The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1904-02-05

STATE TREASURER KEMPF.
passage of the BARRIERS commission bill
is choice mOrsel for the adminiStra
ton men. Barney" could doubtless tell
a good deal if he cared to talk about
political methods at Madison and make
a sensation that might transcend parti-
san bounds. The Bancroft free pass
incident is still echoing, but the de-
mand that the assistant adjutant gen
eral resign has ceased in the circle of
his political associates. This whole
campaign really centers about the
Third district where Mr.. Babcock is
having the struggle of his life. He
has got to the defiant mood on the pass
question, and he now says that he will
go into the district and make the whole
thing rebound as a roorback on Con-
gresham Babcock. Mr.. Bancroft's
father, George l. Bancroft, is a CAPT
toll Waterman at Madison. The stall
warts are doing good work in their
Madison headquarters. They have
money enough to work with, for the
governors enemies are so heated that
it is work of love to lay down their
dollars.
Can BabcOck Got Fifty-Two Votes.
Congressman BabcOck is the first
to pit his strength against Governor
LaFOllette this year, and the trial be-
tween these two veterans will be an
interesting spectacle. Babcock won
out in his first fight for an early con-
vention, which will be held at Bara-
boo March 3. There will be delegates
to the convention, apportioned as fol
lows: Crawford county, 8; Grant, %;
Iowa, ID; Juneau, ~; Richland, 10;
Sank, IS; Lafayette, IS. Babcock
must get fifty-two votes to secure the
nomination. His friends are confident
that he will. However, the LaFollette
men, by bringing out q man in each
county, are endeavoring to capture the
local delegations, so as to bunch or
trade them against Babcock when the
time comes.
MI. Cook to Republicans.
Mr.. Cooks manifesto, dated Jan. %.
is like himself-cOrdial and friendly.
without antagoniZing any class. He
says some good things. He is for d
government for all, without cliQues,
clans, or factions, but yielding to ev-
cry duty and conscious of every right"
He proposes "a sincere and fearless
executive" His purpose is Ito be NOM
mated and elected gOvernor--not for
self, but service-thrOugh reunited
party and to restore political peace
and execute good government" And
he concludes that he is free from Off
cial ENHANCEMENT or fractional alli-
ance."
Public Ownership in Milwaukee.
Milwaukee may vote on the QueS
ton of municipal lighting plant this
spring. Mayor Rose has recommended
to the council that such a proposition
be submitted to the people. 1t would
cost half a million dollars The idea
of municipal plants is growing. I'LL
nois leads all the states in number
having 346 electric light and power
stations, while in the whole United
States there are $500 The Illinois
plants cost some $3S,000,O00 and earn
, nearly 100000 year. In 1881 there
was but one central electric light and
power station in the United States
owned by a municipality. Now there
are S15. The progressive middle west
STATES are in the lead in this respect.
Winter Sports.
The extreme cold weather has put
a damper on horse racing In Madison
this winter, and this accompanied with
abundance of snow, shortly after the
lakes froze over, spoiled ice-boating.
Bowling and skat have been substi-
ttuted by many and are live topics here.
Since the victory of Mr.. Emil Fauer-
'bach's iceboat, the Princess" in the
international ice-5oating regatta at