The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-11-24
BUTTER VS.. OLEO.
Creamerymen and Cattlemen to
Take Their Fight
To the Forthcoming Session of
the Legislature.
PAST SESSIONS FAILED
To Prohibit Manufacture of
OleOmargarine,
But the Demand Will Again Be
Made.
Prospects Indicate a Prolonged
and Bitter Contest.

The packing houses and ereamerynen,
who have shifted the smoke of battle from
afar. are now aligning their forces for
fierce contest before the coming iegisla-
ture over oieomargarine-
This simple, mis-named product of the
packing houses, has been responsible for
a contest in every legislature for many
years, each one outdoing the previous one
The fight IN the legislature of two years
ago was managed by representatives OF
Legislature, but the cleo, oil of fat, won
and is still doing business.
High authorities hold that there is, in
oleomargarine, no margarin proper, ana
that the oleo is composed Of stearin and
ence advanced chemical development was
by mistake named margarin.
The margarin Of chemistry IS a sapon-
aceOus substance derived from fat or wax,
usually the product OF certain. hchens or
cellular plants.
The oleomargarine of today-the deadly
enemy OF creamery mems produced by
the liquid oils from fats. especially beef
fats, or stearin, being separated by crys-
utilization. The main constituent elements
of OleGmargarine are, therefore, Stearln,
palmitin, a mixture of olein, from which
the alleged butter is formed by churning
with more or less milk Some of the
packing companies it is said have re-
duced the Manufacture of this product to
such scientific basis, that no milk what
ever. is used.
The creamerymen contend that there is
safety only in absolutely prohibiting the
manufacture of oleOmargarine-
the demonstrating business means loss
by depreciation in the values of cattle
now sold In the market, and from which
the fats necessary to the manufacture of
This fight has been reopened in Kansas
through the controversy which arose in
the Seventh COMPRESSION district, in
which the opposition to Chester l. Long
reelection arraigned him for supporting
the substitute for the GrOut bill now
pending in congress
The politicians charge that the cream
cry trust inspired this fight on Long and
the combination of Kansas creamerieS is
also charged with engineering a scheme
to embarrass the Republicans in the leg
1siature this winter by fathering and de
handing the support of d. bill to prohibit
the manufacture of OleO.
The PopuIists, in control of both houses,
refused 10 enact the measure prepared by
the creamery men and similar measure
failed in both the house and senate two
years ago, when each party CONTROLLED one
OF them and Republican legislature failed
TO meet the issue.
The Grout bill which the creamery men
OF the country are demanding enacted
into law, practically prohibits the manu-
facture of this product by placing a tax
Of 10 cents per pound the yellow or
colored oleOmargarine and a tax of cents
per pound on the uncolored or white cleo.
This tax would kill the business, its
supporters claim.
The committee on agriculture in the
lower house of congress has prepared a
packages of oleo shall be plainly stamped
and sealed. all wrappers bearing the gov
eminent stamp, thus plainly Indicating
the contents of the package This sub
stttute does not please the creamery men
and they are insisting upon the passage
Of the Grout bill.
The cattlemen are defending the inter
ests of the packing houses on this propo-
SlCon with the claim of deprecated values
manufacture of oleO is prohibited.
The creamery men insist that this posi-
legislation against the product which has
already displaced butter on some tables