ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. i^c 



their 92, or a clear majority of 10 4 votes. This, I think, put to rest for- 

 ever opinions in the minds of any one, and especially those who had 

 not taken the trouble to inform themselves that this fight was on in 

 earnest, and those who were pushing it, that they had no chance. They 

 pushed it to obtain the legislation they claimed they would secure. 



Meanwhile, while this fight was going on — this was not the only thing 

 the Dairy Union has had to do; it had to watch the corners; had to watch 

 its enemy and help its friends. At one time the Union was helping to 

 elect a Democrat, a Populist in onx State, and a Riepublican in Minn- 

 esota and so on. The issue for the Dairymen and the National Dairy 

 Union, the paramount issue in the last campaign was not money, or the 

 Philippines, or labor, or capital — but oleomargarine. That was the only 

 issue. They did not recognize anything else. If a man was for the 

 Grout Bill they stood by him; if against the Grout Bill they were against 

 him. They did this to accomplish the purpose. 



Our Bill has now gone before che Senate with the prestage that an 

 endorsement of that kind must give it. The battle is not over. The first 

 skirmish is hardly over yet. 



When our Bill went into the Senate it would naturally have been 

 referred to the Committee on Finance, but our people wanted it to go to 

 the Committee on Agriculture, and they accomplished that purpose not- 

 withstanding the opposition of the oleomargarine men. They wanted to 

 get action on this Bill and the Committe got it and commenced giving 

 them hearings upon it. The oleomargarine men have been anxious to 

 delay final action on this Bill, and leave it until the last moment, so that 

 when the Bill comes into the Senate that action can be postponed, and in 

 the closing of the Senate, talk it to death. On the other hand supportersi 

 have been trying to get a definite day set when thisi Bill shall be reported 

 favorably or unfavorably; it has been thought that we could not accom- 

 plish this, but I have been advised today that the Committee has finally 

 decided that this Bill shall be reported one way/ or the other on next 

 Tuesday. 



The oleomargarine men, seeing that a vote must betaken, it has been 

 discovered, by the Committee, before many days on this question, have 



