798 OLEOMARGARINE. 



The demand for oleomargarine is due to education. The public has 

 become acquainted with oleomargarine through a disposition on the 

 part of the manufacturers to teach it. Our factory is always open to 

 the inspection of the public. We are always at home to visitors. 

 Nothing gives us more pleasure than to see a party of visitors approach- 

 ing our oleomargarine factory. We have no secrets. Every branch of 

 our business, from churning to shipping, continues in the presence of 

 visitors. 



It is our pleasure to show the public every ingredient of oleomarga- 

 rine going through its course of preparation. Our churns, and every 

 utensil used in connection with oleomargarine, are as sweet and clean 

 as hot water and steam will make them. Our floors are cleaner than 

 the average dining table. 



We claim that it is absolutely impossible for germ life to exist in our 

 oleomargarine factory, and we want the public to come and see for 

 themselves. These are the reasons the oleomargarine business is 

 growing, and not that this product is palmed off on innocent purchasers 

 for butter. 



In the face of an increasing production of butter in the United States, 

 and advancing prices for this product the Elgin market ruling higher 

 the past year than at any time since 1804 we ask, gentlemen, do you 

 think this article of food is really suffering for the want of such protec- 

 tion as the creamery interests are asking Congress to give it? 



The passing of the Grout bill would be one of the most unjust pieces 

 of class legislation ever enacted. It would mean that thousands of 

 families would actually be deprived of one of the necessities of life, as 

 they could not pay the prices asked for butter, and would not buy 

 oleomargarine in the form this measure asks us to make it. 



Gentlemen, we ask you, in justice to the business to which the Grout 

 bill means a death blow, and in justice to the thousands of consumers 

 throughout the country, not to recommend the passage of the Grout 

 bill by Congress, thus placing your stamp of approval upon a measure 

 which, if enacted, will destroy a legitimate business, make a monopoly 

 of another, and work one of the greatest of hardships on the laboring 

 men and consumers of this country forever afterwards. 



Permit us, gentlemen, to thank you for the privilege of being heard 

 before your most honorable body. 



Representative ALLEN. I would like to ask you, sir, about what 

 amount of capital your company has invested in this industry ? I refer 

 to this industry alone, the manufacture of oleomargarine. 



Mr. LA VERY. Swift & Co. have two oleomargarine factories, one at 

 Chicago, and one at Kansas City. At Kansas City we have, I should 

 say, taking the cost of the plant and of wholesale licenses, etc., an invest- 

 ment of $500,000. 



Representative ALLEN. In the two plants! 



Mr. LA VERY. Yes, sir. 



Representative ALLEN. How many employees have you who are 

 engaged exclusively in this industry? 



Mr. LAVERY. At the factories alone we employ about 260 people, all 

 told. 



Representative ALLEN. In both factories t 



Mr. LAVERY. Yes, sir. Aside from that we have salaried represent- 

 atives all over the country. 



Representative ALLEN. Does your knowledge serve you as to whether 

 these employees are mostly men of family whether married men pre- 

 dominate among them or not? 



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