OLEOMARGARINE. 309 



The ACTING CHAIRMAN. But its color has nothing to do with its 

 wholesomeness or palatability, has it 1 



Mr. DOLAN. Well, the point about the color of it, Mr. Chairman, is 

 this: People, while they are poor, have some pride; and they do not 

 like to go into a store among other people who have money and buy 

 this article, because everyone knows that it is oleo they are getting 

 when they purchase it. 



The ACTING CHAIRMAN. So, instead of the merchant deceiving them 

 they want to be put in a position where they can deceive their neighbors! 



Mr. DOLAN. They want to go in and buy it as butter. 



The ACTING CHAIRMAN. Do they call for it as butter? 



Mr. DOLAN. They all know what they are getting. Mr. Chairman, 

 you know that when people go into a store and get three rolls of but- 

 ter for 50 cents they know they are not getting country butter. 



The ACTING CHAIRMAN. But do they call for butter when they go 

 to the store? 



Mr. DOLAN. Some do, yes; they have done it many times with me. 



The ACTING CHAIRMAN. And they get oleomargarine? 



Mr. DOLAN. Yes; they get oleomargarine. They know that it is 

 oleomargarine. They will be told that it is. Every man who sells it 

 will tell them. 



The ACTING CHAIRMAN. They use the word " butter" simply to pre- 

 serve their general reputation in the community? 



Mr. DOLAN. Yes; that is my understanding. But they know that 

 they are getting oleomargarine; and it would be unfair to the working 

 people 



The ACTING CHAIRMAN. Why should it be regarded as disreputable 

 to purchase an article which is wholesome and nutritive, and in every 

 respect equal to creamery butter, simply because it sells for 15 cents a 

 pound instead of 30? 



Mr. DOLAN. I do not know that it is disreputable; but 



The CHAIRMAN. Well, uncomfortable, then ? 



Mr. DOLAN. People have a little pride about it, you know. 



The ACTING CHAIRMAN. They have a pride, usually, in getting what 

 they want as cheaply as possible. 



Mr. DOLAN. Yes; and I do not think that that should be any reason 

 for having this color taken out. You might as well pass a law to say 

 to men if they were going to eat candies, they would have to eat white 

 candies only. Some people prefer pink. And so it is with whisky. 

 When it comes from the still, the worm, it is white ; and then it is after- 

 wards colored, because people like it that way. I would rather have it 

 that way than have it white. That is a plain statement of the matter. 



Our people, Mr. Chairman, are against the passage of the measure. 

 I represent over 40,000 miners and their families ; and I know from the 

 sentiment in other sections of the country to which I go, from talking 

 to people who are interested in our organization, that they do not want 

 to be deprived of the ability to purchase this wholesome article of food. 

 If it is not made in a wholesome way, then they do not want it; but if it 

 is just as good to them to spread their bread with as 35-cent butter, 

 they do want it. And if this measure passes, the chances are that 

 butter will go up to 50 cents, and poor people will not be able to pur- 

 chase it at all. 



Mr. KNIGHT. May I ask a question, please? 



Mr. DOLAN. Yes, sir. 



Mr. KNIGHT. Do you mean to say that candy manufacturers color 

 their product for the same purpose that oleomargarine manufacturers 

 color theirs? 



