Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1875-10-28

the State of Milwaukee, on which he
has collected some of the finest ami
mails from some of the noted herds
in the United States. AS breeder
of excellent judgment and as an ex-
hlbitor of choice stock at county and.
State fairs, Mr.. Ludlng:on is recog-
nized by the leading agriculturists
of the northwest, and his interest in
farming in all its branches is not ex-
ceeded by those who have followed it
all their lives.
Mr.. Ludington's discretion in pub
lie affairs is as great and as valuable
to his fellow citizens as it has beer
profitable to his partners in private
life matters. When the mania for
mortgagirg farms to aid in the con
struction of railroads in this State,
was at its height, he advised the
farmers to be aware of the scheme
and predicted the loss that eventually
did fall upon large aud respectable
class of our citizens. For this he
was denounced by many of the rail
road men in Milwaukee as an old
togy, but time has proved the correct
ness Of his Judgment. SO he denounc-
ed, at the outset, the proposition to
aid by a loan. the Milwaukee and
Superior Railroad Company, and the
tax payers of Milwaukee have now
substantial reasons to regret that his
sound advice then was not followed.
When he was first elected Mayor of
the city Of Milwaukee, her bonds
were selling at sixty cents on the dol
lar and city orders were at discount;
but now the bonds are worth par, and
the city orders are cashed at sight.
SO we might go on and enumerate
dozens Of instances where his finan-
cial ability and unerring judgment
in business affairs have been Of the
greatest value to his fellow citizens.
he is warmly in favor of railroad
building ia every section Of the State
where they are needed, but he is of
the opinion that it is inexpedient for
farmers to hazard their all in such
undertakings, or for young cities to
contract debts that they can never
pay. He took stock to the extent Of
his ability in the first railroad that
ever projected out of Milwaukee, but
becoming dissatisfied with its manage
ment, he lsold his stock in the open
market in New York. At the last
election of directors of the company,
he struck off the names Of all the city
members from his ticket and voted
only for those who resided in the
country.
If any evidence were wanting of
the high esteem in which Mr.. Luding
ton is held by his fellow citizens, it
will be found in his three elections as
Mayor Of the Democratic city Of Mil
yankee, in each case over popular
and able nominees of that party. AL
though he has always been an enthus-
lastic and pronounced Republican
ever since that party was organized,
his great financial ability and business
tact recommended him so strongly,
that the politician was forgotten in
the useful aud efficient man of affairs,
and partizan success was subordina-
ted to the good OF the people and the
interest of the city. In his race for
congress last fall, he drove one regu
larly nominated candidate from the
field, and with another popular and
able Democrat against him, he re-
duced Governor Taylor's majority
from over 1,le0 to 1900. His three
elections to the chief executive office
/ of city that boasts its 700 majority
against him, must be regarded by
every candid man as the highest com
pliment that could be paid to his hon
esty, integrity and business capacity,
and they stand as the unimpeachable
proof OF the wisdom OF the Republi-
can party of the State in naming him
as a suitable man to be presented to
the people as their sutfrages, and to
administer the affairs of vigorous
young wealth, whose inter-
ests he has ever guarded and pro.
noted. His call to the office of May
4 VI u TIC SHiCl NlSJ III tue OthtC, AthS
his nomination to the highest office in
the gift of the people of Wisconsin,
was the spontaneous summons of the
people, and not brought about by the
efforts of himself or of his personal
friends. He belongs to no clique,
ring OF fraction of any party, and be-
Ilieves in carrying into our public af-
fairs, both State and national, the
same honesty, fidelity and economy
that should characterize every we'll
regulated business enterprise. Mr..
Ludington's whole life has been a
plea for the right of every boy to rise
TO the highest positions of honor and
emolument by his own exertions, and
his own career is a shining example
of what an industrious man may
achieve under the fostering care Of
our free institutions. The sterling
qualities that have shown SO conspic-