The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-01-10

OF thought on the subject by many
minds. 1t is the result Of the best wis.
dom of all who have considered the
i sqbjects Every phase Of the question
was considered in it's preparation.
There is not word in it that has not
been carefully weighed, and each pro-
vision has been inserted because iU
was considered to be- better than the
alternative propositions. Recently
some changes have been proposed, all
covering points that were considered
and rejected when the bill was framed
The proposed changes would not be
an Improvement. But even if some
small degree of Improvement were sug-
gested, it would not now be wise to
make any change in the Grout bill. I
am opposed to any change in it what
ever. The Circuit bill is now thorough
ly understood from one end of the
country to the other, and it rs almost
as generally approved among those in
terested in butter making. To make
any change in the circuit bill in pre-
senting it to the 57th congress would
be to lose the benefit of the tremend-
Gus momentum which it has already
acquired. Look, for example, at Is
reported by the house committee on
agriculture in the seth congress, it
passed the house by large majority,
committee, and it would have passed
the senate but for the crush of appro-
priation bills at the close of the con-
gress. With the Circuit bill unchang ed,
we can secure promptly favorable re-
N(NVf %1ah bon % he.
9th congress and we can have the bill
enacted into law before next summer.
To make any change in the Circuit bill
now would be to perplex and bewilder
our friends in and out of congress.
Any change would belittle the argu
ments heretofore made in favor of the.
Grout bill, 1t would neeessitate much.
explanation and would cause needless,
loss of time and effort To make any
OF the changes suggested would be to
exchange certainty for uncertainty, to-
hazard speedy legislation, perhaps to
invite defeat. During the progress of
the bill in the 66th congress practically
no objections to it's provisions we're
made except by those who opposed it in
its entirety. Them it would be useless
to try to placate or mollify. They
would vote against the bill in any
event. The bill as it stood in the last
congress indicated itself and the wis
dom of those who framed it. To make
change in it now would, in my judg-
ment, be uncomfortable folly.
Has Mr.. Knight changed his mind
since making this statement? IF 80.
why2: He is reported to have done
valuable work for the circuit bill in. the
Goth congress. If he will return to the
position taken only two short months
ago as shown by the above quotation,
he can still be useful in. advancing. the
Circuit bill in the 9th congress, and at
the same time be in harmony with the
great butter interests of the country.
Congressman McCleary, in the
light of the popular demand, for the
enactment of the Circuit bill in exactly
the same form as it passed the house
in the 56th congress. is fully justified
in pushing the measure with all the
vigor at his command. His position is
in full accord with the demands of the
agricultural interests of the United
States, and is uncompromisingly
against the influences that are being
waged by the oleomargarine interests
In other words Mr.. McCleary's cham
pionship of the Circuit bill is purely
and solely in the interest of genuine
butter and against the spurious arti-
Gle that is trying to tear down the
great dairy and creamery interests of
the country in general and the north
west in particular.