The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-08-25
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ANOTHER BRASS KETTLE.

When the wheat rings and elevator
rings were plundering the farmers the
politicians told them to diversity their
industries" and go to dairying. We
replied that If the people patiently
submitted to one form OF robbery ti.e
thieves would soon apply their success
full system to everything else.
We used to tell story, on the stump.
about the farmer who was stopped OH
his way home by highwayman who
clapped a pistol to his head and took
every cent he had. AS the robber was
slowing away the money in his pocket
he asked the farmer:
"How did you get this money!"
II sold a load of wheat" replied the
agriculturist.
"Then, my friend" replied the high
wayman, II would advise you to diver
sify your industry. Raise hogs. There's
money in hogs"
But what assurance had the farmer
that the robber would not despoil him
of the money he got for his hogs?
And so we felt sure that just as soon
as the creamery business grew to large
enough proportions, ring would lie
formed to absorb the profits. And we
are not surprised to find this item
of news in Wisconsin paper-the
Sentinel of Chippewa Falls.
The whole scope of the dairy and food
laws of the state is directed to the dis
honest patrons of creameres and cheese
factories, but the fact has developed that
there are in the state dishonest managers of
butter and cheese factories. against whom
the patrons need protection The Babcock
milk test is employed in practically all
factories using milk the raw material.
and upon the basis of the butter fat con-
tanned in the milk furnished by patrons as
disclosed by this test the payment is made.
But the test is wholly in the hands of the
managers Of the factory or creamery. 1t
is possible for these tests to be wrongfully
recorded and a man not get credit for milk
furnished For instance, one patron dis
closed to the dairy and food department
the fact that his milk had been scheduled
at 3.8 per cent butter fat spring. summer
and fall This is an mpossibiity, as the
percentage Of butter fat in the milk Of the
same at different seasons of the year
is very marked.
Upon the attention of the commissioner
being directed to this incident. the factory
was inspected with an especial view TO as
certain the honesty of the manager in max
ing his tests and it found that he was
uniformally robbing his patrons by under
estimating the amount of butter fat dis
closed by the Babcock test
There is specific remedy in the law
for situation such this, and the ag-
grieved patron is without state aid to pros
ecute the dishonest factory man while the
factory man has the machinery of the
dairy and food commissioners department
to guard his interests by watching the
milk as it comes to the factory. Dairy and
Food Commissioner Adams, Expert Chad
wick and State Chemist Mirchell say they
are willing at all times to disclose to the
patrons of factories the results of tests,
or to test any factory at any time and
give to the patrons the result of those
tests for comparison with the test of the
managers. and by this means it can be
ascertained whether the persons furnishing
the milk obtaining their full return.
We move to amend Tom jefferson
maxim: Eternal vigilance is not only
1.-The price of liberty but the price Of
bread and butter.