The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-03-06
The OIeOmargarine Issue.

The oleomargarine question, concern
ing which a good deal is said just now,
may be presented in very few words.
Good cows butter costs today, in
Scranton, from so to so cents per pound.
Good oleomargarine costs, in states
where it Is permitted to be sold at all,
only about 20 cents per pound. The
best cows butter, such, for instance, as
comes from Wayne or Susquehanna
counties, is perhaps better than the best
oleomargaripe. At this time of year,
we doubt If one man in a hundred could
detect any difference; but in the sum-
mer, when the genuine butter possesses
the flavor of tender grasses, it is un-
doubtedly superior. But it must be said
for 'oleo" that, if not invariably so
good as cows butter, it is, upon the
average, from one-fourth to one-third
cheaper.
Before the anti-oleo law was passed
in this state, it was claimed by the
dairy interests that "oleo" was being
palmed off upon purchasers, in lieu of
butter. The logical way to correct that
imposture would have been to require
that "oleo" should be sold as "oleo."
and to have provided severe penalties
for deceit. The legislature, however,
did no such sensible thing as this; it
set up the false plea that ''oleo" was
hurtful to the public health, and fatty
prohibited its manufacture and sale.
The supreme court, in passing on this
law, held that it could not judicially re-
view the legislatures premise; but that,
without passing upon the merits Of the
law. it could affirm that the prohibition
of the manufacture and sale of sub
stance hurtful to the public health
came within the legislatures police
powers The law accordingly stands, a
thing constitutional but withal un-
truthful and foolish.
There are thousands of poor families
in Pennsylvania who, when forced
either to pay 80 or 80 cents for genuine
butter, or to go without any accompani-
ment on their bread, will from sheer
necessity choose the latter course. If
they could get wholesome imitation
butter for 20 cents, they would be glad
to purchase 1t without need OF decep-
ton as to its character. Good oleo-
margarine has been shown by the most
eminent chemists to be scientifically as
pure and wholesome food as is good
cows butter; the main difference is
with respect to price and flavor, the lat
ter difference being in most cases al
most imperceptible. The question to-
day before the people of this state is
whether the untrue law prohibiting the
manufacture and sale of q clean and
wholesome cheap substitute for butter
upon the plea that 1t Is deleterious shall
remain on the statute books, or whether
1t shall be replaced by law authoriZ-
ing "oleo' to be sold as "oleo." for what
1t Is worth to those who wish to eat 1t
instead of butter.
The dairy interests naturally desire
to retain the prohibitive law, because
under its provisions they have a clear
command Of the butter market. The
interests of the poorer classes of in
dustrial toilers Just as naturally desire
to do away with that prohibitive law,
so that they may get a good substi-
tute for butter at a reasonable price,
lying within their limited means.
And finally, those citizens who. what
ever they spread on their daily bread,
believe In free field and fair play for
everybody. join with the movers for re-
peal, and suggest that IL good cows
butter cannot face the music Of the
artificial churns, 1t will deserve to lose
the day.