OLEOMARGARINE. 335 



any artificial color they were not to be sold, but we have goods in our 

 market made from a richer oil that gives us a color that will sell in 

 our market. 



The ACTING CHAIRMAN. Then you find it possible to get a good 

 trade in oleomargarine that is not colored in imitation of pure yellow 

 butter? 



Mr. PERSON. No; our goods have a color. 



The ACTING CHAIRMAN. But is it the color of pure yellow butter? 



Mr. PERSON. It is the color of yellow butter. I will show you the 

 colors directly, Senator, if you will allow me to go on. 



The ACTING CHAIRMAN. I was simply curious to know how you did 

 such a good business there with that law. 



Mr. PERSON. This is the situation in our State, and has made many 

 of the grocers ready converts to the sale of oleomargarine, and, being 

 in close touch with customers in their neighborhood, has helped to 

 popularize oleomargarine in all the large cities and towns of the State, 

 while even in strictly farming sections farmers are buying it openly 

 and above board, and blessing their lucky stars they can sell their milk 

 and for a part of its returns purchase an article which they admit is 

 better and more uniform than they could themselves produce. 



Let me now speak of the color phase of the question. If you gentle- 

 men could get out and among the dealers of a great State, as we do in 

 our business, I am sure you would get some new and peculiar ideas of 

 the so-called color of butter. Like the human race, butter is of all sorts 

 of colors and conditions, with sufficient and varying shades of color as 

 to well typify almost every race on the globe, except our African 

 brother, the black. I have here fourteen different standard shades of 

 yellow (and there are still others) which you can find reproduced in the 

 butter of commerce. 



[Mr. Person at this point exhibited samples of color to the committee.] 



Mr. PERSON (continuing). Every one of those, Senator, is a yellow. 



The ACTING CHAIRMAN. Do you find it possible to sell oleomarga- 

 rine of that color [indicating very dark shade] in New Jersey? 



Mr. PERSON. No, sir. 



The ACTING CHAIRMAN. That is labeled " 95 D." 



Mr. PERSON. But I will promise you, on the word of a man, that 

 those are all honest, straight yellow colors or shades. 



The ACTING CHAIRMAN. But do you find it possible to sell oleo- 

 margarine in New Jersey of the color indicated upon that slip? 



Mr. PERSON. No, sir; not here. 



Mr. JELKE. But it is sold in Cuba. 



Mr. PERSON. In the French islands, in Martinique, and Porto Rico 

 they demand a very high, rich color. 



The ACTING CHAIRMAN. This [indicating another color] appears to 

 me to be a light orange. 



Mr. PERSON. Yes, sir. 



The ACTING- CHAIRMAN. Will oleomargarine colored in that shade 

 sell 



Mr. PERSON (interrupting). We have seen some of the high-priced 

 Sharpless butter in the height of the season that was I think I may 

 fairly say, colored as highly as that; was it not, Mr. Jelke"? 



The ACTING CHAIRMAN. What I mean to inquire is, can you sell 

 oleomargarine that is colored in that shade? 



Mr. PERSON. Yes, sir. 



The ACTING CHAIRMAN. In New Jersey? 



Mr. PERSON. Yes, sir. 



