Dairymen Declare War on the 'Bogus Butter' Combine

The dairymen's convention was called to order at 2 p.m. by President A. H. Meade, whose opening address was warmly received. "Another year has rolled around since our last meeting," he said, "and it has been a fairly successful one. Prices have been good and the demand a ready one. Notwithstanding this, dairying has not increased to any considerable extent, largely because the people of the Northwest have not been willing to apply themselves to its details. It were better had we 100 dairymen each earning an income of $1,000 per year than one man who takes $100,000 a year from a gold mine. What we desire in this state is to see our valleys filled with homes and our resources most fully developed. In the past year we have made an encouraging record in the improvement of our dairies. We have now a number of first-class dairies, managed by wide-awake men. I have no hesitation in asserting that in the next few years Washington will become one of the leading and most successful dairy states in the Union."

Delayed trains kept a number of the dairymen away and forced a postponement of the regular program; the afternoon was given over to informal discussion.

Guy MacL. Richards proposed a timely subject: "How are Washington dairymen to secure the trade with Alaska over the oleomargarine combine?"

Dairy Commissioner E. A. McDonald answered that the state's laws reached only so far. "Of course you all recognize that the laws of the state of Washington will have no effect in checking this illicit trade. I realize that there will be very little butter sold in Alaska. There are two reasons for this: first, oleo does not become rancid in so short a time; second, oleo can be purchased for 14 to 16 cents, while butter costs 28 to 30 cents. As far as your commissioner is concerned, I feel that I have no power other than that it might be possible for me to seize shipments held at the shipping points of this state; but I cannot seize oleo in transit, billed direct through. This is the plan that dealers in bogus butter will operate under."

James Hart, one of those who succeeded in having the original dairy law of the state passed, wanted the counterfeit colored. "I was one of the very few who insisted that we had the right to color oleo a distinct color. I did all I could to have that color black. A great many of our friends think that is too radical. Now I note that in Minnesota a judge there says that oleo must be colored pink, and I say that if they can be compelled to make it pink, then we can make them color it black. There is only one way to get what we want. The people who are the oleo manufacturers are wealthy and have great power. We must utilize our force as an organization, and there is no legislature that will deny our demands."

Secretary Woll said the farmers' champion in this state, James Hamilton Lewis, would assure prompt and vigorous effort toward protective legislation.

Mr. Izett doubted that any law would be enforced. "Most of us are aware that few laws of Alaska are enforced, anyway. Rev. Sheldon Jackson, in a recent lecture I heard, stated that crimes of every nature are committed there and allowed to pass without action by the government. How, then, are laws against the use of imitation dairy products to be enforced?"

After further discussion it was decided to draw up resolutions to Congress praying for laws that would better protect the dairymen's interests, and the secretary was instructed to forward copies to the National Dairymen's Union and to the state's representatives in Congress.