Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1903-08-19
Governor LaFoiIette's Speeches
and the Quiet Oppo-
sition.
THE CHAUTAUQUA INDUSTRY
An Association to Establish Them
Anywhere - Potatoes Plenty
New Story by King.

Governor LaFollette enjoys a struggle.
He is in good physical condition, and
he has the facilities at hand. He is
speaking at a score of chautauQuaS
and will make the round at county
fairs. He has splendid political Or
ganiZatiOn and it is at work. Just now
is the demand quite insistent that he
take the cover off the revelations Of
bribery in the legislature. 1t may be
he has some letters and cOmmunica-
tons from members to be produced Ia
ter Most of us think it not impossi-
bic that gifts, advantages and one sort
and another and even on rare occasions
money may play some part in legisla-
tive sessions. The soreness is caused
by the suspicion cast on all the mem
bers Of the opposition. His enemies
are apt to worry the governor not
little along this line. The opposition
Is not idle. Some reserve ammunition
Is said to be making ready. The news
papers will be kept loaded. Mr.. Bah
cock is trained to campaign work Of
this sort. There is money enough, of
course. He is working along the most
effective ne-cultivating social rela-
tons with the leaders in his district.
There are all sorts Of gossip flying.
The upshot may be a quartette Of Wis
consin delegates to the national con-
ventiOn representing both factions.
While such a harmony proceeding
would be absurd at this time, Presi-
dent Roosevelts welfare may demand
it, and we all know our friends, the
LJliticians. They are full of the I'M
expected While the strain OF another
year of politics is unfortunate, there
is an excitement about it that has
certain charm to most men.
Summer Chautauquas.
Chautauquas multiply, and while
they are criticised some for getting
questionable attractions at least
features" long ways removed from
the Sunday school spirit in which
chautauQuas were begun, yet they are
a great school for the people. The
most eminent speakers are glad to use
the forum. The conservative Madison
chautauQua admitted a merry go-round
within the fence this year and at Mar
nette the sessions closed with a play.
In some cities the assemblies are oper-
ated by the electric line that reaches
it, or by a business mems association,
with no ethical pretensions whatever
In fact, these summer assemblies are
now such well-def1ned industry that
there is an American chautauqua as
ready to cooperate with the people Of
any community in the establishment
of permanent chautauqua. 1t is only
necessary that the citizens of the COM
munity shall be interested sufficiently
to assume certain local committee OBJ
legations and aid in the management
of the enterprise. An officers Of the as
ISOLATION will visit any city in the
United States, on invitation of its citi-
Zens, and explain in detail the plan of
operations. The prospectus says: ANY
community of sufficient size may have
successful chautauqua without the
expenditure of a single dollar. These
chautauquas are rapidly multiplying III
all the states, and may be as success
full in one community as in another if
managed properly They are usually
held in the summer, but it is the pur-
pose of the American Chautauqua as
ISOLATION to establish winter chautau-
quas also. These are possible in any
city having a suitable auditorium. All
the features Of the summer chautau-
quas may be introduced in the winter
chautauquas, such as lectures, con-
certs entertainments, round tables,
courses of instruction, ETC."
The Potato Crop.
Potato raising in Wisconsin is in
creasing. The season of 1923, which
has Just closed, shows an increase in
Portage county of almost 10000 bush
els over the 1902 crops. The total
number Of cars shipped from Stevens
Point station over both roads during
the season, which includes roughly
speaking from September to July, was
735 cars. Placing the average num-
Der of bushels to a car at $50, the to-
tai number of bushels shipped is about
404.250. During the season of 1902
not more than 700 ears were shipped
with total of about 3S5, 900 bushels.
The actual cost of producing pota
toes is variOusly estimated at from ten
to fifteen cents per bushel in an aver
age season. At this rate the farmers
who marketed their potatoes in Stew
ems Point are about $40, 765 to the good
on their potato crop alone. The last
official record of the number of bush
els of potatoes raised il Portage coun
ty during one season. for 1899, is given
in the 1903 blue book as follows, in
comparison with the crop of surround
ing counties:
County. Bushels.
portage .......... ........... ,9iO,ott
WaupdCa ........ 10 .JOt
WauSnara ,9U0, IoI
The total crop for the present year
will run considerably over 100000
bushels. The price promises good. The
market opens about Sept. 1. The pres
ent price is 60 cents.
What the Farmers Say.
Vie u n 0nNYl .