Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1898-05-05
TONER'S CHANCES GOOD.

All the state ana 1ederdt ONCE
holders, office-seekers and office
brokers in Iowa county advocate the
nomination Of Congressman Bah
cock for fourth term. In the inter-
est of their patron they discredit and
seek TO prejudice the candidacy Of
Hon. Robert l.. Joiner, by represent
tations that there is no hope or eX-
pectetion that he can be nominated.
Their course is one peculiar to the
self-seeking political adept, and
should deceive no one, but it war
rants IA candid presentation OF the
grounds upon which friends of Mr..
Joiner claim that the chances of his
being nominated are at least equal
to those Of any candidate named,
provided the delegates from this
county is for him solidly and truly.
Thus far there are four pronounced
candidates for the nomination,
namely, X. l.. Joiner, of Iowa county,
G.. II. Baxter. of Grant. &. j. Smith,
of Vernon, and j. w. Babcock, of
Juneau. 1T may be safely conceded
that each Of these will enter the con-
ventiUn supported by the delegation
of his home county; accepting ru-
mors TO the contrary as offsets. This
leaves four counties-trawford,
Adams, Richland and Sauk-with-
cut local candidates. 1t is claimed
by Babcoek's friends that he will
have the support of the three coun-
ties last named, and by Smiths
friends that the delegation from
Crawford will be for him. But well
informed citizens of all these coun-
ties dispute the claim as to each, and
there is the most positive assurance
that in all these counties there are
discriminating republicans who re-
gard the nomination of Mr.. Joiner as
most desirable on the basis of fitness
and availability.
1t Is not ouch to concede that
with the active support of the COM
pact political machine of the state
and nation, Mr.. Babcock may enter
the convention with greater mum
Der ul votes than any other candi-
date, and 1t may be anticipated that
these votes will be consciously for
hiln--held together by "thr cohesive
power Of public pluuder' present
and prospective. On the other hand,
the supporters Of all other candi-
dates, having, by daring to prefer
any other 90 the "reigning king,
placed themselves under the ban of
the relentless machine, will in self
defence be impclled to unite against
the common enemy, and finally to
combine upon someone other than
Mr. Babcock.
No unprejudiced person who has
kept track of political movements
in this district will deny that the
foregoing predictions are justified
by the evidence at this time. Hence
we assert and firmly believe that Mr..
Joiner's chance of nomination Is
equal To the best And why should
it not be? His qualification by edu-
cation and experience, and his in
tegrity and devotion to the interests
Of the people, none will challenge. In
these respects he is admitted the
peer of any competitor, To these
requisites is added the fact that he
is a practical, working farmer, the
only representative of the great and
controlling class ever presented as a
republican candidate for congress in
this district. This distinction makes
Mr.. Joiner the most available candi-
date named, a consideration not to
be lightly disregarded, in view of the
rumhlings Of unrest among the peo-
pie, caused by feeling that capt.
talistic influences are too prominent
in the legislative branch of both
state and national governments