OLEOMARGARINE. 835 



sold as the imitation, and people buy it because it is an imitation, and they would 

 not want it if it was not an imitation. It is an imitation, precisely the same as cotton 

 may imitate worsted. People buy it because it is an imitation, and they know what 

 they are buying and they know what they are using. Would you pass a law here 

 that would destroy the use of all imitations? Why, it is one of my delightful recol- 

 lections to think that for 25 cents I can buy a painting that will imitate the finest 

 paintings in the world by the finest masters, and I buy it because it is an imitation. 

 It is gratifying to me to know that for 25 cents I can buy a volume of Shakespeare 

 that will contain just as good reading matter as the most expensive edition that could 

 possibly be put out. Imitations are not to be legislated against. They are proper; 

 they are legitimate; they are right; and the people will have them just as long as 

 people live. 



So that if oleomargarine imitates butter, as it does, and people buy it because it 

 imitates butter, and would not buy it if it did not imitate butter, then unless there 

 is some reason other than has been given here, there should be no legislation against 

 it. The only reason suggested is that in some instances it is sold for butter. I have 

 already stated that that is of too small consequence to be considered by the Congress 

 of the United States, because is amounts to so very, very little. 



Here is an honest confession that oleomargarine is an imitation and 

 a claim that it must imitate butter to be successfully sold. 



And yet we contend that there is a field for a substitute that is not 

 a counterfeit; that oleomargarine can be sold in its natural color if its 

 makers will spend the time and money to build up a trade and reputa- 

 tion for it instead of endeavoring to push it into consumption upon the 

 reputation of and demand for butter. 



This, we believe, will be proven by the following statement by Hon. 

 H. C. Adams, food commissioner of Wisconsin, on page 432: 



I have here samples of butterine which may interest this committee, and the 

 gentlemen upon the other side of the question are invited to inspect them. These 

 samples were obtained in obedience to my orders by N. J. Field, of Milwaukee. He 

 was instructed by me a week ago last Thursday to go to the stores of Oshkosh, Mil- 

 waukee, and Racine, in our State, and purchase samples of uncolored butterine, and 

 to write upon those samples the date of purchase; the name of the firm from whom 

 they \vere purchased, and the cost. I now have the pleasure of submitting these 

 samples to this committee for their inspection. 



Senator HANSBROUGH. You say he was instructed to procure samples of uncolored 

 butterine? 



Mr. ADAMS. Yes, sir; of oleomargarine. I would like to say that one or two of 

 these samples, possibly more, are slightly colored, but they were purchased for 

 uncolored oleomargarine. 



Mr. JELKE. If the chairman will permit me, I would like to make a suggestion 

 that these samples be submitted to the Government chemist to find out whether or 

 not they contain artificial coloring, and also to report on whether they contain any 

 unwholesome ingredient. I do not know where they come from, or anything about it. 



Senator ALLEN. I think that ought to be done. 



Senator HANSBROUGH. I shall direct the clerk of the committee to take care of 

 these samples after they have been exhibited, and send them to the chemist at the 

 Agricultural Department for examination. 



Mr. JELKE. May I suggest that the analysis be made for the purpose of ascertain- 

 ing the percentage of butter fats in each one, as well as the color and what kind of 

 color. 



Senator HANSBROUGH. Yes; he will be directed to make a thorough analysis. 



Mr. ADAMS. I wish to say, gentlemen, that all these samples, with the possible 

 exception of this one, werejsold by the dealer in response to a call for uncolored but- 

 terine, they claiming that they had received it from the manufacturers as uncolored 

 butterine. 



Mr. JELKE. The test will show that. 



Mr. ADAMS. I now wish to present to the committee and have incorporated in the 

 testimony the bill for this. It is as follows: 



WILLIAM J. MOXLEY, 

 MANUFACTURER OP FINE BUTTERINE, 66 AND 67 W. MONROE STREET, 



Chicago, January 25, 1900. 

 W. R. WRIGHT & Co., 



4845 N. Clark street, Rogers Park, III. 



Uncolored oleomargarine: 2 / 56 D. 2 pts. 112 13, $14.56. 



