ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 175 



A. One reason for that is that the working men of this country are 

 only just beginning to realize how they have been imposed upon. They 

 have been buying oleomargarine ~hinking it was butter, and the consump- 

 tion of butter has been enormously decreased from the fact that people 

 have been eating what they thought was pure butter, when really it was 

 oleomargiirine. The working man spends 10 to 15 cents a day for butter. 

 It is a comparatively small matter to him. He cannot afford to spend the 

 money necessary to bring about this agitation, but when we go before 

 congress you will find we will have enormous petitions presented to con- 

 gress from the working man demanding this very same thing: The men 

 vitally interested are the ones to first take up this question. 



Mr. Crossland: I would like to know how much more the laboring 

 man would have to pay for oleomargarine if that tax is passed than they 

 do now? 



A. They would have to pay about eight cents a pound more for oleo- 

 margarine colored like butter; but if they want to use oleomargarine 

 that is not colored they could get it for eight cents less than they are 

 paying now. 



Q. Can't a laboring man just as soon save that? 



A. If he wants to eat oleomargarine and is content to eat it. He 

 would be glad to buy it for 12, 14 or 16 cents in preference to paying 2S 

 cents for it, thinking it butter. 



President Gurler made the following announcement: 



Mr. Soverhill and Mr. Biddulph desire me to say that every member 

 ^r man or lady in the room that has a badge can come to the butter room 

 and get a piece of cheese, and those that haven't badges to come and get 

 some afterwards. Those having badges are to be first served. 



Adjourned until 1:30 p. m. 



