Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-09-13
How Cleveland Guards the Rights Of
Americas Greatest Industry.
Facts That Interest Honest Producers
and Every Consumer OfDairy
Produce.

Il anu w DbiEl
Produce.
The farmers of the United States
have a peculiarly important special in
terest In the defeat of the Republican
party at the approaching election
With reference to internal taxation,
that platform says: 1--WE favor the en-
tire repeal ofall internal revenue taxes
rather than the surrender of any part
of our protective system"
This plank declares not merely for
the repeal of the whisky tax in prefer
ence to interference with tariff taxes,
but for the abolition of all internal reve-
nue. taxes, including that on oleomar-
garine. The law for a tax on oleO-
margarine or bogus butter, was enact
ed in 1887, and approved by President
CleevIand on August I'd of that year.
BENEFICIENT TAX OF PEACE.
1t is, therefore, not war tax but a
peace tax. The declared purpose of
the law was to protect the farmers of
the United States against the fraudu-
lent competition of bogus butter sold
under the brands of genuine dairy pro-
duce. The act was passed on the
urgent recommendation of the agri-
cultural associations of the country,
and the President filed with the copy
of the new law, signed by him, the fol-
lowing memorandum:
PRESIDENT CLEvELAND's REASONS.
ut has been urged as an objection to
this measure that, while purporting to
be legislation of revenue, its real pur-
pose is to destroy by the use of the tax
ing powers, one industry of our people
for the benefit and protection of an
other. Identified to indulge in such q
suspicion as a basis of official action in
this case, and if entirely satisfied that
the consequences indicated would en-
sue, / should doubtless feel constrained
to interpose executive dissent. But
do not feel called upon to interpret the
motives Of Congress otherwise than by
the apparent character of the bill which
has been presented to me, and I am
convinced that the taxes which it
creates cannot possibly destroy the
open and legitimate manufacture and
sale of the thing upon which it is
levied. If this article has the merit
which its friends claim for it, and if the
people of the land with full knowledge
of its real character, desire to purchase
and use it, the taxes exacted by this
bill will permit a fair profit to both
manufacturer and seller. If the ex-
istence of the commodity taxed and
the profits of its manufacture and sale
depend upon disposing of it to the peo-
pie for something else which it deceit
fully initiates, the entire enterprise is a
fraud and not an industry, and if it
cannot endure the exhibition of it's
real character, which will be affected
by the inspection, supervision and
stamping which this bill directs, the
sooner it is DESTROYED the better, in the
interest of fair dealing.
"Such result would not furnish the
first instance in the history of legisla-
tiOn in which the revenue bill produced
benefit which was merely incidental
to its main purpose There is certain
ly no industry better entitled to the in
cidental advantages which may follow
this legislation than our farming and
dairy interests, and to none of our peo-
pie should they be less begrudged than
our farmers and dairyman. The pres
ent depression of their occupations,
the hard, steady and often unremunera-
tive toll which such occupations ex-
act, and the burdens of taxation which
our agriculturists necessarily bear, en-
title them to every legitimate considera.
ton.
"Nor should there be opposition to
the incidental effect of this legislation
on the part of those who profess to be
engaged honestly and fairly in the
manufacture and sale of wholesale
and valuable article of food, which by
its provisions may be subject to taxa
ton. AS long as their business is car
ried on under cover and by false pre-
lenses, such men have bad companions
in those whose manufactures, however
vile and hurtful, take their place with
out challenge with the better sort in a
common crusade of deceit against the
public. But if this occupation and its
method are forced into the light, and
all these manufactures must either
stand upon their merits or fall, the good
and bad must soon part company and
the fittest only will survive"
FAVORED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE.
The Commissioner of Agriculture
united earnestly in request for the pas
sage of the bill, and stated the necessity
for it as measure of protection, and
the farming interests IN cOmmunica-
ton which included the following pas
sages:
REPORT OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICUL-
TURE.
"There are from four to five millions
of American citizens engaged in the
dairy business, and they must all aban-
don it and be driven into some other
already overworked branch of industry
unless they can be relieved from the
present ruinous competition with cheap
limitations of butter and cheese. This
legislation is necessary because the
States have not been able thus far to
either suppress or properly control the
great evil of which have spoken, and
as sufficient remedy can be found no.
where, in my judgment, save under the
Federal Government"
The strongest possible efforts were
made to induce the President to veto
the bill. The most ingenious attorneys
were employed, and the shield of the
constitution was invoked to protect
those who were initiating farmers pro-
ducts and depriving them of their
legitimate and hard earned profits
But Cleveland, as usual, took the peo-