OLEOMARGARINE. 307 



Gentlemen, I thank you. 



(The following statements of Mr. Dolan and Mr. Pierce were pre- 

 sented on Monday, January 7, and are inserted at this point in order 

 to preserve the continuity of Mr. Schell's remarks:) 



Mr. SCHELL. Mr. Chairman, allow me to introduce Mr. Patrick Dolan, 

 president of the United Mine Workers' Association, 40,000 strong, and 

 Mr. John Pierce, representing the Amalgamated Association of Iron 

 and Steel Workers, 15,000 strong. The people they represent would 

 indicate that they have sufficient interest at stake to entitle them to a 

 hearing before this committee. 



The ACTING CHAIRMAN. It will be very satisfactory to hear the 

 gentlemen. 



STATEMENT OF PATRICK DOLAN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED 

 MINE WORKERS' ASSOCIATION. 



Mr. DOLAN. Mr. Chairman, the people whom I represent are some- 

 what interested in this measure, as they are all working people. Kep- 

 resenting them, I have come here and have prepared a short statement, 

 which I will read : 



The question involved here, so far as it affects the section of country 

 from which I come (western Pennsylvania) and the people I represent, 

 despite the verbiage of the bill, seems to be whether or not white oleo- 

 margarine is good enough for the workingman and consumer, whose 

 needs demand a cheap and wholesome article. In former times, before 

 tbegeneral introduction of oleomargarine and the manufacture of cream- 

 ery butter, the grocers and merchants in our section used to have their 

 regular butter day. It might occur on any day with different merchants, 

 but when that day was set by any one of them it was an immovable 

 feast but such a feast ! Almost any of us can call to mind the strange 

 collection of colors and shapes, accompanied by as many different and 

 distinct perfumes as ever emanated from the ancient and distinguished 

 city of Bagdad the source of a thousand and one individual odors. 

 The few rolls of really palatable and passable butter were seized on the 

 arrival of the consignment and stored away for the pet customers (who 

 didn't mind the price), and the balance was spread out in that portion 

 of the establishment known as the- butter counter for the inspection 

 and sampling of those who were not so fortunate as to be able to pay 

 the long price or to figure high in the affections of the merchant. 



But this is all gone in our markets, I find, except in a very few iso- 

 lated instances. Two things seem to find sale, namely, firt-class 

 creamery butter and oleomargarine. The butter at present sells for 

 from 30 to 35 cents, the oleomargarine at from 2 pounds for 25 cents to 20 

 cents per pound; and while the latter all seems palatable, I have found 

 a marked difference in the quality, which to me accounts satisfactorily 

 for the wide variance in price, viz, from 12J cents per pound to 20 cents 

 per pound. 



That some oleomargarine may be sold for butter I do not doubt, but 

 I am convinced that it is triflng; and to propose such a measure as this 

 as an alleged remedy for that is unfair, to my mind. This bill does not 

 pretend to remedy an evil, but to exclude and prevent the sale of a 

 healthful product which seems to have been the real spirit of all the 

 laws on the subject. 



I am convinced that the true intent of the pending bill is to make a 

 market for the axle-grease portion of the butter product, which oleo- 

 margarine, by reason of its cheapness and wholesomeness, has run out 



