The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1906-01-15

same year. AT this meeting COM
mittee consisting of w. J. Spillman, ].
]. Lindsey and the writer, was ap-
pointed to look over and report on
dairy laws which had been drawn up
and presented by myself. The COM
mittee reported favorably and the as
ISOLATION adopted the bill as read, Sec
ton by section. The manuscript was
a lengthy document, the typewriting
of which cost s14, and the law, when
placed on the statute books, covered
over fifty pages. This bill was placed
in the hands of Senator yesterday, of
Tacoma, who introduced it in the SEN
ate at the next meeting of the legis-
lature in 1895.
The oleomargarine manufacturers
were not asleep, as the bill was bit
terly opposed by Senator Lewis, of
Seattle, and Senator Wooding, of
Auburn, who succeeded in getting
the bill referred to the judiciary COM
mittee of the senate, for the purpose,
no doubt, of hindering, delaying or de-
feating it's passage.
Senator yesterday, however, sue
ceeded in getting an amendment to
the notion to the effect that the SEN
ate judiciary committee confer with
the senate committee on agriculture in
the interest of the bill.
At this time Senator yesterday sent
a telegram to the writer TO come to
Olympia at once, as the joint COM
mittee would meet in the state library
the following evening 70 consider the
bill, and that I should not fail to be
present. l took the first train for
Olympia and was present at the joint
committee meeting. In bringing the
bill up before the joint committee,
Senator yesterday introduced the
writer as the secretary of the Wash
ington State Dairymen's association,
and author of the bill, stating that II
the bill needed any explanation |
could perhaps explain the same better
than any one else. At the request of
the committee, the writer read the
bill, section by section, explaining the
same.
1t was through the influence of the
agricultural committee that we Sc
cured a favorable report, and the bill
was then referred to the agricultural
committee of the house. Prior to their
consideration of the Dill, the writer
had not only seen eacn member per-
sonally and explained the necessity
for the passage of the law, but had
sent lengthy typewriter letters to
each, explaining the great benefits
that would result to the agricultural
interests of the state by reason OF
such law.
The bill was reported on favorably
by the agricultural committee of the
house, the opposition gave up the
fight and the bill was passed with
little or no opposition.
The passage of the law was the be-
ginning of a new era for dairying in
the state of Washington. Prior to
the passage of the law there was no
incentive for building creameries, or
for farmers to embark in the dairy
business. as even the best Washing
ton creamery butter was being I'M
dersold by oleomargarine from to 10
cents per pound, no matter how high
or how low the price.
1t was the law that practically shut
"oleo" out of our state, thus saving
to the people of the state of Washing
ton over a million dollars per annum,
which had previously been sent out
of the state for the bogus product.
The great demand for pure butter
that Immediately followed the exodus
of oleomargarine added new life to
dairying throughout the state, and
from the four creameries then existing
in Washington we now have over one
hundred and fifty, with three con-
densed milk factories.
1t is the chief duty or this associa-
ton to watch over, protect and pro-