Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1890-12-26
WHISKEY And POLITICS.
BARLEY B. Scott, of Ashland, Sue
cumbs to Their Baneful Effects
at Hot Spsings.
A Promising Career Of a Daring
Politician Cut Short by an
Early Death.
Politics. Whiskey and Opium Claim
the DefaultiHg Treasurer of
Ashland County.

ASHLAND. Wis, Dec. 17.-"Ruined by
Politics. :" Such should be the epitaph
upon the grave of BARLEY B. Scott, who
died this morning at Hot Springs, Ark,
after a feeble struggle of four months
against fate that could not be avertea by
any earthly power. After he he'd been IN
st. Luke's hospital at Chicago undergoing
treatment. Scott realized that the end must
come. He told his friends that he was
gong to Hot Springs to die, and he
told d ghastly truth when he spoke the
words. though he had some hope that the
invigorating treatment of the celebrated
Arkansas springs might postpone the re-
suit
Bart" Scott was perhaps the best
known and most daring pOlltlclant hat
northern Wisconsin has produced. Ten
years ago he came to Ashland from Lake
Geneva to work at his trade, that of a
mason Ashland had just begun to
grow then; and in a short time he found
himself doing a prosperous contracting
and building business. Politics Is a
dangerously infectious thing in this
country. and Scott was soon negiectlng
his business to dabble in it. A small
state position only whetted his appetite
for something higher and in 1886 Scott
was elected treasurer of this county in
the face of heavy democratic plu
raIity. The opponents of Scott began to
realize that they had formidable obstacle
in the way of success, and when, In 1888,
this new power in northern politics was
put forward for reelection hot and bit
ter personal campaign was Inauguarated
Scott engineered the forces of the republI-
cans, and the democratic leaders made a
most vituperative assault upon him that
was ever known III me history OF PoilIlcS
III Ihe state' Inc 9'fIeiS i VI ?oILi SlueS
were lreG,{ taPLeo % all' mining Wa
SPate". ileh 'he 5 NoI5S IVY WIZ l1t' CounStu'
however IL was io,'lii, Il;iC l,,,t Iii9 Ioi,t
Nilc nay a why's Sl5e cnn III s'utI
was Iel''ol1c"h pA ooo Plti".;'4 Ioi lio",u
every man oh '''e county '"Ne' "u' oiie
Ielh& elec'e"'
Success was the cause OF scott down
fal. lie drank heavily and .oon became
addicted to the morphine haDlt. MS
money went last and then ne decided THAT
only 10y masterlul effort Gonld ne regain
ms lost finances ana ruined nedlCh. over
one year ago he began thorough ana
treless campaign Tor the once OF STATE
treasurer, and after tour or hYe months OF
hard work, scott strongest opponents 1oT
the nomination had practieaily conceded
that he nad won. Inc STRAIN hdd oeen
too much TOR hlln, however, ana |
the collapse came all at once;
la,Ll io''',, 10y of o5yG"'p 900 n5S 1'iIo
i,l,l1S 80, s;oI- LoJ 81 49,
,ai.1., llo - n 80, ,,r,
:, MA 81. ~
ai-, 60, LoT,a aub;ia n,der tro,t- |
,t l-',Nt L; ,;f, ST. a,aa o't 49, to -;
',,-I, ta,,;3,I 49,, tI,aro bo J,,,,,+ g,
H. S,rir,rS 10 dc
-,
j., Nco'V 2eS'in ~ ~ ioSo oo'"Ie 1"PloY Hl'u
VHe PeoPi9 u 'Ilo eJ'll'S ""I1lS 'ilI l9:O
session OF tue legislature. w heh the d- |
vision ushC was nl3uSGiIt9u 0cotI went |
TO MaaiSoh ana worked Hatu iof th9 de-
IeaC 81 Uhe pHiI which was Ill ulfeCt |
opposition TO the interests OF the |
clty IN "hich ne reSIdeo, ne OH passed
tue lower houS'' put Wheh IL
reached the senate the hgnt was very |
close. LoDoleS were sent by Doth rae i
tons. Nearing the time when the
measure came TO d Vote Ihe A3IIaho men
discovered tlltl oG?tI was 0uuaS alla 1I mao
peeh SeCIet's "oihli'S III I"'o' VI 'iie liui
'eS cohlihSeh'' 10 "hoSe nus ne haC
lreVl0nNIE "ouI" hluiSG'l. me ASII"l'l
men discovered their pe'rala 3arely i'll !
Jtme 60 defeat the measure "hlen was
lost III the senate by the marrow margin OF
one Nete. from thaI IIlIe Oh ocott was
between Jhe TWO HIPS.
Shortly after his departure from Ash |
land it was common rumOr here that the |
treasurer of the county vas short in his |
accounts. but his friends pOOl-hooed the !
statement as originating for political rea-
sons. Three months ago the truth came !
: