Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1902-06-25
oLEo LAW AND DAIRY INTERESTS.

OLEO LAW AND DAIRY INTERESTS.
We are asked to say something as to
the probable effect Of the new oleo-
margarine law upon the dairy inter-
ests of the country. The new law goes
into effect July 1. 1t imposes a tax Of
10 cents per pound upon oleo if colored
to resemble butter. Over 100,000,0O0
pounds of oleo were made the past
year and sold at prices running from
3 to 10 cents per pound less than butter
sold for. Most of this oleo finally
reached the consumer as genuine but
ter, was so bought by him and so eaten
by him. Oleo can be made to closely
resemble butter at first cost Of about
10 cents per pound, but as it passes as
butter it always rises and falls in price
with the genuine article which it imi-
tates. The profit connected with it's
manufacture has been enormous-more
selling at the high prices of the past
season. Oleo uncolored is distaste-
full looking article of food, and, while
just as good in every way or just as
bad, as you choose, when uncolored as
when colored, it will not in an uncol-
ored state find any market, and the 10
per cent tax will virtually kill the bust
ness of its manufacture. The consti-
nationality of the law is yet to be test
ed, and it is barely possible that the
supreme court of the United States
may kill the law, though hardly likely.
One makeshift has already been sug-
gested by the manufacturers in the
shape of capsule of coloring matter
which is to be furnished with the oleo,
the buyer to do his own working over
and coloring This won't work, for the
consumer will not buy the stuff when
he knows for sure that he is getting
oeo. Assuming that the law will stick,
it means much TO the dairy interests Of
the country. 1t will mean the milking
of half a million more cows and posi-
bly, some advance in price of butter I'M
til the supply gets adjusted to the de-
mand. We do not think that it means
any permanent advance in butter
prices, but simply larger and wider
market for the product. Butter can
be produced on the average farm at
first cost the year round of about 13
cents pound, and the consumer may
still expect to be supplied at from 20
to 25 cents, save under such conditions
of extra high priced dairy rations as
have prevailed the past six months.
The claim that the beef animal is to be
materially lowered in price because Of
the law which will prevent the CONVEX
sion of his tallow product into butter Is
more of bogy than a fact, for the
cottonseed Oil men and the lard men
have a hand in this oleo product as
well as the steer man. The law when
in successful operation will do this-it
will give the people genuine butter
product. remove from the dairy inter-
ests one of the most ingenious and ras-
cally frauds which ever beset legiti-
mate and important industry; 1t will
give the poor man wholesome and, II
he shuts his eyes, palatable substi-
tute for butter selling at a reasonable
price; it will encourage the further de-
velopment of the dairy interests Of the
country. which is something which can
not fail to be of the greatest benefit to
agriculture as whole, and, lastly, 1t
is step i'm advance in the line of pure
food legislation which we all hope may
be continued in many other lines.