Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-04-23
OIeo Bribery Exposed.


working field of the bogus butter men. for
reasons which have not until now been
satisfactorily explained to the public. For
instance. there was never any clear Illus
tration of why Wilkins and Butler, the
Washington agents of the butterine trust
now serving sentences in prison for VIOLA
ton of the law, chose Philadelphia az the
place to strip the revenue stamps from oleo
packages preparatory to selling the stuff
as butter. Tho North American of Phiia-
delphia has now succeeded in throwing 4
Light upon the mystery and the result is a
scandal which smells to heaven. A recent
issue of the North American summarizes
the facts of the crusade which 1t has con-
Quoted. in words which should be read with
deep concern by every national legislator
in connection with the present effort to
strengthen the federal oleo laws:
LAS agents of the North American. Ed
win Slocum and J. E. Whitley conducted
the store at 1856 Kensington avenue for
over two months and sold thousands of
pounds of olcomargariue as pure butter, in
violation of every provision of the state
ard national laws governing the sales of
the bogus product. They paid for protec-
ton and immunity from prosecution by the
state officials at the rate of one cent a
pound on the olconargarine sold in the
store.
They bought projection from Thomas
Callahan & Son. wholesale dealers at 356
North Front street. to whom they were
directed to go by Chief Inspector Ambrose
Little, personal representative Of Dairy and
Food Commissioner Levi Wells. The lille
gal business was carried on with the full
knowledge. permission and connivance of
the officials of the state dairy and food
commission.
1T was plainly stipulated in the agree
ment made by the reporters with Callahan
Ia
for the purpose of securing protection from
the state officials, Chief Inspector Little
personally sanctioned the agreement and
terms made by Callahan.
There are nearly loo dealers In PhiIa-
delphia illegally selling oleomargarine, and
over 100000 pounds of the product is sold
every month in this city alone. If but
four-ftfths OF this amount pays for prutec-
ton at the market ratio Of one cent a pound
the dealers are paying $4,000 a month, or
about $4,000 year, to secure immunity
from prosecution by the state officials.
The sales of oleomsrGslrine In Pennsyl-
wanna during the present year will amount
TO 100000 pounds, estimated upon the
internal revenue reports. Consumers are
being defrauded and robbed in buying the
bogus product for pure butter, the Illegal
sale of the stuff being conducted with the
knowledge and connivance of tho officials
OF the dairy md food commission The
conspiracy which assures protection to the
Illegal sellers Of oleomarsartne is taking
$i.OOOto year out of the pockets of the
FARMERS and dairynen of Pennsylvania"
This is, of course, a state matter. involy-
ing the reputation Of officials who can
easily be punished if the crime is proved
against them. But what about the broader
Held Of the United States? Is there not the
most urgent need Of a. law which will re-
strict the operations Of this daring gang
OF swindlers, who do not hesitate to de-
bauch city and state boards Of apricultura
ana are suspected of aspiring to extend
their evil operations to tho national legis-
lativs and administrative field? The North
American has done 4 great service to the
cause Of pure food and honest government