Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-02-18

to-day, was the most successful both in
point of attendance and merit of papers
and discussions, that has thus far been
held in this state. There were some
what over two hnndred prominent
ruralists present throughout the meet
ings, and many of them were accom-
panied by their wives and sons and
daughters. With many of these people,
the state fair in the fall and the state
convention in the winter are about the
only excuses they have to get away from
home and see something of the world.
The presence of the legislature here,
and that desire to see how the law
makers collectively look and act, which
is always strong in the rural mind, were
doubtless among the causes which led
to the increased attendance OF this
weeks convention. The farmers who
attended the meetings which have just
closed are from every quarter of the
state and are thoroughly representative
men-sturdy, hard-headed, keen-eyed,
quick-witted, practical men, which ar
CUES well for the solid character of the
rural communities and societies that
have selected them as delegates. In all
of the meetings this week, the discus
sions have been thoroughly sensible
and to the point. There are among
these people few long-winded, rattle
Drained, cranky fellows, the men with
hobbies that they ride with whip and
spur for all they are worth, but they are
quite the exception and are generally
voted bores at the outset, whom the
presiding officers can choke off with
impunity.
In connection with the joint conven-
ton there have been meetings of the
State Agricultural and State Horti-
cultural Societies and kindred organ
izations-the dairymen, the WOOL
growers, the swine-breeders, the Ameri-
can-merino men, the tobacco-growers
and the stock-men. At these depart
ment and branch meetings, matters of
interest to the specialists engaged were
talked up and organizations agreed up
on where none now exist.
The horticultural meetings were par
ticularIy well attended. The president
of the State horticultural Society, j.
NJ. Smith, of Green Bay, who is Wis
consin's alternate commissioner to New
Orleans, was present and gave interest
ing accounts of Wisconsin's fine phono-
logical and other exhibits at the Worlds
Fair, which have already been so fully
described in the WISCONsIN's special
letters from the Crescent City. The
horticultural meetings were also en-
ivened by an excellent display of grapes
and apples grown in this state, magnii-
cent specimens that were highly cred
liable to the enterprising exhibitors.
The greatest popular interest, how
ever, conferred in the meetings of the
State Agricultural Society and its board
of control. The question of location of
the state fair was very early settled.
Madison was selected without any
noticeable opposition, and indeed the
opinion seems to be gaining ground
among leading members that the society
would do well to select the state carital
as its permanent point of exhibition,
for it has fine, well-appointed grounds
of its own here. The question of
erecting q large exposition building on
tina society's Madison grounds, was dis
cussed with much earnestness, but
the matter was laid aside for action
at the next annual meeting
during State Fair week. The board of
control was chiefly exercised over the
liquor question. Leading men and
women from various portions of the
state argued before the board for two
whole days and by dint of remarkable
perseverance finally vanquished the
many obiectCrs, who were headed by
President Arnold and Secretary Bah
bitt, and it was voted not to allow the
sale of intoxicants on the fair grounds. It
was also agreed to more strictly enforce
the existing rule against gambling
booths. It is fact that never in the
history of Wisconsin state fairs were
there so many gambling games in open
progress on the grounds as there were
last fall, and this circumstance was
clearly pointed out to the board by the
persons appearing before it. But Bah
bitt claimed that the officers were not
aware of the existence Of any such
schemes and that they "must have come
upon the grounds surreptitiously."
This was transparently lame, but the
moralists let the affair drop with the
quiet remark that they would assist the
officers in enforcing the anti-gambling
rule at the next fair.
The principal farmers who have led
in the discussions or have read papers
III the Joint convention and the auxiliary
meetings, are W. D. Hoard, TT. Atkin-
son, president Northwestern Dairymen's
Association; J. M. Smith, Green Bay,
president Wisconsin State Horticultural
Society; W. FL. Morrison, Elkhorn,
president Wisconsin Dairymen's Asso-
citation; W. D. Parker, Beaver Dam,
president Wisconsin Wool Growers As
ISOLATION; Geo. WyGe, Leeds, president
Wisconsin Swine Breeders Association;
G. S. Miller, Caldwell, president Ameri-
can Merino Association; FL. L. Dous-
man, Prairie du ChieD, president Horse
Breeders Association; DIR. s. L.. Lord,
president Wisconsin Tobacco Growers
Association; S. @. Carr, Milton, master
Wisconsin State Grange; A. A. Arnold,
Galesyille, president Wyoming State
Agriculturist Society; I. n. Stone, TT.
Atkinson; r. f. Porter, Walworth
County Prot Erastus G.. Smith, Beloit