The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-01-03
,OLEOMARGARINE LEGISLATION.

Mr.. Charles Y. Knight, who signs
himself secretary of the National
Dairy Union" Whatever that may
mean, seems to be put out with Mr..
McCleary. And what forf Because
our congressman, in compliance with
the request of hundreds of his constit-
uents and others, reintroduced on the
first day of the session the Circuit bill
for the protection Of butter makers.
And why should MI. Knight take ex-
c~eption to such an act on the part of
Mr.. McClearyH 1t could not be that he
would presume to question Mr.. Nc
Cleary's right to represent his constit-
uents and comply with their requests.
Why, then, does Mr.. Knight COM
plain2 Simply because he is interest
ed in another bill, which is not the
Grout bill but a substitute for it. Mr..
McCleary's constituents have told him
by letter and by word of mouth that
what they want is THE CIRCUIT BILL
EXACTLY AS 1T PASSED THE
HOUSE IN THE LAST CONGRESS.
They expressly stated that they did
not want any substitute for the Circuit
bill. They approve the Grout bill
Just as it stood in its splendid march
through the house last year. And
they are intelligent enough to under
stand that to make any change in the
Grout bill now is poor legislative
policy, because such a change would
indicate a vacillation of purpose on
the part of those who have been advo-
eating the Grout bill which would
weaken all efforts at legislation on the
subject. Mr.. Knight has been having
quite a prominent part in pushing the
Grout bill, but he has certainly shown
poor judgment in FORGETTING the mo-
mentum of the Grout bill which should
be taken advantage of to the full as it
will be in the way Mr.. McCleary is
proceeding.
Mr.. Knight has been writing to the
agricultural press in his effort to carry
through his project for a substitute for
the Grout bill. But he is not meeting
with much success in that line, as will
be seen by the following from that
standard old dairy paper of 80 years,
the Delaware Dairyman, published at
Franklin, New York, in its issue of
the Goth instant:
The first bill introduced in the house
of representatives this year-the
Grout bill for regulating the sale OF
oleomargarine-may be found on our
first page. 1t was brought forward by
Representative Jas. 7. McCleary of
Minnesota and the fact that he sue
ceeded in getting it numbered one au-
gurs we'll for its success. This is the
bill that the dairymen understand, and
the one they want, and it is hoped that
their friends in the house will unite
upon it, and not allow their petty pre-
ferences TO defeat this bill and with il
all legislation on the subject at this
session.
The Dairyman is right. The Grou'
bill is "the bill that the dairymen IN
derstand and the one they want. ,
They were never consulted as to any
change in their bill or they would
have knocked out the proposition TO.
any change in short order. They ar
for the Circuit bill, and they will no
hold any one guiltless who now endan
gers the legislation which they 81
much desire by shifting position ant
offering a substitute for it. Mr.. Nc
Cleary's position is understood by hi
constituents and they fully sustain
him in it against all corners