Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-11-03
CRITICISM IS REVOKED.


ing Times, OF Washington, d. c.,
publishes proceedings which sets Con
gresham Babcock right In regard to
the so called labor charges which
have been very widely circulated
throughout this district:
"The Central Labor Union on the
evening OF Oct. 2Ith, rescinded It's
action crlticising Representative j.
w. Babcock on account OF his oppo-
sition to extending the right of suf-
frage to the residents OF tho District
Of Columbia, aud commended him for
hia fairness In his relations with or
ganized labor generally.
The meeting was perhaps the most
largely attended ever held by the
union since Its organization, and for
moro than two hours the report of
Tho committee which had been APP
pointed at previous meeting to
investigate Mr.. Babcock's attitude
toward labor was the subject OF the
most spirited debate which over took
place upon the floor Of the assembly.
The meeting was presided over by
President Szegedy, and the report of
the committee was submitted by Mr.,
Mccormick.
A great deal Of the report Is taken
up In explaining how the original res
olution adopted by the union CRITICS.
Ing Mr.. Babcock reached the head
quarters of the Democratic Congress
sional Committee. The blame for this
IL charged to Milford Spohn, the
who, II IL claimed, took them to the
committee without the authority of the
Central Labor Union.
The report then proceeds to enum-
crate the charges made by Spohn
against Mr.. Babcock, and In reply
thereto gives the facts rs found by the
committee Of investigation. Tho re-
port follows:
THE REPORT
"Thc following charges were made
by Delegate Spohn against Congress-
man Babcock.
"First--That he was opposed To the eight
hour law,
"Thrco witnesses testified that they were
Z ut the Capitol when this bill passed and that
MIR. Babcock told them that he wns In favor
of aud would support the bill Mr., Hnhcock
stated to the committees that ho favored tho
bill. There was no opposition to the meas
ure,
Second That he favored the Mctropoli-
tan Street Car Company while there was II
boycott ON that road by allowing tho com
pnny franchise to extend It's limo aud not
allowing the knights OF Labor u hearing on
the blll whom he had promised to do so; and
also that he had refused TO lutcrcedc for til,
mon who had been discharged On account ot
being members OF the knights Of Labor,
mir. Rabcock stated to the committee tina,
he did ntcrcede for these men and cyrt
went 80 far Ms TO get II meeting Of the boar,
of directors 50 that the knights Of Laho
could have hearing. One " your com
mlttec says he remembers the time the
board was called together and that II met II
Mr. Bahcocks office and the labor committee,
appeared before IT, Mr. Bahrock states tina
tho legislation referred Ia In this charge wa
asked for through u petition signed by tn,
. residents who would be benefited by the cN
: tension, and that the president ot tho roa,
came To his office and told him he did no
want this legislation at that time aud askc,
him tn keep the bill from passing. Mr., Rah
cock says he got this legislation through bc
cause those citizens living In that neghhor
hood said they were compelled to walk to til
cars and II was an imposition
Third That Mr. Babcock fathered u bt
which. gives complete monopoly 10 tho rail
roads In tho District and deprivcs hackmr
OF positions.
"on this question wa shall have little I
say, because We do not think II Affects lahe
or labor organizations To any extent, rs
Will take rs many men to drive tho hack
belonging to the railroad companies AS
they were owned by some one else. We lin,