656 OLEOMARGARINE. 



But I do know that there is a similar protest on this point, and I do 

 not think there should be any legislation passed for -the purpose of 

 benefiting the butter men simply. I do not know that this is the pur- 

 pose of the bill, but our people think that way down in that part of the 

 country. Perhaps they are wrong. Perhaps it may be for the purpose 

 of regulating an article that is pernicious, but I think investigation will 

 show that it is not pernicious. It is an article that is wholesome, and 

 if the people want to buy it, let them buy it. And if the people like it- 

 better when it is colored, I see no reason why they should not be per- 

 mitted to color it just as people will color a silk waist so that it will 

 make your wife want to buy that. 



With these suggestions, I want to submit this resolution to your 

 favorable consideration. 



Mr. NEVILLE. Will the other members of the committee other than 

 those who are members of the subcommittee be permitted to ask ques- 

 tions? 



The CHAIRMAN. I think it is so understood that they are to have the 

 privilege. 



Mr. COWAN. When you go to ask me questions in regard to the manu- 

 facture of oleomargarine, I do not know anything about that. I was 

 simply asked to present these resolutions and the protest of our peo- 

 ple against the passage of this law, and I do not believe you will find 

 in a large part of the western part of the United States, or possibly 

 in the southern section of the country, any number of people who desire 

 any such law to be passed, and, in my judgment, it would be certainly 

 class legislation. 



Mr. NEVILLE. You do not claim any knowledge of the details of the 

 manufacture of oleomargarine? 



Mr. COWAN. No, sir; I am a lawyer; and you know we know very 

 little about such things. 



Mr. NEVILLE. Lawyers are supposed to know everything. 



Mr. COWAN. Well, that is a very violent supposition. 



Mr. NEVILLE. You say that if "a man should want to buy oleomar- 

 garine he ought to be permitted to do so. 



Mr. COWAN. I think so. 



Mr. NEVILLE. Now, if a man does not want to buy it he ought to be 

 protected so that he will not have to buy it? 



Mr. COWAN. Oh, no; if a man has his money in his pocket he can 

 buy it or not as he chooses, and I do not think the law should protect 

 him. 



Mr. NEVILLE. You say you think if he had the means he should be 

 permitted to buy. But, suppose that he could not make the necessary 

 test in order to discriminate and tell what he was buying. 



Mr. COWAN. I do not know but what he would be in the bad position 

 I am in here in Washington about the whisky. I can't tell which is the 

 good whisky and which is the bad, and the law can not protect me 

 against my bad judgment. 



Mr. NEVILLE. That would depend a good deal upon the time of day, 

 I suppose? 



Mr. COWAN. Just so; and the time of night too, and doubtless some 

 of the rest of you have had the same experience. I do not mean to 

 say anything against the whisky here; it is pretty good. But I mean 

 to say that lean not tell the difference between the good and the bad. 



Mr. NEVILLE. Do you believe that if people want to buy oleomarga- 

 rine that its not being colored would prevent their buying it? 



Mr. COWAN. It might in a good many cases, and it would with but- 

 ter, too. *Y4 



