The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-08-30
TRACY II. ROBERTSON. Secretary.
SALE OF OLEOMARGARl

Auburn, King Co, AUG. y, 1879.
To the Editor: In your publication or
the ed appears statement relative 10
the above. and although it does not say it
was written by State Dairy Commissioner
Smith. his name is so closely identified
with the statement 1t practically. TO me,
appears as though he had so written.
First of all permit me TO say that | per-
sonally had not preferred any charges,
but l. did send to the governor a copy of
the Trade Register a few days ago which
contained the following statement:
THE sale of oleomargarine is going on
extensively. but the dairy commissioner
does not evince the same energetic dispo-
stion to prosecute that he did to get the
position. now that he is drawing the sal
ary."
In my letter inclosng the paper, which
is an authority and has a large weekly
circulation throughout the state, | said,
II know nothing personally as to the
truth or otherwise, but the paper Is an
authority and has a large circulation,
and IL seems to me most unlikely TO make
such statement without proof.
| never referred TO the dairy commits
sioners, but did refer TO the plain land
now admitted facO set forth in the Trade
Register, and should another statement as
that appear again in leading and respect
able paper, and ] saw IL, | would again
call attention TO 1t. I wish that those in
authority could see and know as I do the
amount of distress amongst our farmers.
and sec how they are working and striv-
ing from early morn to late at night TO
earn dollar to pay for bare necessaries.
and often then unsuccessful, and with
debt upon the farm unpaid with interest
on the same unpaid. with taxes unpaid.
and store bills unpaid. with the spectre OF
a sherin's sale by foreclosure of mortgage
continually haunting them by night and
day. simply because the product Of the
farm will not sell for enough 10 meet
working expenses. and then TO know that
for some time only 80 cents was paid for
leo pounds OF milk (unskimmed), or AZ
cents a gallon 20 know that the legisla
ture did not pass bill TO prevent the sale
OF bogus butter. TO know that an officer
was appointed at a salary of 1920 a year
and expenses TO put the law into effect. 20
know that a responsible paper OF wide
circulation made the statement IL did, 10
know that not single prosecution has
been instituted 81 the courts since the APP
pointrnent was made. will at any time now
or hereafter be sufficient 70 cause me to
do my part mo matter who Is offcnded) 10
alleviate the distress amongst my fellow
farmers. and stir up an official 20 greater
diligence and TO DO all can 10 prevent the
sale Of bogus dairy products.
Your report says Mr.. Smith. "disCov-
cred the retail dealers now selling a
small quantity of cleo, but that II was
not COlOreG, ana ne npstS lfpA brtttNf tfidi
the law Is being violated in this state.
How does ne know anythin~ about that
which has been sold. and his belief does
not prove anything.
Did he obtain his information from the
two dealers or either Of them? I don't
see how anybody else could tell him. and
is Il likely they would give him informa-
ticn leading to their own conviction? 1t
is absurd 10 think Of II.
Renort SAYS that a certain butter COM
mission agent IN Seattle is his deputy
commissioner, said agent being the prin-
cipai receiver Of California products in
the city. and the report comes from what
I believe to he good authority. Where
does our supTiy OF oleo come froL2 Is IL
% California?
In how many places I wonder has the
dairy commissioner been and demanded.
as he has a ght to. 10 see the stock OF
imported products. and how many samples
have been taken. and how comes Il that
our cream cheese cannot now be sold?
Creamery butter was selling az y cents
per pound some time ago; now. according
70 the market report, 1t is selling At =
cents. which practically Is * cents roll.
II oieo costs i2iz cents, only p cents a
roll - rot difference Of - cents a ron
sufficient inducement 70 the ole9" trade
10 try and get In" IS 80 per cent. not