406 OLEOM AEG AEINE. 



culture--! do not know how far they have been repeated before this 

 committee and I call your attention to the fact that it is demonstrated 

 by the testimony of all concerned that artificial coloring was an inven- 

 tion of the oleomargarine men; that is, in the manner in which it is 

 now done. It is true that butter, at one time and another, took on this 

 color, and carrots and the like were resorted to to give the winter but- 

 ter something of the appearance of summer butter. It yet remained, 

 however, for the discoverers of oleomargarine and its promoters to give 

 rise to this standard butter color which is now in general use, so that 

 if there is any borrowing, the buttermen have done the borrowing. 



Senator DOLLIVER. They borrowed the ingredients, but I doubt if 

 it may be said they borrowed the color. 



Mr. DAVIS. They did not borrow the principle of trying to make but- 

 ter in winter look like what it was not. They are the initial sinners, I 

 will concede, so far as that is concerned; but they could not do it. 

 They did not have the natural means at hand, and they did not know 

 how to do it, and it remained for the oleomargarine men to show them 

 how to make butter look like what it was not in order that they might 

 work it off on the public. Let us take our full share of blame butter- 

 men and oleomargarine men alike. I come back to the proposition by 

 answering your question that the buttermen have no vested interest 

 in color and that they never had, for while they were on the way, if you 

 please, to getting that device so well advanced as to be commercial, the 

 oleomargarine men came upon the scene and made perfect what they 

 were tinkering with; and if anybody is entitled to the credit of being 

 in the field first, and having his device protected, it is the manufacturer 

 of oleomargarine. 



But I go further and say that it makes no difference which was in the 

 field first. The Congress of the United States has not any right to tax 

 a color, which this bill asks them to do, and confessedly by your own 

 question, your object is to protect the buttermen. If you say it is 

 not, then I ask you what is the object? If the object is to prevent 

 fraud, I have answered it already. The people are not behind this kind 

 of legislation, and you can not administer it until they are and unless 

 they are. 



Senator HANSBEOUGH. You say the people are not behind this leg- 

 islation ? 



Mr. DAVIS. I say that is the reason the State laws are inefficient 

 because it is not popular. 



Senator HANSBEOUGH. Then why are not these State laws repealed, 

 a portion of them? Instead of that there is an increased number. 



Mr. DAVIS. Do you want me to answer that question plainly and 

 bluntly? 



Senator HANSBEOUGH. Yes. 



Mr. DAVIS. It is too much money. That is why they are not repealed. 

 The dairy interest is too big. 



Senator HANSBEOUGH. Too much money on the butter side? 



Mr. DAVIS. Yes; the butter side, and the butter trust; and the but- 

 ter interests are too extensive to permit of a repeal of these laws, 

 because you know better than I do, as you live in a State and are in 

 politics, that the farmer or the laborer has not time to leave his work 

 and go tagging after legislators. 



Senator DOLLIVEE. The farmers come mighty near it in some cases. 

 [Laughter.] 



Mr. DAVIS. Yes; I know that about certain times they are numerous, 

 more than convenient altogether. But how do you account for the 

 unanimous opposition of the federations of labor to this bill? 



