Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1901-05-16
BUTTER MEN WILL FIGHT.
Nebraska Dealers Rally to Defend Dairy
Interests.

Interests.
OMAHA, May 13-The Nebraska
Butter and Egg Dealers association
and the State Dairymen's association,
representing practically all of the
dairy interests in the state, will give
| united support to State Food Commits
sioner Bassett in his efforts to enforce
the law against the illegitimate sale of
Imitation butter and other imitation
dairy products.
Twenty-Five members of the Butter
and Egg Dealers association met in
Omaha in response to an emergency
call issued by the president and secre-
tary of the organization, and with one
voice they agreed to stand by Commis-
sioner Bassett in any step he might
take toward the protection of the dairy
interests. Mr. Bassett was appointed
food commissioner by Governor Savage
and it is said he will take charge of
his office in a few days. He will work
under the law enacted by the legisla-
ture of 1897.
Morris Friend of Lincoln, represent
ing the Beatrice Creamery company of
that place, said to reporter:
There is no reason why the law
against the sale of imitation butter
cannot now be enforced. The legisla-
ture of 1897 did not make proper pro-
vision for it's enforcement, but this
year the lawmakers remedied the evil
committed two years ago, and, so far
as we know, the law will stand the test
of any court in the land. The trouble
for years was due to the failure of the
legislature to make appropriations for
the salary of the commissioner and his
assistants.
I'm brief, the state food law provides
a penalty for selling colored imita-
tions of butter. 1t will allow the sale
of butterine, but only in it's natural
color. This places both butter and but
terine on an equal footing. What the
dairymen object to is the sale of but
terine or other butter limitations that
are colored to resemble in appearance
the pure dairy product. 1t is this de-
ceit that we want to stamp out, and
we are of the opinion that we have the
means at hand to do it with. The law
also requires restaurants, hotels and
other public eating houses that serve
butter limitations to give notice of the
fact by posting signs in a conspicuous
place setting forth that butterine, or
whatever the imitation may be called,
iG served in the place."
The State Dairymen's association
will probably follow the example of the
butter and egg dealers and hold spe-
cial meeting within the next few days
with similar purpose in view. The
officers of that association have already
signiied their intention of standing
back to back with the food commits
sioner in his effort to enforce the law,
Oub IL 10 P1OpOSCu " Iuc1hS LIE luuu-
ence of the organization still stronger
by calling a special meeting for the
purpose of taking united action.
The present indications point to
clash with the imitation butter manu-
facturers. They object most strenu-
ously to the restriction against the use
Of coloring, and it is possible proceed
ings may be instituted in the courts to
test the constitutionality of the act.
Mr.. Bassett, in his official capacity,
will demand compliance with the law,
and if any violators are caught they
will be prosecuted. He will have the
moral support of every butter and
dairy man in the state, and they to-
gether feel they can WELD a mighty |
influence.