Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1882-06-03
BULL GREASE BUTTER.
Ii is Sent TO Creameries TO be Worked
in With Good Butter.
From the New York Tribune. ]

From the New York Tribunel
We do not raise now the question as
to the effect of oleomargarine. That
would depend on the material used and
the methods of manufacture ; and to a
great extent on the mental and physical
organization, or the ignorance of he
consumer. Our present purpose is to
emphasize the fact that the article
whether named oleomargarine or what
not, and whether built up on basis Of
hog cholera lard or refined soap grease
or decent suet-is everywhere under
false pretence. The trade is disguised
and hidden it covers up its tracks it
breaks the law every day. For exam
pie: There is a point in a certain popu-
lous city at which one might stand and
without stirring a step throw stones
into the windows of not less than five
small shops where the stuff is sold for
butter. Go into these places search
for any sign; peer about on tub or
package for some plain brand such as q
State statute requires, and you will not
find 1t and should you venture to in
innate suspicion you would stand good
chance Of being summarily elected.
And this is sample case of thousands.
So oleomargarine worms its way. And
it is polluting even the dairy fountains.
A conscientious correspondent who has
looked into the matter very carefully
told our readers awhile ago that the
stuff is slyly shipped TO creameries and
worked in with the legitimate product
of the faithful COW. There are indiffer-
ent honest farmers making butter on
their own premises who are not above
buying this bogus article at shilling n
pound for the purpose of extending
their goods to be sold at thirty cents.
II not, why the advertisement in papers
that penetrate the rural districts offer
ing "oleomargarine III small quanti-
ties 2" IT is this temptation to deceit,
it is the treachery of the whole manu-
facture and trade, that we object to,
and not the compound itself. If it will
take its proper placg in the open mar
ket and stand or fall on its merits,
nobody would deny to it fair field. II
in straightforward way it can com
pete, however sharply, with COW but
ter, nobody could reasonably object.
But as it comes as rat that gnaws in
the dark, es a sneak-thief, as a law
breaker, as piratical craft that, with
fair surface showing, sails the CONNER
cial seas, it ought to have quietus in
the shape of killing tax, such as isnow
proposed in Congress, since no other
means have been found effective.
In answer to the specious pretext that
it only completes with second or third
rate butter, and does not really affect
prices of first-quality goods, and there
fore must have the bepeficent effect of
lifting the general dairy to higher
level, we note that about the time that
Professor Arnold was speaking for his
clients before the Ways and Means Com
mittee in Washington, a leading com
mission merchant of New York City was
sending check to one of his consignees
of choice butter, with the explanation
that the sharp declinc-twelve cents
per pound within week-was 'on ac-
count of large quantity of lard butter
from the West" This coincidence, sug-
gestive and curious, initiates against
the snowy argument referred TO, which
has been from the first the leading stock
in trade of advocates and others selfish
ly interested in oleomargarine. And
their number is legion, and increasing
day by day. The statistics are too
much under ground for even census ex-
perts, but one writer estimates a manu-
facture and sale in New York City alone
that threatens to extinguish the dairy
industry of the Empire State" How
ever that may be, it is certain that the
encroachment is aggressive, and it seems
to be powerful enough to have beguiled
lately to its defence one hitherto in high
favor as an apostle of honest dairying.