280 OLEOMARGARINE. 



your committee that three-fourths of his product went direct to the 

 consumer. 



The consumer is defrauded of his money and the dairy farmer of his rightful mar- 

 ket, the first being compelled to pay a butter price for that which is not butter. 



The testimony is to the effect that the farmer still lias his market for 

 butter; it is everywhere increasing in price, and milk has gone up in 

 price. That all appears in the record. And as to the consumer being 

 defrauded, we have some testimony on that subject, but tbe reverse of 

 the claim; and I want to add my individual testimony very shortly. 

 He goes on 



The oleomargarine combine consists of less than 20 manufacturers, who have 

 entered into a conspiracy to break down these State laws. 



I will say that there are not any more bitter competitors in any busi- 

 ness in the world than the oleomargarine manufacturers of this coun- 

 try. I represent part of them, and I know how they are fighting 

 among themselves, and how they are doing business at a bare living 

 profit. 



He says, " Who have entered into a conspiracy to break down these 

 State laws, and, by bribing merchants" they have not shown it "by 

 deception of all kinds" they have not shown it "by subsidizing city 

 newspapers" they have not proven it "by employing leading politi- 

 cians" we do not know of one. We have not shipped any masters of 

 State granges here. We have not sent any telegrams, to my knowl- 

 edge, except one that came to Senator Foraker asking that he delay 

 the hearing until I could get here "to so neutralize the effect and 

 administration of those laws that they may force their counterfeit upon 

 the public." We have shown that we are not forcing a counterfeit 

 upon the public. 



These manufacturers are assuming to override all law. They stand behind all 

 infractions of State and national laws, and furnish money for the defense of th< ir 

 agents when arrested. 



That has not been shown. 



The ACTING CHAIRMAN. Is it so? 



Mr. SCHELL. It is not so. I can answer for three factories. It is 

 not the fact. 



Mr. KNIGHT. May I ask a question right here? 



Mr. SCHELL. No; because my time is limited. You can answer this 

 argument. That right has been reserved, 



Mr. KNIGHT. I wanted to ask what your business was. 



Mr. SCHELL. I know; but you break up the continuity of my state- 

 ment. He continues: 



"On one side stands one of the greatest of our agricultural interests, 

 together with the millions of consumers" millions again; numbers, 

 not arguments " who are tired of being swindled." They have not so 

 testified. I have not heard the testimony of one. I do not think it 

 appears in the record. 



"On the other side stands the oleomargarine trust" there is no 

 trust. If there is, we are not in it " engaged in manufacturing a coun- 

 terfeit," we are manufacturing butter by a different process "depend- 

 ing on lawbreaking, falsehood, and deception for its success, backed 

 up with millions of capital." 



They have not shown where the millions of capital come in. On the 

 contrary, later on they speak of the combined rating of the two firms 



