18 ILLINOIS DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



with every mark of courtesy and consideration to which any man could be en- 

 titled as appearing before that Board as a representative of this body, and I 

 came away with the impression that the State Board of Agriculture was really 

 a friend of the dairy interests of the State, and that everything would be done 

 which that Board could do to advance the dairy interests of the State in con- 

 nection with the dairy fair ; therefore, you can understand that it was a matter 

 of very great surprise, as well as chagrin, that the State Board should take the 

 action which they did upon this subject. It seemed to me that they were really 

 going back on their own record in this connection. But I am satisfied, Mr. 

 President, that it is only just to that Board for me to believe at least that they 

 simply made: a mistake. 



But, it seems to me that this butterine, which is simply a parasite of butter, 

 ought not to be permitted to gain a status with the State Board of Agriculture. 

 It has no status now — it is simply a product of lard. It is not definite enough 

 to be treated with, and so far as dealing in it is concerned, it is done in a fraud- 

 ulent and deceptive way. 



Now, how did it get into this Fat Stock Show ? why, precisely as those 

 persons we read of in the parable who did not go in the door of the sheep fold, 

 but climbed up some other way. That has been the practice of the butterine 

 business — to climb up some other way ; to come up as a fraud and a deception, 

 and it seems to me that until the butterine men will pursue an honest course, 

 I do not see how it can gain a fixed status, and right there is the trouble with 

 this matter. They did give -it a status. Now, what the dairy interests of the 

 future want to know, is, whether they are going to continue to do so, or to do 

 something different ? 



If butterine, as such, is to have a status with the Agricultural Board, it 

 seems that it must tend to alienate the attention, the respect of the dairy 

 interest, as the dairy. 



As to the honorable intentions of the State Board of Agriculture, I have 

 not the least doubt, but still we do want to know just what they are going to do 

 on this butterine question. We need their help to secure the enactment of 

 wholesome and just laws with respect to these interests, and jus.t here I may 

 say that it is going to be no controlling argument against butterine that the 

 butterine interest is damaging to the dairy interest. Whatever is of interest to 

 the public will be done in spite of any particular interest that may be affected, 

 find that is the ground we must take — the public are interested in this matter. 

 It is for both interests that proper legislation should be had relative to it.' The 

 dairy interest is only one of numerous interests, and we shall have to ask for 

 that which conserves the interests of the public. What we want is some legis- 

 lation in this particular, which will oblige these people to sell their product for 

 what it is, and then if people want it let them have it. 



Mr. Boyd : I was astonished at Mr. Chester's statement that the dairy in- 

 terests of the State were not represented by the State Board of Agriculture. It 

 seems to me this should not be so, and I have no doubt that some of these gen- 

 tlemen who voted in favor of presenting this oleomargarine in the exposition 

 would resign very willingly, and let some of the dairymen take their places. 



Mr. Lespinasse : I like to give credit where credit is due, and at the same 

 time, we should place squarely before this body the position in which the 

 -dairymen of the State of Illinois find themselves today in reference to the 



