The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1886-12-31
WRAT ARMOUR WANTS.
CnICAGo, Dec. II, 1855

CHICAGO, Dec. II, 1856.
DEAR SIR: AS unfair legislation against
Butterine or Oleomargarlne has been en-
acted or is contemplated in many of the
States, We desire To enlist your attention
To few facts concerning the products
and this proposed legislation, hoping
that il may aid YOU in arriving at a just
and proper decision If called upon to act
officially on the subject.
At the last session of Congress this
product was discussed for weeks in ev-
cry possible light and by the ablest and
most thoughtful men of our country, and
as result has been placed fully and
completely under the supervision and
surveillance ofthe National Government.
This law is far reaching and complete in
its character, executed with all the strict
ness peculiar To Internal Revenue regu-
lation, and not only positively assures
the public that not a pound of Oleomar-
garine is sold for anything but Oleomar-
garine, but also that every pound sold is
healthy article of food The people
are protected from any imposition or de-
ceIt by this law, and if they desire 10
purchase the product they should be
allowed To do SO. The national law is
sufficient, it Is and will be strictly en-
u,
against this article that Justice or fairness
dictates.
Butterine and Oleomargarine are now
universally acknowledged to be cheap
and wholesome food products, quite as
valuable 10 the consuming public as Dairy
Butter OF any other commodity hereto
fore considered indispensable for domes-
tic purposes. These products contain
nothing deieterious to health, and moth
| ing that is not daily found in some other
shape upon every table. They are made
of Cleo Oil, which is rendered from the
choicest Beef fats, and Neutral which is
produced from Pure Leaf Lard. These
are mixed with the finest Creamery But
| ter obtainable, and then churned with
milk and cream. They are therefore de-
| sirabie articles of food, and their merits
are attested by many eminent scientific
men as well as by thousands of consum-
ers in all parts of the country.
The question of leglslating on cheap
| food products is most important one,
and, conceding the fact that all food
cheapening industl les should be protect
ed and not discouraged, we respectfully
ask you to give the interests of these
products and of the consuming public
careful consideration ifthis subject comes
before your State legislature this winter
We will be glad, If you should visit our
city, To show you and explain the whole
process of manufacture; or if you cannot
visit us We will he pleased to give you
any desired information or samples Of
the products. If you can conveniently
do SO, we will be glad to have an express
ion Of your views on this species of legis-
lation at your earliest convenience.
Iours truly,
ARMOUR Il Co.
The above letter was handed us by one
of the newly elected representatives from
this county, and we find upon inquiry
that the entire delegation has been fur
nished with the same. In fact it is safe
to say that every Senator and Represen-
tative-elect i'm Minnesota has been sup
piled with Mr.. "Armour's views" as set
forth in this circular. 1t is plainly evI-
dent to the mind, and clearly demon
strated in the action, that manufacturers
of oleomargarine and other kinds of
spurious butter will exert every infiu-
ence with our lawmakers this winter for
the repeal of the present law prohibiting
the manufacture and sale of bogus dairy
products within our State, and it is not
unlikely that they will try the persua-
sive argument found i'm doodle" The
manufacture of oleomargarine has grown
TO wonderful proportions, and the legal
izing act passed by the present Congress
has rendered those engaged in flooding
the market with the spurious article bold
and most defiant. Even IN Minnesota,
where its sale is strictly prohibited and
punishable by heavy fine, the Dairy
Commissioner finds that over 200, 900
pounds of oleomargarine was sold and
consumed in the State during the win
tiers of 1856. This represented a cost
of 500, 000-or a tax upon the legitimate
dairying interests of the State to that
amount. Remove the present safeguards
thrown about our dairying interests
through the commissioners and present
laws, and instead of 1 600, 900 pounds of
oleomargarine being sold and consumed
in Minnesota during the winters of
1878 we would find the figures swelled
to six or eight times that amount. The
result would be the cessation of further
development IN the dairy, if indeed it
would not prove the ruination of this
great interest.
We feel confident, however, that the
legislature which is to convene next
week is composed of body of intelli-
gent gentlemen who may be fully trusted
to look after this branch of agriculture,
and instead of granting Mr.. Armour his
PRAYER will, if possible, further strength
en- the arm of the Dairy Commissioner,
that he may be able to shut out from our
State every pound of bogus butter.