Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-12-16
Letter From S. B. Shilling.
oleomargarlne vs.. Dairy Interests

Another chapter has been added
to the history Of the dairymen's
fight to protect their industry from
the encroachment and fraudulent sale
as spurious substitute for the pro-
duct Of the dairy.
In the argument just finished be-
fore the supreme court in which the
oleomargarine manufacturers seek
to have our present oleomargarine
law declared unconstitutional an
other event is chronicled that in the
end will go to make up the record
of the most persistent and aggressive
efforts by the oleomargarine manu-
facturers, met by the most determin-
ed resistance of the dairymen ever
known. For five years has the con
hict been waged through justice,
district and federal courts, before
state and national legislatures, and
now before the supreme court and
| yet there is no end in sight.
In the meantime while awaiting a
decision, one Of the greatest indus
tries in the country stands wavering
and uncertain, not knowing just
what to do. Seven thousand cream
cries in the United States don't know
whether to branch out and increase
their output or be prepared to put
out the fires under their boilers, lock
their doors and turn their attention
to other lines. Thousands of manu-
facturers Of dairy and creamery
machinery, with vast army of work
men, don't know whether to 60 on
and prepare for big seasons trade
(by making a big surplus tof goods
to supply big demand, which is
sure to exist providing the fraudu-
lent sale of oleomargarine can be
prevented, or whether to await the
result and have shortage of goods
for the coming season. Ten thousand
commission men with their assis-
tants, don't know whether to get
ready for next seasons trade by
charging quarters or approving
their facilities to better accommodate
/ their trade, for the reason they don't
know whether there is going to be
any dairy business to do or not; and
above all hundreds of thousands o.
dairymen throughout the country
are in the same condition Of uncer.
tainty as to what to do. 1t matters
not what the ultimate decision ma,
be, the present uncertainty is work
ing a great injury to the dairy ant
other branches of bushes depending
upon it. This is a gloomy pictur'
to draw Of the situation, but the fact
warrant it. While we have al
; abiding faith in the justice Of ou
cause, and that right will prevail
: still no one can read the argumen
Of the eminent counsel employed t,
break down our law and have tn
same feeling Of security and assu1
ance that our position is absolutel
secure as he did before reading il
4 The feeling Of uncertainty arise
probably more from the eminenc
land number Of the counselemployee
than from any new point they mad
in their argument. The benefits Q
: the law are apparent to US ever
day in the way the markets respon,
to every little shortage in receipts
!, There being nc substitute to fraudu
lently take its place, all demand
must be filled with butter, and al
though we have just passed through
a year of an unprecedented larg
make Of butter and when there wa
ID never known to be such an immens
amount in cold storage warehouses
.lyet the consumptive demand is grad
ually drawing from these stores an,
4 at small profit to the holders, an
! indications point to the fact that al
will be used and leave the market i
"a good healthy condition for tn
looming year.
ii Is there any reason why the OF
! ganization that has been instrument,
: al in bring about these results shout
not have the hearty and united sur
! port of the dairymen and dairy il
terests? S. B. SHILLING.
r...-lA ~ -s