New-York tribune., 1903-02-08

One cannot touch on skunks lightly in Chautau-
qua County. The subject Is an exceedingly serious
one The skunks have even been carried into
politics and have taken the offensive in bitter
ractionsI fight The greater number of the Re
publicans are fighting the skunks. whereas d GER
tain minority which believes that the quesuoh
should be thoroughly aired before final decision
is reached have taken sides with the polecats
For This reason the Republican leaders dread the
skunks of the county more than they do the Demo-
Gratis and fear that by coalition between the
Democrats and the pro-skunk contingent OF Re-
publicans the skunks will thus control the patron
a ge OF the district
According TO many farmers Of Chautauqua
County the skunk is their best friend. He lives
upon the grubs and bugs, which would otherwise
infest their crops. kills the moles that would eat
the roots of their vines, and by other similar
means he co-operates with them in the most peace
fu1 and happv vay True a skunk will occasion
allv kill some wayuard young rooster; but for
such fatalities chickens themselves are said to
be generally 10 blame
The skunks proved themselves such useful part
Of the community that the farmers two years ago
took steps cultivate their acquaintance still
more intimately. Several different methods Of re-
warding the animals were proposed One susges-
ton was to establish kindergarten for young
skunks. for the purpose of teaching them gooo
manners and Of cultivating greater respect IN
then, for the human race. But il was decided to
procure appropriate legislation for the skunks'
which would at the same time increase the Re-
p,,blican ma jority. A bill accordingly passed
two years ago by the legislature which provided
for a close season for skunks the year round IN
C.bautauoua County till 1906, and imposed pen
altv on any one who would dare kill a skunk ex-
cept on his premises or within the hfIlls Vi
an incorporated village. The Democrats win re-
rnarkable sagacity, did not oppose the DILL KNOW"
ine that the time might come when they, instead
of the Republicans could champion the cause OF
the skunks and thus win the farmer vote
The dream of the Democrats has at last Oeen
realized In the years since the Dill was pdeoeu
the sp1nks of Cnautauqua County have increased
AZ an astounding rate. Not only did the pirth rdte
f.r exceed the death rate among the native skunks
of that region, but, according 10 the farmers '
was a larger immigration thther from other conn-
ties where the life of the skunk was not held so
sacred Skunks are even said to have come from
other States V hile several Canadian regiments,
according to one story, tried TO ford Niagara III
a vain effort to reach the promised land
Arrogance, however, at last came WITH soou
fortune Like some members of the human race
who suddenly rise from humble origin, the
sLl1nks became discontented with their former sur
roundings. They were no longer content TO grup
and dig and work for the farmers. Such life they
came to regard as mere serfdom. The more am
bilious yearned for city life the brilliant society of
Jamestown and Fredonia and the stir and hustle
of Westheld Accordingly the skunks began TO
migrate cityward-
The entrance Of the skunks into the metropolitan
life Of the county won for them instant recog-
milton. Unlike the vast majority or asplrdnts 10
social distinction, their presence was by no means
ignored The gentry TO whom birth wealth had
given positions of prominence in the community
made way instantly on the approach OF these
debutants from the country. Should one OF theSe
newcomers desire the audience of man Of AFFAIRS
matter how many may have been IN line be1ore
him he was never kept waiting. Indeed, the
polecats swept everything before them FeelnS
ran high on several occasions and certain people
of prominence jealous of their prerogdtives, would
have laid violent hands the interlopers had they
known that by sucn an act they would be IN
bad odor in the community. A few talked of shoot
ing the sbunks but the law stood in the way.
The ambition of the polecats at last caused their
downfall. They finally took step too far lam
lily of them on finding a vacant furnished hathonse
in jamestown were so pleased with ITS modefh ap-
purtenances its exposed plumbing and glass mir
rors that they decided TO occupy 1t for light mousse
keeping. They had made themselves entlFey at
home, when the owner of the apartment came III
No words are reported 10 have been spoken, 1or
actions speak stronger than words oftentimes ana
as result not only original dweller in the fat
house evicted, but there was general exodus
from the block
At such times there is always hero 4hus IL
was that D. Samuel Fowler. the -Assemblyman from
the Igt Assembly District OF the county and a
native OF jamestown, the opportunity or be-
coming knight errant and took advantage OF IT,
As the legislature opened he aired the
troubles OF his townsmen in the lower house by
introducing a bill permitting the slaughter OF
skunks in his county except for the months be-
tween May and October 81. When pressed for
an explanation by hs>eolleagues he said simply:
There many skunks IN Chautauqua
County. We've got TO kill some
Mr.. Fowler was ably supported by Louis Nc
Kinstry, of Fredona. Chautauqua County the
clerk Of Speaker Nixon. Mr.. McKinstry clearly
convinced many Republicans first averse to
the measure in conversation with them that Il
would benefit the small boys Of the county and
thus assure them Of a good vote in future years
He said he knew Of boys who had caught in the
open season from to twenty skunks. whose
pelts worth s. apiece. brought in quite a fortune
10 these country lads.
'If there too many skunks." he said up