National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-06-15
The Honest cow-The Butterlne Fraud.


The Honest Cow-The Butterlne Fraud.
The ludicrous side Of the fight in Con-
gress for honest butter has been mainly
treated in these columns, so far as we have
deemed It expedent to 90 into editorial
discussion Of the subject. II has seemed
to us very much like setto between the
honest COW and the deceitful hog, and while
our sympathies have naturally been enlisted
for the bovine we have been unable to re-
sist the temptation to poke fun at her vo-
taries for their excessive zeal in her behalf.
To speak the truth frankly, the present ses-
sion of Congress mas been rich in domagogy,
and has fairly invited rtdicule by the i'm
petuosity with which statesmen" have
prostrated themselves before almost any
shrine that has held out promise of votes.
But to return to the honest butter fight,
we have had serious doubts as TO the right
Of Congress TO impose tax for any pur-
pose without at least n pretense Of neces-
sity on the score OF revenue. We remem-
ber, however, that Senator Ingalls,, who is
q good constitutional lawyer, said in q
short speech on the greenback decision Of
the Supreme Court, that under that decl-
sion majority OF Congress might lawfully
do anything, or words of like import. Ac-
ceptlng the dictum that the will OF Con-
| gress is the supreme law OF the land,
our scruples are removed.
That the consumers, as we'll rs the pur-
chasers, should be protected against eating
bogus butter under the impression that 1t
is the genuine product of the honest COW
Il l. h. ii
legislation, now haltlng in the Senate, will
give this protection, its adoption will be
hailed with satisfaction by great majority
| Of the American people.
| The battle, however, is not yet won.
The dairy farmers and creamery men Of the
United States, by the president of their as
sociation, Mr. Joseph II. Reall, in his re-
port, dated National Hotel, Washington,
d. c., June 10, among other things, speak
ing Of those who favor oleomargarlne, say
"a strong lobby was employed and II is be-
lieved vast sum of money used"
"With few honorable exceptions, the
members from the south supported the
| fraud.n
Speaking of the Senate he says "There
is an important battle yet to be fought, and
for this we must concentrate and utilize all
our forces; that is, TO pass the bill through
the Senate, We must win there. 1t Is the
last fort to be carried, and we must carry
II. The following telegram from the secre-
tary of the National Butter, Egg, and
Cheese Association shows the terrible op-
position we have to contend against. 1t is
millions Of money against the farmers In
terests:
"CmcAGo, June s.-JosEPH H. REALL, PREsG.
DENT NATIONAL HOTEL, WASHINGTON, d. c.
Butterine men have sent delegation to Wash
ington to-day with barrels of money to work
against the dairy bill. Stir up the friends OF
the dairy everywhere. "R. NJ. LITTER"
In another portion OF his report Mr.. Reall
says; "Bring all your best forces to bear
now. 1t would take us a year to do this work
all over again and cost as many thousands
| Of dollars, while the dairy industry would
suffer millions by any delay, and the whole
country lose. AS much of the bogus butter
can be made on a capital Of $500 in a cellar
as 100 farmers with $500 cows costing 81,
100000 can produce"
These are most remarkable statements.
1t would appear that money is being freely
expended on both sides to Obtain legisla-
lation. The butterine men have an enor-
nous advantage over the honest farmers
who own the honest COWS. Only think OF
1t, with a capital Of $500 and an ordinary
cellar for factory and storage, the butter
ine man can produce in weight rs much as
the product of $500 COWS and appliances,
valued at 81 l,000,000l
Ne wonder they can ship money from
Chicago to Washington by the barrel to
corrupt the American Senate. or course,
these statements, printed fs they have
been, and scattered broadcast, will attract
the attention of the press and of Congress-
This contest Is one between art and nature.
An old gentleman Of large experience in
the ways of the world remarked yesterday
"that lie was id afraid OF chemistry and
electricity anyhow. He didn't know what
they'd be able to produce next"