Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-03-31
CRACKERS AND STATECRAFT
Jesse Stone, the Watertown Magnate
and Assembly Leader.

and Assembly Leader.
Under the above caption The Madi-
son State Journal gives our worthy
townsman, Assemblyman Jesse Stone,
the subjoined complimentary notice,
the facts of which can be vouched for by
our readers. The Journal is mistak en-,
however, when it says that Ed. Wheel
ock launched the Stone boom for the
lieutenant-governo in 1894; The
REPUBLICAN claims that distinction:
Jesse Stone has the air of substan
tial and well poised business man aud
there is no more respected member of
the legislature. Young as he appears,
he has son 40 years of age, Mr.. Stone
having married when but 10 years old.
The son was trained up in the immense
cracker and confectionery business
which Woodland & Stone conduct in
Watertown and a son of Mr.. Stones
partner also grew up in the business.
The firm employs some forty hands. In
a reminiscent mood the other evening
Mr.. Stone recalled his beginnings in
business. He had some experience in
the cracker line as youth in Lansing
DuIR, uCdI IIOJ, anu IdICI III Cl. LOulS,
where he made his first money. To
this day he buys bis -four in the latter
city and when running full force uses
forty barrels a day In 1868 be pur
chased an interest in the WATERFOWL
concern. 1t was then doing a small
business, about three barrels a day;
but Mr.. Stone threw himself into it
with the earnestness that marks him
in politics and all else to which be sets
bis hand. The Chicago fire proved
good thing for the young firm, as most
ofthe bakeries in that city were burned.
The concern runs day and night much
of the time. 1t keeps seven or eight
men on the road and sends goods all
over the Northwest. Fancy crackers,
soda and oyster crackers are made
sponge goods, as they are called-ae
we'll as the ordinary kinds, and the con-
dictionary business is very extensive.
1t is often remarked that only rare
business ability could build up so great
a concern in so small a city and seem
ingly remote from the markets, neces
stating competition with the large
cities.
Mr. Stone served two terms in the
assembly in the early SOS and has
been on the state committee for some
six years. Ed. Wheelock, of Wausau,
will probably 90 down to pOsterity as
the Original Stone man." having
launched the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
boom in 1894 1t failed of consumma
ton for reasons of political ex pediency,
but Mr. Stone is in the public mind in
connection with promotion and visitors
to the assembly always want his seat
and face pointed out. In common
with other men in politics, he has
moods when he thinks politics futile
and proftless even as a diversion, but
this is chiefly hen he me0itates upon
the delegates pledged for his nomi-
nation to a second place on the state
ticket When the campaign comes
round and the oratory and band music
are uncaged, his ardent Republicanism
will not let him rest and he is soon in
| the thick Of the fight. His district is
about as Democratic as district can be
| this side of Texas and he was forced
| into the assembly fight on the theory
! that if any one could turn a chaos of
| Democratic votes into mere everyday
! landslide he could. The hold he has on
| the people was shown by handsome
Republican plurality.
Mr.. Stone is a careful legislator and
possessed of clear perception and I'M
ruffled judgment. On the political side
he is we'll loaded with discretion, yet
one can have his opinions for the asking
and when the issue is clear cut and i'm
perative he speaks with ringing en-
phasis. Mr.. Stone is peculiarly fOrtu-
nate in a genial, unaffected personality
that makes friends with all who come
within his range He has a happy
mingling of good fello wship and dignity
that distinguish him from younger
compeers who excel in the first, anC
from men of his own years who have
an excess of the second without an.
modifying graces. Mr.. Stone is said t
enjoy the confidence of Gov. Scofelt
and perhaps to represent him upon tn
floor as much as anyone could be sal
to represent another in this free an
unfenced republic where tubs stand o
their own bottoms to such large an
commendable extent.