Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-06-29
WHAT ABOUT CoNGRRssMAN

WHAT ABOUT CONGRESSMAN
BY official notice, made elsewhe.e in
the CENSOR, it will be seen that the con-
vention for the nomination of repub-
lican candidate for congress in this dis
trict is to be held at Spring Green, on
August 9th. The CENSOR has doubted
the policy of so early convention,
does so still, and will probably state
its reasons in the near future.
Now that the convention is called, a
free and fair discussion of candidates
and policies is in order. In the eight
counties comprising the district, there
are, at present, four candidates: Hon.
j. w. Babcock of juneau, who is anx-
ious to succeed himself Senator Chas.
FL. Baxter, of Grant; ex- Senator Robert
l.. Joiner, OF Iowa, and Charles J. Smith,
of Vernon. All of these gentlemen, ex-
cept Mr.. Smith, have had legislative ex-
perience, but what some might consider
deficiency in this respect, is countert al
anced by his varied experience in public
affairs, as mayor of Viroqua, district at
torney, in educational work, and num-
erous other positions, which bring knowl
edge OF conditions and needs in both the
higher and humber demands of private
and public life.
1t is quite generally conceded that
each candidate will have at his back the
active and earnest support of his home
county. Mr.. Babcock will likely add to
his strength Adams and Sank. This
leaves Richland and Crawford undis-
posed of. The latter seems certain to
declare for Mr.. Smith, with Richland an
unknown quantity, but claimed by Bah
cocks supporters. Conceding all these
claims, Mr.. Babcock would be eight
votes short of a nomination. The very
nature of the canvass makes it assume
Babcock and anti ,Babcock favor, with
the chances decidedly favorable to Mr..
Smith.
On general principles and precedent
the CENSOR thinks Mr.. Babcock ought
to be retired, if he is unwilling to do so
voluntarily. He has held the honorable
position for three terms the limit con-
coded to all former representatives from
the Third district. Whenever con-
gresham has fought for and received a
fourth nomination, defeat at the polls
has been the result. While we do not
seriously apprehend such calamity this
yesr, should Mr.. Babcock be renomin-
ated, we still hold, as we did in the
Thomas and Hszelton campaigns, that it
i'll becomes member OF congress to con-
test every caucus in his district in order
to secure denomination and fourth
term, as they were then compelled to do,
and as MIR. Bsbcock and his lieutenants
are now doing. Should there be pop
ulsr or spontaneous demand on part
of the people for the retention of re-
preventative, then there could be no OBJ
lection. But then, as now, respecia-
BILE minority, if not majority, appear
to desire change. Then, as now, the
office holders created by the congress
man are the persons most clamorous for
his denomination. The CENSOR would
not deny to this element their privilege
as American citizens to advocate the
cause of whomsoever they chose. In
fact, they might rightfully be considered
ingrates not 10 serve an official who had
served them. But that is no valid rea-
son why they should attempt or be per-
mitted to dictate the course of the party.
We well remember that there were
none more hostile to fourth term for
Mr.. Thomas than was Mr.. Babcock.
Nor can it be successfully denied that
the district ever had more faithful, en-
ergetic and able representative than MIR.
Thomas. The same claims were then
advanced as now by his partissns, i. e.,
that he held one of the most important
committee chairmanships in the House,
vet the people declared by their votes at
The polls that they were opposed TO-