Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1881-03-25

The Democrat is opposed on general
principles 20 granting from the public
funds subsidies to corporations q,
societies for any purpose whatever. II
Is opposed to bolstering up. or giving
artificial support to any private enter
PRISE. We have reference more mar.
ttcularly at this time to the appropri-
alton OF money by our state legislature
70 state, district 81 county fairs. But
= appropriations are granted, all ap-
plicants for aid should be dealt with
lmpartially and fairly, and support
given them in proportion to the Justice
81 their several claims. 1t will not he
news to many of our readers when we
tell them that the bill introduced in
the senate by senator McGrew, ap-
propriating five hundred dollars to the
;. " Wis. Industrial Association. and
which passed that body, was defeated
II the assembly, and that assemblyman
Briggs, member from the northern
district Of this county, strongly op-
posed the bill, although he had pre-
Siously spoke in favor Of, and vote for
IN appropriation of $4,000 for the
Northern Agricultural and Mechanical
Association, OF Oshkosh. Mr.. Briggs
not only opposed the appropriation for
the ). ". Wis. |. A., but he basely mis-
represented the standing of the asso-
citation. rs we have been reliably
informed by those who listened to his
remarks III opposition to granting the
appropriation. calling it "snide insti-
tuition small affair with high
sounding name" etc.
Had Mr.. Briggs simply opposed the
granting Of aid to any and all fair
associations we would have no fault to
find with him for his action in the
matter; but from the fact that he took
occasion. rs we have said, to basely
misrepresent the 5. w. Wis. |. 4, we
IRE firmly convinced that he was
aetuated by no higher motives than
the qualification of mere petty, per-
sonal spite.
TO Mr.. Briggs, other than as 4 rep
rcSentatiye, we baye no desire to refer
here, and will allow him to settle his
own petty grievances, whatever they
may be. But the people have 4 right
TO complain OF his conduct as lecis-
lator. Had he desired to act fairly and
to present the truth regarding the
). ". Wis. !. A. he could have ex-
amined the reports which are on file
for the inspection Of the members Of
the legislature, and from these re.
ports he would have learned that the
association ranks with the State Society
ana the Oshkosh association, and that
i has paid more i'll premiums during
the past eleven years than any foul
county fairs in the state; that the as.
ISOLATION during that time has paid
every dollar of its premiums in full
and IS now entirely out of debt, some.
thing that cannot be said Of and other
fair association in the state. 1t is
composed of men Of Grant, Greer
Iowa and Lafayette counties, and is
TO the southern part of the state what
the Northern Association is to the
northeastern part. If the former as
ISOLATION merited an appropriation 81
$4,000, the latter certainly was en-
titled to at least one-third of thai
amount.
The course pursued by Hon. II. J
Briggs in opposing the appropriation
asked for is in striking contrast Will
the course pursued by our member
from the northern district last year
Hon. Richard Kennedy, who took al
active part in securing the appropri
alton, and to whom, as well as t,
Hon Geo. Cox, the association is large
" indebted for the first appropriation
which it received from the state.