IDLINOIS STATE DiAIRYM'EN'S ASSOCIATION. 193 



ciated by the farmers, a large amount of it was allowed to go 

 to w^aste; but the manufacture of cheese was undertaken in a 

 small w^ay some ten or fifteen years ago, and had become so 

 general and so universal in this State, that but little, if any, 

 full cream cheese was produced in Illinois, and a large amount 

 of filled cheese was placed upon the market, not only in this 

 country, but in foreign countries as well, under the impression 

 that they were receiving the real article. The result was that 

 when it was learned that it was filled cheese there sprung up 

 a disposition to let Illinois cheese entirely alone; resulting in 

 a much smaller demand for cheese not only for home but for 

 export trade, particularly when made in the State of Illinois. 



Legislation was asked for along that line at the last ses- 

 sion of congress, and a bill was introduced which compelled 

 the marking and branding of cheese and placing it upon the 

 market for what it was. A bitter fight was made, but the 

 congressmen saw that the people were behind this legislation, 

 and that the interest of good government and of the whole 

 country demanded it. The result was that the filled cheese bill 

 was passed and went into operation last September, and we 

 can see the good effect of that law. The difference in the price 

 of full cream cheese today and a year ago is evidence enough 

 as there is nearly 30 per cent, difference in the market today 

 from what is was in 1896, and the reputation of our cheese 

 abroad is again being considered of some account and the de- 

 mand for cheese for the home trade has grown so that the 

 price, instead of being 8 cents, is now from 10 cents to 12 cents. 

 Contrary to the opinion or the wishes of the filled cheese peo- 

 ple, who claimed that they were producing an article of food 

 that was wanted by the people — but when they find out what 

 they are having they will want something different — they did 

 not want counterfeit goods, they want the real article, even 

 in this time of cheap prices. What is needed in this State now 

 is a strong, healthy public sentiment that will demand of our 

 legislators legislation that will protect the interests of the 

 producers, the honest manufacturers and consumers of pure 

 dairy products. Not only a law but one with sufficient penalty 

 to prevent dishonest and fraudulent dealing in imitation goods. 



These things are just beginning to be understood by the 

 class of people who have heretofore paid but little attention to 

 —13 



