is too big a tax, 

 you are not compelled to pay it. Then manufacture your uncolored 

 oleomargarine and pay a quarter of a cent a pound for it. ' You pays 

 your money,' as the Dutchman says, 'and you takes your choice;' that 

 is all." 



If oleomargarine is a healthful product, if the people want it, the 

 matter of color has not anything to do with it. If people want 

 oleomargarine they will buy it as oleomargarine without the color. 

 They are not eating color. They want oleomargarine, we are told, 

 because it is such an absolutely healthful and nutritious article. It is 

 better than butter, as our friends maintain. They prefer it to butter, 

 as our friends maintain. Then, for heaven's sake, let the people have 

 it at this reduced price. Let them get this very superior article at a 

 price that is within their reach; and let these manufacturers spend 

 their millions to advertise the advantages of this delightful and supe- 

 rior and healthful article, and to induce people to buy it instead of 

 the vile butter! 



That is what they ought to do. Why, we do not interfere with their 

 rights, Mr. Chairman. All we ask them to do is to manufacture good 

 goods to manufacture oleomargarine out of good materials. Do not 

 put any color in it. Sell it for oleomargarine. Teach the people that 

 oleomargarine is better than butter. Sell it as oleomargarine, and 

 not as butter. But if you do not want to do that, put your coloring 

 in, and pay the Government 10 cents a pound for it. Come in and 

 sell it as oleomargarine, colored, and come in free competition with 

 butter a free and fair fight for all. 



