OLEOMARGARINE. 291 



the time of the committee adjournment, when some were thinking for 

 themselves. Despite the efforts of their overseer (who was himself 

 coached by General Grout), and although they did not get on record, 

 about half of them expressed themselves in favor of a law that would 

 hedge about colored oleo, keep it on its own merits, but not drive it out 

 of the market. I think that is the expression of the majority of the 

 people who are interested in the dairy product. 



Mr. Kauffman I wanted to treat at length; but his argument is 

 reduced to the statement that the color laws are enforced in Philadel- 

 phia; that they always have been whenever they have made the effort; 

 and I think in his argument somewhere will be found the fact that only 

 $12,500 a year is appropriated for the purpose of enforcing the law of 

 the State, and that that is not enough. The farmers who expect these 

 laws to be supported and enforced should furnish the people who are 

 charged with that duty with enough money to properly enforce the 

 law. 



Now, our side, Mr. Chairman, does not attempt to convince by an 

 array although on analysis we would outnumber in actual represen- 

 tation that is, authorized representation before the committee; and if 

 the sentiments of the other side, the friends of the bill, were actually 

 made known, we would infinitely outnumber as to the sentiment. But 

 that does not control. 



From the first hearing until now 1 could have had our Ohio Senators 

 and the members of the committee deluged with thousands of letters 

 and telegrams, the same as you have had from the other side, by using 

 my office force, the Cincinnati wholesalers, 300 retailers to whom we 

 sell in Cincinnati; by the same process in Cleveland; and an equal 

 number from Columbus and Toledo combined, to say nothing of the 

 Kansas City house with its numerous ramifications the retail dealers, 

 their employees, "their sisters and cousins and aunts.' 7 But we have 

 not resorted to such measures; and we condemn, just as positively as 

 did Senator Allen the other day, that method, and hope that none of 

 that has been found in presenting our side. 



Now, Mr. Chairman, to come to the consideration of the bill the 

 fruit by which you can recognize the tree. 



We have examined the tree. It has been said, "A good tree brings 

 forth good fruit, and an evil tree evil fruit." This bill, we insist, is dis- 

 honest in every particular. It is the illegitimate child of avarice and 

 ignorance the avarice o'f the people who pander to the prejudices ot 

 the poorer class of farmers, and the ignorance of some of the people 

 they represent. The purpose of the bill, on its face, is revenue. It 

 comes before you painted, colored. Its avowed purpose is the regula- 

 tion of fraud. Its actual purpose, as creeps out, evidenced by the other 

 side and apparent to all, is to destroy an industry to destroy the 

 product of colored oleomargarine. 



As to the avowed purpose, the regulation of fraud, is it necessary? 

 We claim not. Are the present laws sufficient, if enforced ? We claim 

 they are. And if it is for this purpose, why not accept the substitute 

 bill, to which I will refer presently. 



Have they really proven that there is any considerable amount of 

 fraud? The most direct testimony on that point, and, in fact, the only 

 testimony, is that of the Philadelphia attorney. That was direct and 

 to the point, and should be considered. One of the gentlemen, perhaps 

 two of the gentlemen here to-day, in answer to the questions of the 

 chairman, testified that butter was called for and oleomargarine was 

 given; but they said that the dealer knew that when the child, or the 



