The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1925-06-11
Trade Commission Orders
Compliance With Federal
Constitution.
NO STATE CONFLICT
Local Law Must Give Way to
Interference with Ma
tiOnal Requirements.
BULLETIN.

Washington, ID. c. 1.-THE
federal trade commission added a
chapter to the oleomargarine con-
troversy today by ordering the
Wisconsin Cooperative Creamery
Association of Madison to desist
! from attempting to hinder the
sale of OleOmargarine in WiscOn-
sin where a state law now prohi-
bits the sale of certain prepare.
tions of the product.
Madison, Wis. - {, J - Governor
Blaine yesterday signed The anti
oleomargarine bill, making it a law.
The measure prohibits the manu-
facture and sale of oleomargarine or
other butter substitutes containing
| milk or milk fats to give the product
the texture and flavor of butter.
Nothing has so greatly injured the
prosperity of dairy farmers as the
unfair competition of oleomargarine
and this new law, if sustained by the
courts, will effectively stop this un-
fair competition" Assemblyman E. B.
MINER of New Richmond, author of
the bill said. He added that Attor-
ney General Ekern believes it will DO
possible to sustain the law.
Cotton Oil Not Affected.
| Sponsors denied the measure would
greatly affect the cotton oil interests,
declaring little cotton seed oil is used
in the manufacture OF substitutes for
Wisconsin products, most of it being
made from fats from cattle. Telling
yof the activities of oleonargarine
1 interests against the bill, Mr.. MINER
! said
"These interests by misrepresenta-
! ton, stirred up lot of opposition to
this bill among chambers Of commerce
and similar organizations through
southern states, resulting in, scores
of protests from these southern
states addressed to the governor and
the legislature. On the other hand,
representatives of farmers organiza-
tion in the state strongly support
ed the bill"
Another bill prohibiting the manu-
facture or sale of oleomargarine in
any form is pending in the state sem
ate where the agricultural committee
recommended its rejection.
Official Opinion at Madison.
Madison, Wis.-( )-Oficials here
today expressed the unofficial opinion
that the order of the federal trade
commission that the Wisconsin Co
operative Creamery Association desist
from attempting to hinder the sale
of oleomargarine in Wisconsin, does
not affect the new state anti
oleomargarine law
Although he said he had not studied
the commissions order, c. A. Erikson,
deputy attorney general, said his un-
official opinion was that the order
was issued to prevent unfair practices
in opposition to a product which was
! legal when the order was issued.
The new law, signed by Governor
Blaine yesterday, becomes effective
September /, next, and until that date
the manufacture and sale of oleomar-
garine in this state is lawful.
The act prohibits only oleomargarine
containing milk or milk fat used to
| impart the flavor and texture Of but
ter, but representatives of the oleo-
margarine interests indicated before
legislative committees that they would
attack its constitutionality on the
ground that it virtually would be an
absolute prohibition on their product,
due to the general use Of milk in the
manufacture of butter substitutes.
| 1t was said at the department OF
markets that in event the act is up
held in the courts, the effect would
be to nullify the trade commits
sion's order.
| Editorial Note: AS previously
pointed out editorially in the Even
ing News, the only effect of this leg
islation will be to deprive the citi-
gems of Wisconsin of the right to
Manufacture oleomargarine in con-
fict with the law. Neither this law
nor any other law Of the state Of
Wisconsin can prevent the sale in
wisconsin of oleomargarine lawfully
manufactured in other states. The
above order of the federal trade COM
mission is and will remain fully oper-
alive as to all oleomargarine lawfully
manufactured in other states, and no
law of Wisconsin can in the least
affect that order. 1t is only another
Of the many and important instances
where Wisconsin industries are rutba
lessly throttled or as in this case
ohliterated. for the political advantages