The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-07-17

at least 100000 wage earners that find
employment with dairymen twelve
months in the year, whilst ordinary
Farming only gives employment during
the summer months, are going to sit
still and see the industry that means so
much to them and their families swept
away by this bogus fraud? Every friend
of pure butter and the great industry
that produces 1t should favor the tax Of
ten cents per pound on oleomargarine
which is colored in imitation of butter,
instead Of the per cent tax now placed
on it for internal revenue.
At the time the two-cent tax was
placed on oleomargartne there was a.
special tax of fifteen cents per pound
placed upon oleomargarine imported into
this country, in addition to the tariff
duty of six cents per pound. Unques-
tionably the fourteen oleomargarine
makers are responsible for this tariff
which protects their fraud If local
oleomargartne needs and has a protec-
ton OF tWenty-three cents per pound. as
against oleomargarine imported, is it
not reasonable that the pure butter in
dustry should be protected from oIeo-
margarine, which costs about seven ami a
half cents per pound and Is sold as but
ter at about two or three cents per
pound less than butter? This is not onlv
deception, but an unfair competition.
Some one has well said: 'Is it not as
reasonable that our butter interest be
protected by SPECIAL ten-cent tax as
that oleomargarine should be protected
from competition with foreign oleo-
margarine?"
The oleomargarine business has been
booming right along during the past four
weeks. Inc internal revenue collectors
books show that 77S4O tubs of fifty
Chicago factories, compared with ii 55S
in February of last year almost double
the production Of the corresponding
There were forty-one retail licenses is
sued during the past month, compared
with twenty during February of 1898
bringing the number Of retail dealers in
Northern Illinois at present up to 1857,
| against 989 at this time last year. an in
crease Of about 60 per cent
There is no longer any pretense in
chicago of distinguishing between butter
and oleomargarine at retail stores. Ask
| for N-cent brand of butter and the
| dealer Will brazenly hand you out a
! veal upon close inspection IL he is MAX
ing any pretense Of complying with the
law, dim and concealed mark, "OIeo-
margarine. When confronted with his
deceit he offers no excuse whatever, but
| appears to think the purchaser has no
rights which he is bound to respect
Chicago Produce.
The Chicago Produce also saws tho
more one looks into this matter the more
he is bound to come to the conclusion
that the 10 cents tax on yellow oleonar-
garine Is the thing. It is only a question
as to whether congress thinks fourteen
oleomargarine factories, breeders of all
kinds OF political corruption, are of more
va!ue TO the country than the entire
dairy interest, supporting millions of peo-
pie and helping them to be prosperous
Maj. Bowler through the state dairy
and food commission, is showing praat
activity. His instructions to the members
of his department are to let no guilty
man escape. The raid that he has nsde
on oleomargarine offenders is something
entirely new. Not satisfied with this he
has vigorously waged war on the largest
Pc ckers In America, who are buvine hogs
at nominal price, after the animals
have passed through the hands of three
or four middle men, each pocketing a
liberal profit. The lard comes back load
ed with tallow, cotton seed oil and other
Objectionable ingredients. Maj Bowler's
purpose is to drive every pound of bogus
lard out of the state, and thus open IN
such market that the farmers and local
packers can manufacture pure lard and
put 1t upon the market and compete with
| the great corporations and trusts from
other states that are sapping the very
life out of our toiling farmers.
Gov. Lind, with his multitudinous cares.
finds time to keep in touch with every
effort that is being put forth to strange
the vicious compounds which are doc
| tored, colored in imitation Of creamery
butter and pure lard and sold as such.
| The producers and consumers of pure
| butter and lard rejoice in the large num-
! Der of prosecutions and convictions of Of
| tenders under the law. These frauds that
are parading the state under the guise OF
pure butter and lard are found In large
| quantities. There have been no less than
| twenty-five or thirty cases prosecuted and
! convicted in the Twin Citiest including
hotels that have the audacity to charge