New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-27
THE WISCONSIN SENATORSHIP
CONGRESSMAN BABcocK ONE OF THE
LEADING REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES.
GREAT INTEREST TAKEN BY WASHINGTON PEo-
Pile IN HIS PKospECTs-HIs WORK AS
CHAIRMAN or THE REPUBLICAN,
CONGRESS COMMITTEE.

CONGRESS COMMITTEE.
rBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRTrrSE.l
Washington Dec 2s.-There Is no Senatorial con-
test this winter which excites n more livey IN
terest among Republicans in Washington IMAM tnat
In Wisconsin. where Mr.. Mitchell. Democrat IS
to be succeeded by Republican. According 10
advices received here the contest has already be-
come an extremely spirited one and is daily grow
ing warmer and the result seems to be involved
In much doubt Among Republican members Oh
the House Of Representatives from all parts OF 'he
country deep interest Is felt In the success Oh
Congressman Babcock, who Is one OF the ieaoihs
candidates and this interest IL largely shared by
tho neonle OF the District of Columbia. irrespective
OF party. 49,
Mr.. Babcock Is serving his third term In the
House Of Representatives. where he has estapiishei
q high reputation for business ABILITY, propiy anu
sound judgment Il legislator, as wen aH ~.
common sense and sagacity as political ieaner
md manager In the course Of his six years SER
vice I'm Congress he has repeatedly demonstrated
that a thorough business training may niahe do
useful a legislator as professional educauoh an"
training and that business man may DC as co"'-
petent to express his opinions In clear ana CON
vincing and witbal not offensive manner as MEM
hor ~ one NJ the learned professions For four years
Mr. Babcock has been chairman Of the committee
on the District Of Columbia. the duties OF WHICH
are of the most exact and perplexing as wen rs
laborious character That he and MS coheaeues
have studied and worked TO protect ana proho'e
the interests and welfare of the people Of the DIS
trict and that they have achieved n marKed degree
NJ success almost verybody cordially ana nearuy
admits II the matter could be left to the resuenlS
of the District OF Columbia Mr.. Baocock "oui" NC
elected to the United States Senate by Vlr'ua"y
unanimous vote. and his constituency would ne one
OF which no statesman in the land need be ashamed
GREAT CREDIT DUE HIM FOR NIcToklES
Republican members of the House of Representa-
tives naturally feel keen desire Tor MS suooes'
not only on account of the ability he mas snow"
and the experience he has gained as Il lesi'"'o''
but also on account of the rare SIKH anu 'o".
sn,cuous success with which he has managed 'he
last three Congress campaigns NO chai'ii''. "a
tho Republican Congress Committee ever p'io',
hod three successive victories to his creo'', anu
,hs same may be said of the chairmen or Demo-
cratic committees When he hrst assume" III.
Craftsmanship In 1894 It was felt that the 'iue ,"u
turned in favor of the Republican party pu' the
strength OF II was unknown. and ne adop'e" anu
pursued the same careful and Systematic i'e''O
that he did in his private business No poi'' we
left unguarded no effort was spared ana "o'"''7
which could be foreseen or provided asaihs, was
left TO chance A magnificent victory was the re-
suit. ,ooe Ao
Tho same methods were followed in 1896, when
the only danger was that the congress 'eNe
might suffer from the excess OF zeal IN penalt VI
the electoral tickets. The result clearly i'.u'0""
hat he precautionary enOrts were "iSS "''N
gary The Republicans held the House OF Repre-
sa,ta,ives and gained a United States Senator
When the Congress campaign opened last summer
the outlook for the Republicans was gloomy o''e
TO those who surveyed the held WIN p'ao"u
ewes Apathy born Of overconhdence pre'aeu
everywhere and in some OF the more i"'poi 'a"' =
{ \ ,es II was aggravated by Republican party as
a s,ons and disappointed applicants or candidates
FOR office For weeks 1t seemed as though nothing
could be done improve this CONDITION Oh thi'es'
rh. ors man who did not lose heart, and to whose
sturdy systematic and untiring EFFORTS more '''a'i
TO any other the Republican party owes the con-
troll Of the next House of Representatives Is Chair
NAN pahcock Of the Congress Campaign Com
mittee. .,
In brief these are the things that we-informe ed
Republican Congressman say and believe ana h Mm'"
explain and justify their socitude IN MS pehahi-
THE SITUATION IN THE STATE.
In conversation with Tribune correspondent TO-
day Wisconsin Republican, speaking OF the Stud
ton In that State. said;
The three leading candidates for the Senatorshp
are J. " Quarles Milwaukee lawyer whose
friends claim that he has forty votes pledged OF
within seventeen of majority OF the Repuohcah
caucus which will consist Of 1l2 members; Con-
gresham Babcock and ex-Congressman Stephenson
OF Marinette who served three terms In the House
OF Representatives and Is a man OF great wealth.
Mr. Quares has strong following In Milwaukee
and throughout the southern part OF the STATE
where he Is we'll known and popular tie also mas
the support Of two OF the leading Republican news
papers Of Milwaukee. 1t is the general belief that
he will lead on the first ballot In the caucus some
OF the shrewder politicians who are friends Q,
other candidates do think his forces can be ned
in line for a prolonged struggle such as they seem
TO expect They are therefore inclined to believe
that the real fight will be between Babcock ana
Stephenson. both of whom are successful business
men, and this belief Is strength by the fact that
Wisconsin already has one able lawyer and eloquent
orator in the United States senate IN me person
OF Mr. Spooner. | do not think ANYBODY eX V
himself knows how many pledged votes either BaD,
cock or Stephenson has Both OF them are shrewd
political managers, and the former has been pne
nomenally successful whether he can take care or
his own interests well he did those or Re-
publican candidates for Congress remains 20 De seen;
| am informed that Governor Scoheld ana most or
the OF her State officers quietly doing what tney
can TO promote the success OF MI Stephcnsohs
candidacy and that the influence OF the state Ad-
minisration will be openly exerted in his behalf De-
fore the end OF the contest. How potent IL VIII De
nobody can foretell but have no idea II VIII de.
eide the question. 1t Is almost too soon TO hazard
guess as 10 what the result will be. IL were TO
do So I should guess that Nj Babcock, despite al
the forces and influence arrayed against MIN, Wouid
no Senator Mchels successor.