Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-07-31
FIGHTING THE oLEo LAW.


The bill passed by congress at its last
session for the purpose of stamping out
the oleomargarine industry is so unjust
that we cannot suppress our qualification
at the fact that It is not proving as eff
fectfve as IL was desired to be.
Manufacturers of oleomargarine are
complying strictly with the provision Of
this act that they must put no coloring
matter in their product. They send out
this pure and wholesome article in pack
ages OF various sizes 10 suit purchasers
and with every package goes a sufheient
quantity OF coloring matter TO give the
substance an agreeable appearance.
II is the same sort of eoloring matter
that nearly all OF the diaries use TO give
their product the golden glow that Is taken
by the average citizen to indicate superior
quality. The manufacturer, wholesaler, or
retailer may not color the oieomargarine
he offers for sale. but there Is nothing TO
prevent him from throwing in a separate
package the contents of which win enable
the purchaser 20 give any desired hue 70
the white substance he buys.
It Is very little trouble TO do this at
home. and when it has been done it is al
most impossible. by sight or taste, to
distinguish oleomargarine from Jersey
butter.
The hackers OF the class legislation
which imposes a special and onerous tax
upon the poor mans excellent substitute
for butter may try TO make congress go
further and forbid the giving away Of
coIoring matter with packages Of oleo-
margarine.
1t would not, in view Of their record. be
very surprising IL they should endeavor to
induce state legislatures. or even congress,
to forbid the coloring of oleomargarine
even at the homes where II is to be used.
There is no danger that they will seek to
prohibit the sale OF ccloring matter, for
that would interfere very seriously with
the common habit Of improving the ap-
pearance Of butter. There's millions to
the dairy trust in the coloring Of pale
butter. and the practice Of this method
of deceiving butter buyers is increasing
constantly. Those who would run oleo-
margarine out Of the market by taxing it
70 a practically prohibitive point, not by
proving that it is unwholesome-for that
cannot be done-pose as the champions OF
pure and honest butter, and yet those who
represented them in congress rejected ev-
cry proposition TO impose a penalty upon
coloring Of butter
They demand that oleomargarine shall
not be permitted to enter the market I'M
der false colors. but insist that butter
shall have full right to do so.
The makers of oleomargarine are in
another way defeating to some extent the
unjustifabIe attack upon their business
BY a prostitution of the federal authority.
They have found that palm oil gives a fine
color to oleomargarine and very little OF II
IS required to effect that result. 1t also
improves the quality OF oleomargariRe.
The commissioner Of internal revenue in
reply TO Inquiries on the subject has stat
ed that he finds nothing in the law TO for
bid such use OF palm oil. A distinct
victory has thus been gained for oleo-
margarine. But its enemies will probably
endeavor TO have prohibited the use OF
palm oil TO improve an article of food
that millions OF our people desire 70 use
instead OF butter and feel that they should
not be taxed on account Of this prefer
ence.