Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-08-16

and Porto Rico molasses is mixed to a
lesser or greater extent with glucose, if
our flour preparations are in part terra
alba, If our baking powders are largely
alum or something worse, we will find it
out and have a word to say.
Our customers have a right 10 expect
protection from us in these matters so far
as we are able TO give it. We look to them
for our trade, for our living and our profit.
In the ways l have indicated, lie, in my
Judgment, the duty of the association at
the present time. A thorough cleansing
of ourselves from wrong will place us in
condition TO handle the wrongs of those
of whom we complain.
come now, Mr.. President, to consider
the one article which primarily led me to
prepare this essay, if such it can be called.
oLEoMARGARINE.
What is itP We hear great complaint,
and much has been said about oleomarga-
rine as an adulterated article Of butter.
So of butterine and suine, though not so
much in this market as In New York and
the west, of the two latter. What is
cleo? To state the negative, it is not but
ter. 1t is not an adulteration of butter
it is just what it purports to be; made of
sweet milk or cream and the fat of beef
kidneys. This is my understanding, in
short, OF this compound. The manufac-
turers do not sell it as butter, do not rep.
resent it as butter, so far as | know; but
as honest men at a legitimate trade, and
producing n substitute, which, for many
consumers, meets their demands and
needs.
They tell us how il is made, even show
US their process, and sell it for what it is
The trouble is not with olCo; it is with
ourselves as grocers. 1t is sold by the
retail grocers as pure cows butter, in
plain defiance of the law, of honesty TO
ones self, and gross wrong of one grocer
upon another; that is Just where the
trouble is regarding it. Now, Mr.. Prcsi-
dent what is to be done about it? Personal
experiences, relative to its use and sale,
have been given in this hall many times.
Some have said they sold it, and sold it
for what it was, not for butter; have
| given their customers their knowledge of
| have sold it to them. This is honest, man.
| ly, and clevates every man who does it in
the minds of his customers. Others have
said they ncUer sold it, nor had it in their
stores to sell. The man is yet to be heard
from, who openly avows that lie sells all
he can Of it, and sells it as oleo, when he
fails Of the skill to pass it off on his conld-
ing customers as pure butter.
Only few days ago personal friend
of mine, not grocer, but consumer, and
one who bno1US olco from butter. told me
he was in grocer's store in this city,
where he saw on the table for sale, tubs
of what appeared to be butter. While
conversing with the grocer, who was
personal friend also, n customer came in
for butter. The proprietor attended his
customer. In answer to inquiry "the
price of this butter" pointing 10 the first
tub in the line, the answer was "30c. and
this 32c." as that oleo?" was the next
inquiry. The answer was 'yes, those two
are oleo;" the price of the next two in
line was asked "3i and &c.," was the an
swer. "Are these butter?" was asked, but
no answer, except the extolling of the
excellence and fine flavor of the last
named, the SEC. tub, and the customer
purchased and went away. Turning to
his friend said he, there, "he bought cleo
after all; there is only one tub OF butter
in the seven" Mr.. President, is this the
way that men do business, who utter pro-
tests against frauds, and sign petitions to
have our legislators enact laws against
frauds. AS | said, the arguments ofthose
who do business in this way have not been
heard yet in discussions. Would that we
might hear, that we might be instructed
into the mystery whereby a man can 50
bury his manhood under so ID. tub of
cleo, and then rise without flushed face
to meet his brethren in the trade. who do
seek in this one way at least to be honest
with themselves, their brethren in trade
and their customers, Again | say, Mr.
President, our position today as an asso
citation in this conflict with frauds, is the
open field.
We cannot merit success In struggling
for the right while so wickedly pursuing
the wrong. For one, ! say as | have said
before in this hall, l never sold cleo,
never had it on sale, never would have
it and sell it for anything except oleo, and
[ never believed could sell it If | did
call it by its true name. Experiences differ.
Many have and can no doubt sell it for
what it is, and their trade not only demand
it but appreciate it. This is | claim en-.
Illoly HoueSI anu BUSINESS ike. were tnlS
the universal practice of the trade | be
lieve much less of it would be sold thar
there is to-day even Mt the great difference
in the price. Here, then, to my mind i!
a great wrong being practised upon con
hding customers. A fraud, cheat, They
are not given an equivalent for thei
money. 1t is great wrong of one mem
Der OF the association against another o
this brotherhood of business men. 1t il
p".o ~ ny t'o'e VINO eAPIcSS u WISH IL
them done owav with nv law villa CON-
stantly being themselves breakers of law
both legal and moral.
N2W; "I' res.ocnl' whaC ms lhl
,,rr,nil,I C,r ..,,t,,oI rontGt a,', NS
lection" us set forth in our Constitu,io,
aud BY Laws, with this question? 1t seem:
10 me IL mas Woik TO 40 Tor "mu ua
in',oJ W., T rn" Ca r,"' w. lun9 noe. ms
cessrulIy and har,uoniouslv maintained ,
sandlld price for sugar and all have re
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