Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1895-01-16

ilitude of butter, and sold as butter,
which are not made from milk or cream.
| Ii oleomargarine and other elements can
be combined into an article which peo-
! pie are willing to use as a substitute
for blrtter, and which is not detrimental
to public health, | know of no principle
| of public policy which should prohibit
| It's manufacture and sale. To say, how
! ever, that no one can claim the right
! to manufacture and sell it as butter
is simply to say that no one can claim
the right to perpetrate fraud. Wheth-
er the object in manufacturing it is to
render it in color, taste and otherwise
| difficult to distinguish from genuine but
ter is not for me to say; that such is its
| effect, however, cannot be doubted.
| Those who wish to buy butter and
who suppose they are paying for butter,
| the product of the dairy are entitled to
what they buy and pay for. Those who
wish to buy oleomargarine or other sub
! sututes for butter are entitled to what
| they pay for; but the farmer and other
/ dalrymen ought not to be, in the manu-
! facture and sale of the genuine article,
| brought into competition with any sub
| stltute not distinguishable from butter.
There has been, until recently, some
| question as to the power of the Legisla-
! ture to enact and enforce legislation
which will protect the people in this re-
! Spect against deception and honest dairy
products against fraudulent competition.
All questions have been recently put at
rest by the Supreme court of the United
| States in its decision in a case appealed
from the Supreme court of MaSsachu-
sets. The Massachusetts statute upon
which the original suit was brought con-
tanned provisions which seem to me to
offer ample protection to the butter man
ufacturers and to the public. It was
held by the Supreme court of the United
States that the Massac husetts statute
was valid and within the province of
state legislation. [ recommend the
enactment of a similar measure. That
measure allows oleOmargarine and other
substitutes for butter to be sold for what
they really are to those who, knowing
what they are, desire to buy them, but
prohibits the coloring of the, artificial
product in the similitude of the genuine
article. The statute, moreover, has the
great advantage of having been passed
upon and sustained by the highest tri-
bunal in the land.
I recommend the usual appropriation
of $4,000 per annum for the State Dairy
mems associations; also the usual annual
appropriation for the State Agricultural
society.
To Develop Agricultural Resources.
The mineral and lumber interests have
for SO many years claimed the attention
of capitalists an6 workingmen that the
agricultural interests of a portion of our
state have been somewhat neglected.
Agriculture exceeds greatly all the other
interests combined. The time has come,
it seems to me, when the state itself
should adopt some means to call atten-
ton more directly to its wonderful agri-
cultural possibilities. yet undeveloped.
We have, in the northern half of the
state, thousands of acres of vacant lands
which need but labor to be transformed
into prosperous and fruitful homes. The
h tod Ill
condition of many of the cities might, /
believe, find at least q partial solution in
the cultivation of tie vacant lands. From
a moral as we'll as 4 material standpoint
the question of encouraging the settle
ment of our idle lands by the unem-
plOyed from the overcrowded cities may
we'll receive consideration.
| commend to your attention the feast
bility of providing in some manner for
the bringing to the public attention the
agricultural possibilities of the unsettled
portions of our state, and the opportuni-
means to secure homes and a measure of
prosperity.
Enforcement of Sanitary Laws.
The enforcement of sanitary laws in
certain portions of the state during +he
past year has called attention to the fact
that the statutes make no provision for
the reimbursement by municiDalities of
W
stroyed through that enforcement. 1T
often happens that contagious diseases
prevail IN portions of cities which are
overcrowded among those who depend on
their daily labor for sustenance and the
welfare of the public requires. in order
to prevent the spread of the disease. that
the bedding and clothing of the house
hold infected shall be DESTROYED. An
thorlty should be given to Municipalities
to reimburse those families to whom such
destruction of household goods may be
calamity. To compel them to sacrifice
for the public welfare what they cannot
spare and cannot well replace seems like
imposing q penalty upon misfortune
L commend the subject to your careful
consideration, quite aware that the doc
trlne might be carried too far and at the
same time convinced that, within certain
limits, 1t involves only manifest justice
The National Guard.
The system instituted in our state militia
a number of years ago has been product
I've OF q high state of efficiency in the ma
uonal guard Of the state. The system
has received the compliment of being du-
p!lcated by other states. The people of
WISCONSIN have reason for congratulation
that their militia has been brought to so
high plane of efficiency that, should it's
services be required by the national GOV
eminent, no state in the Union could FIR
msh more efficient quota The general
government has recognized the necessity
for cooperation in maintaing a Well-dis-
clpllned national guard in each state. It
IS the least expensive standing army that
can be maintained, and it's generous SIM
port is, L believe, a wise provision.
Inc maintenance Of q permanent camn
OF instruction and rifle practice at Camp
Douglas has proven a wise measure. and
provision should be made for it's continued
maintenance on q scale that will further
enhance its value and Importance.
The Roster Law.
The legislature, in 1887, passed a law
making provision for the printing and pub
hcatlon of the roster containing the names
and record of Wisconsin soldiers. This
law is still in force and it should be re-
pealed, as it serves no useful purpose.
There is no occasion for continuing the
statutory authority which the law confers
upon the executive. If at any time there
should be such a demand for a roster that
would IN the judgment of the Legislature
warrant its publication, it can easily be
provided for. If ever it be authorized. the
number should be limited and the proyis-
ION should be made that it be printed I'M
DER the general contract for public print