The evening times., 1896-06-06
WILL FIGHT Mr.. BABC0eK
Labor Organizations Indignant at
the Cha rman's Neglec'.
FAILED TO GIVE A HEARING
They Have Repeatedly Asked Per
mission to Appear Before the House
District Committee in support of
the Suffrage Bill, But Have Not
Been Given an Opportunity

Been Given an Opportunity.
The first session OF the Fifty-fourth Con-
gress is about to be brought to close,
and practically nothing has been done in
regard to the bill introduced by Repre-
sentative Reyburn to determine whether
the present form OF government for the
District of Columbia shall continue or be
changed to a representative form.
This measure is regarded as one OF ut
most Importance 10 the GisfranclIised citl-
Zens of Washington, and lnasmuch as such
legislation was urged by the various labor
! organizations more strongly than from any
other quarter the leaders are inclined To
regard the nattention gwen the matter not
only as an injustice To them, but u wiilfui
neglect of their interests
The bill, which provides merely for sub
mitting the question of suffrage to the .e-
gal voters of the District 10 determine
| whether or not they desire the present gov
ernment OF the Commissioners maintained,
was originally drafted by Mr. F. l.. SID
dons and first introduced IN the House by
Representative Hooker of New York, and
| i'll the Senate by Mr.. Palmer late in the
last session of the Fifty-third Congress. 1t
| was not expected that anything would be
| done about the matter at that time, but
| the bill was presented simply to pave the
| way for favorable action by the incoming
body. Accordingly the same bill was intro
| duced by Representative Reyburn and SEN
ator Gallinger ut the opening of the present
session.
UNABLE TO SECURE A HEARING.
Ever since the bill was referred to the
| Committee on the District OF Columbia in
| the two houses repeated efforts have been
made 10 have hearing granted. About
| two months ago the subcommittee of the
| Senate, consisting of Senators Gallinger,
| Hansbrough and Faulkner. listened &c
| The arguments of the citizens committee,
and it was generally understood that a
| favorable report would be made and some
action taken in the matter. but nothing
| further was ever done. However, not
| even this much attention has been accord
! ed the bill by the House committee.
| On several occasions Chairman Babcock
| has been asked tc accord the friends of
! the proposed measure hearing but has
| invariably avoided the matter by agree
| ing 10 appoint date. each time in the near
future. This lie has neglected TO do and
| 1t is alleged wiilfuly seeking in this man
| ner 10 smother the entire question and al
| low I to die out fearing, it is claimed, to
oppose il openly.
In view of the fact that Congress will
| adjourn n a few days. it would be impos-
| s'Dlt ~ SttuIt dttltu II
| tee were inclined to take up the matter,
which they have heretofore neglected to
| dc.
| The labor orgaRiza iions are indignant
at being ignored in this way, and are de-
| teralined to rebuke the committee, and
especially Chairman Rabcock.
WILL OPPOSE MIR. BABCOCK's RE
| ELECTION.
| Mr.. W. q. G. Simmons, mastcrworkm;sn
| OF D. A, No. 66. stated this morning 10
Times reporter that he was about 10
| open up correspondence with labor leaders
| i'll Mr.. Rabcock's district, with Il view of
| defeating his reelection. At the two last
| national labor conventions resolutions have
| been adopted declaring in unmistakatle
| terms Off the right of franchise to their
| brother workmen i n the District of Columbia.
| All of the District labor organizations are
unit in favor OF suffra &c, and every honest
| effort will be made on their part to ers
| compass the defeat of the chairman of tie
| House District Committee.
The wOrkingmcn of the Third Wisconsin
| district will be asked to cooperate to this
end, and it is believed they will be sue
ccssful. No attempt will be made to de-
| feat his nomination, us it is believed the
rebuke will he more to the point if he
| fails of election.
| Mr.. BabcOck will not be the only one
who will lose the votes of the labor men
| en- this account. Others of the same COM
| mttee have been singled out and the
| organizations in their districts asked tC
work against them.
1--WE will go about this matter in n,
halfhcarted way. We mean business. and
will make our influence felt said Mr.. SIM
| mons.
These Congressman who are ignoring
us, knowing that we are powerless tt
| censure them. will find that our friends
in their home districts will take care q
that matter in our behalf. The right ni
suffrage needs no argument to sustain il
in this country, and there is no reason willy
we should not at least be given an oppnr
tunity to express our opinion as to whether
| or not we want suffrage.
IAN we ask is to decide that question
fer ourselves, and the majority is over
whelmingly in favor of a representative
form of government"
Chairman Babcock is at present hard Il:
work in getting the Congressional com
mittee in WORRYING order, regarding this n
more important than District suffra &c
The House Committee has wound up it.
business for this season, and the clerk ha
returned home.
WHAT MR. BABCOCKsAYs.
Mr.. Babcock, when asked To state VIII!
the District suffrage bill had never bccl
acted upon, said that he did not think an,
explanation was necessary, or that he
should be held accountable. The bill, h,
said, was one of .minor Importance o
which the committee, for want OF tine ;
had left hundreds unattended to. No nn
was in favor Of the measure. Everybody
that's, all eXcepta few cranks, were salts
fled with tie present arrangement, and NJ
change was necessary.
lie believed some parties had asked for
hearing several times, hut he had paid bu
little attention to it. There were to,
many other More important subjects fo
consideration. He thought, in all proba
bility, nothing would be done regardiD,
the matter.
II was suggested to the chairman tha
all the labor organizations, both in an
outside the District, were in favor OF til
suffrage bill. To this he replied with
shrug of the shoulders, that that might pos
sibly be. but ''tbat,was not MATERIAL