Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1897-07-08
A FULL DAY OF PATRIOTISM,
SPORT AND PLEASURE.
AN EXCELLENT GRAFTON BY HON
R. M. LA TOILETTE.
The Returns of the Association Exceeded
Expectations-Gate Receipts Amount
ing to $7I4. oo-A Large Balance to 60
Into the Treasury of the Association.

The promoters of the celebration
and program of sports on the Fair
Grounds in this city are more than
satisfied with the returns for their
splendid services. 1t was complete
and finished in outline and detail.
There was no link missing in the
admirably planned exercises. The
weather was specially favorable, the
attendance was generous, and. best
of all, the people went home satisfied.
From early morning until the eXplo-
hour was filled with something to
amuse, entertain and instruct the
great crowd that thronged the
grounds and the city.
The sports consisted of two-year-
old colt race, a green running race
and a game of base ball between
Linden and Gratiot clubs, in the
morning; matched running race,
green trotting race, a three minute
trot, bicycle race and a game of
base ball between Highland and
Platteville clubs, in the afternoon,
the latter not concluded until seven
o'clock. The display of fire works
under the direction of ID. f.. Jacobs
and DR.. Stansmore Vivian made IA
pleasing tableau before the drop cur
tain fell upon the grand performance
of the day.
In securing Hon r. NJ. La Toilette
| for an Grafton, the committee was
| especially fortunate. His name on
the program was alone a guarantee
of success No other name could
have drawn many of the representa-
tive citizens from Grant, Iowa, La
Fayette and Green counties, who
were in the crowd assembled to hear
him. A report of the celebration in
the Milwaukee Sentinel of Tuesday
| is devoted almost wholly to Mr.. La
Follette's splendid address, from
which report we quote: "He warned
the people that the liberties enjoyed
| through the sacrifices of the revolu-
tionary fathers and the heroes and
statesmen of the civil war were to be
preserved by the people from the as
| saults of an enemy more dangerous
than foreign war or armed rebellions.
| That enemy was corporate power,
which to-day dominates political
parties, debating legislation, pervert-
| ing administration and even intiu-
encing judicial action. He cited
that aggregated capital was able to
escape taxation through manipu-
lation of legislatures, and as an Illus
tration, cited that the personal prop
erty assessment of New York is less
to-day by $60O00,O00 than it was IN
1857, thus casting upon the peo-
pie an unjust proportion of the bur-
dens of government.
illustrating the baneful influence
of corporations on legislation, he re-
called the act by which the great
city of Chicago is made bond slave
of the street railway company for "a
term of fifty years; the defeat OF the
anti-pass measures and kindred leg
islation in the Wisconsin legislature
last winter,
For their own protection, he called
upon his audience to give closer ana
more earnest attention to their
duties in the caucuses and conVen-
tjons of their respective parties IA
i the only means at hand for the de-
fence of the peoples liberties until
they can secure the election OF ma
ioritv i'm the legislature that II not
machine-made, and then we may
confidently expect faithful publlc
service from public officials. Then
only are the reforms needed TO be Sc
cured. for then the fountain OF poll
tics. the primaries, can aud viii be
purified
Financially for the Fair Assocla-
tion. the returns of the celebration
exceeded expectations. The gate re
ceipts amounted to s7l4.5o' sale OF
: stands am privileges, s63 race entry
fees about $50; amphitheatre tickets
, s7o. sale of score cards, - making
, tatai of over $4,000 receipts on TN,
gronnds 10 which il added a small
snm from private subscriptions. All
eynenses. including purses, music
and incidentals. it is thought Will
2 nnt @ much exceed 800, leaving net
balance 70 the credit of the fair asso'
. citation and amphitheatre company
of over $4,000.