The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-01-31
HIS COURSE CONSISTENT.


than q column to misrepresent the
position which Congressman McCleary
took in the oleomargarine tax matter,
and alludes to it as an unfortunate
contest begun among the friends of the
dairy interests by Congressman J. T.
McCleary." The article from start to
finish is Misrepresentation of facts
so far as Mr.. McCleary is concerned,
and it is not borne out by the action
of the committee having the matter in
charge. Mr.. McCleary began no con-
test nor stirred up none. From the
first work on the Circuit bill, he has
been a quiet, consistent worker in be-
half of the dairy interests, which con-,
stituted such an important element on
the farms throughout his district.
When the Grout bill was defeated last
year he was asked by many of his con-
stituents and by dairymen' through
the country to reintroduce the Grout
bill in the present congress In this
he had the active support of Mr..
Grout, who is not a member of the
present congress. The Times refers to
the bill drawn by the so-called Ma
tional Dairy Union and introduced by
Mr.. Tawney, as the official bill. Off
cial in what and by whom3 Results
showed that it was not backed very
largely by the dairy and creamery men
as soon as they came to know what its
provisions were, and they wrote in
large numbers supporting the Circuit bill
which McCleary introduced. That was
the bill they wanted, not the so-called
official Dairy Union which complied
with the interests of the oleo people
that the uncolored article should not
be taxed. and so allow the manufac-
ture to be free from all oversight Of
the national authorities, and no one
could then tell how much was colored
and how much was not.
Because Mr.. McClesry made con-
sistent fight for what the dairy and
creamery men said last year they
wanted. and also reiterated the same
views this year, the Times refers to
him as acting childishly and that he
wished to compass the personal dis
com6ture of Mr.. Tawney, and as tine
Times wrote just before the action Of
the committee on agriculture became
known, it said Mr.. McCleary should
abandon the course he was pursuing
and "step in line for the Tawney bill
or the similar measure that may b.
adopted by the committee on agricul
ture, as in no other way could h
"save himself from future criticism
and resentment from dairymen ant
creamery patrons. Well, Mr.. McClear.
did not act childishly, nor did he ad
vocate the measure he introduced
merely to discontinue Mr.. Tawney
These thoughts did not enter hi
mind. He made the fight he did on {
principal approved and backed b.
thousands of dairy and creamery pa
irons throughout the country, and h
won. The committee on agriculture
accepted the Circuit bill, which Mr.
McCleary championed, slightly amend
ed it, and refused to follow the so
called Dairy Union into the oleo CAM
by taking off the tax on uncolored oleo
Mr.. McCleary has nothing to b.
ashamed of in the fight he made AM
won for the dairy interests. 1t wa
open, consistent and honorable, AM
for the principles the dairy interest
have contended for, for the past tw
years or more, and Mr.. McCleary vii
retain the good will and confidence 0
the people because of the good wor
he has done, notwithstanding the fear
of our Albert Lea contemporary.
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