The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1898-11-26
CHAIRMAN
BABCOCK.
PRESIDENT GIVES HIM CREDIT
FOR CONGRESSIONAL GAINS.

Brief Sketch of the Chairman of the
Congressional Committee and
His Work in the Last CAMPAIGN
He Refused to Accept the Posi-
ton, but RECONSTRUCTED Upon the
Earnest Solicitation of the Presi-
dent-Hfs Forecasts All Proven
Correct in the Western States.
Washington, Special, Nov. 19.-Presi-
dent Mckinley exclaimed, on receiving
the returns OF the recent congr essional
elections: "Where would we have been
without the Western voters and without
a Western manager?" His reference was
to the enlarged Republican representation
In congress from the West (Which saved
the Administered ton from hostile housed
and the persistent and skillful work Of
Chairman Babcock, of the congressional
campaign committee, in securing it. Like
Senator Hanna. Mr.. Babcock is somewhat
new In politics. A native of Vermont,
which Stephen A. Douglas declared was
the best state in the Union to emigrate
FROM" he went with his parents to iowa
in 1855, and thence, in 1881, removed to
the Yellow river, in Wisconsin, and en-
gagged In the manufacture of lumber. He
has large mills at Neceedah, his home.
and has been uniformly successful. In
1888, at the age Of thirty-eight Mr.. Bah
cock first appeared in public as member
of the Wisconsin legislature, and was re-
elected. In that body he made a recOg-
nized impression by his strong common
sense and vigorous attention not only to
his own committee work, but all the du-
ties of a public legislator.
Before the eXpira ton of his second term
In the legislature he was elected 1S92)
to congress and has been thrice reelected,
the last time by much the largest off-year
majority in the history of the district.
Having been elected chairman of the Re-
publican national congressional campaign
committee in 1894, three of his own cam
paigns have been left wholly in the hands
Of the people. Not only did he devote
his entire time to the national campaigns,
but refused to leave his post in 1894. 1896
or 1893 long enough to 60 home and vote,
although during the last combat the
Democratic national committee, recog-
nizihg him to be the omnipotent force in
the Republican lines. concentrated their
e1forts In his district in order to compass
his defeat.
In other and more general respects Mr..
Babcock's political methods are not SINH
lar to those of other managers. He says
he is "not a politician and dislikes the
term;' he merely transfers to the man.
methods which have made him success
full in handling the affairs of the great
logging and lumber manufacturing firm
of which he is the chief owner and active
head. He understands and can personal
ly attend to every detail of his business
and knows the capabilities. achievements
and value of each particular man in his
employ. He always puts good men in
charge and then trusts them. His rules
are simple and his orders few Railways
keep your tools sharp, boys, and never go
into camp without plenty of supplies"
is about all he ever says to his camp
foreman. This is Cromwellian: pray
my men, but keep your powder dry"
At the opening of the campaign in 1891
there was a Democratic majority in the
house of ninety. These adverse odds
were so great that the Republican leaders
were hopeless, not believing that the
party had the ghost of show to win.
Under these discouraging circumstances,
prominent Republicans being inert and
more than willing to leave to obscure
hands the uphill task of making a cam
naign, as we'll as the responsibility or
obloquy of what seemed to them to be
inevitable defeat, NJ. Babcock
Was First Elected Chairman
of the congressional campa gn committee.
AS his disposition is to take nothing for
granted. he lost no time in making
thorough examination of the conditions
OF the several districts, compelled to do
it, however, with practically no financial
or, moral support. 1t was rather lone
some business, but he did not shrink
from it.
Having completed the preliminary sur
vey In his own style, he announced that
he could win the campaign, that the
next house would be Republican. No.
body Believed him and the task of rails
ing money for the literature he had de-
termined upon as suitable and Necessary
for the various localities, was like pull
Ing teeth: people asked" lie 1ow re-
lates with a smile, who is that Babcock,
anyway" Some called me a 'chump' and
one leading paper out West, when made
moderate prediction of what was COM
ing. facetiously suggested an act Of con-
gress to change my name to B1abcock.
Why, we didn't dare tell the whole truth
for fear the public would think we were
crazy. We had a, we'll defined line Of
500, expended in literature, selected
according to locality, reused an intelligent
and pronounced reaction among the vot-
ers and we went in a-sailing, just as we
figured" -- .-.sr
After that no one thought of saying
who is that Babcock, anyway" His
success was SO phenomenal and his
prophecies so fully verified by actual
events, that no one else was suggested
for chairman In 1906, or in fact in 1898;
but thinking perhaps he might be a
candidate for United States senator, and
under the necessity of contributing to the
election of Republican legislature in
Wisconsin, he determined to retire from
the craftsmanship.
President Mckinley learned Of this de-
cision. made a strong personal r"ruest.
almost a demand, that it b. rec .nsi cred,
setting forth the 81 eat necessity for Re-
publican congress to deal with the grave
questions growing out of the Spanish
war and the annexation Of the Sand
witch is!ands-aIl undertaken by Repub-
lican administration. "l think, Mr.. Bah
cock" urged the president, lat the
country requires, and perhaps has right
to require, you to eink your own personal
wishes and plans and take the chairman
ship again at this critical tune, and,
carry us through, If possib e. You can
do it If 1t can be done.'
OF course Mr.. Babcock reconsidc-ed and,
with whole heart and soul, took hold of
what he regarded as The most perplex.
ing and burdensome campaign of the gen.
Grafton, determ ned to wn if human ex.
ertlon could do so and thus justify the
presidents confidence and do what had
rot been done since the Rsb lion period
save the admin s.rat.on in an loft year
from the nagsing, flank movements and
general hostility Of an opposition con
gress.
It Might Have Been Different.
II an election had been held before the
opening of the Spanish war the Demo.
Gratis would have secured majority OF
seventy-fve in the house. If an election
could have been held in June, after the
victory at Manila, or in July, after tht
victory at Santiago the Republican.
would have swept the country IL TIN.
election had taken place in August o.
9 ptembsr. after the public had been In
famed and distracted by maze Of rsek