Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-01-12

Madison, Jan. 10.
At this writing the senatOrship is
anybody's game,-that is anybody of
a certain distinguished trio which
numbers J. w. Babcock, J. v Quarles
and Isaac Stephenson as it's several
members Up TO an early hour this
morning there had occurred no chrys-
Utilization of sentiment such as would
Justify a prophesy as to the outcome.
Judge Webb, with judicial appreci-
alton of the futility of his suit, has
not appeared upon the scene at all and
will not, so it is said, be a personal
feature Of the Park hotel miX-Ip. All
the other gentlemen are on the ground
and some no doubt jolly themselves
up with the belief that they are in fact
right in on the ground floor. The
Babcock forces are felicitating them
selves over the formal declaration by
Assemblyman Louis D. Guth of Ke-
waskum, Washington county, of his
purposes. IN a document dated the
9th he says:
In announcing my preference for
United States senator, | desire at this
time publicly and definitely to state
the reasons Of my supporting MIR. Bah
cock After carefully considering the
claims Of the several candidates before
the people Of the state Of Wisconsin,
have concluded that Mr. Babcock is
the most suitable man for the position
My reasons leading up to this conclu-
sion are in part as follows: No man
in public life in this state has had q
more valuable public experience; nc
man, in the limited time in which he
has been before the public, has beer
more successful in everything he has
undertaken along all legislative lines
From a political standpoint Mr.. Bah
cock is a strong organizer and a strong
party leader He is thoroughly IA
miliar with legislative procedure ant
stands very close to the national ad
ministration. AS member of con
gress from the third congressional dis
tTict he has been identified with sue
cessful legislation AS chairman O
the committee on the District of Col
umbia he has given eminent satisfac
tion to the conservative business eIe
ments and the administration circle!
of the city OF Washington. AS chair
man of the congressional committee
accepting the craftsmanship upon tht
solicitation of President Mckinley III
conducted three successful campaigns
and today he stands as one of tn,
prominent leaders of the republican
party of the country. Mr.. Babcock !.
business man, combining all thos
conservative qualities which go so ia
towards making his career a success
He is closely in touch with every bust
ness interest of the state In the per
son of the Hon. John G. Spooner thu
legal and constitutional rights ant
questions of the state of Wisconsin ar,
amply and adequately protected in The
senate. Mr.. Babcock, as his associate
will fill all the requirements of thu
case. My opinion is that during tn,
next legislative epoch the questions
congress will have to contend will
will be largely questions of business
Mr.. Babcock is thoroughly in accord
with the administration along all line:
OF policy which will be pursued His
legislative experience is such that h
can Immediately become serviceablt
to the people Of the state of Wisconsin
while new man would have to get IL
touch with legislation and with ad
ministration policies. Mr.. Babcock il
man of the people, and has always
kept close to the people. Not one dis
paraging word can be said in reference
to his character. either public or pri-
vate. He is personally clean: his bust
ness methods are clean. AS a large
employer of labor, I have ascertained
that there is not single man who has
ever worked for him who today is not
his friend.
Further, desire to state that, as a
German American, coming from a
German-American county, ! am OPP
posed to the effort made by certain
forces TO Interfere with the liberties
by unnecessarily bringing into prom
inence measures which tend to curtail
the rights and privileges OF the citizens
of Wisconsin, The unwarranted inter
ference Of the so-called Anti-Saloon
League, basing its opposition 70 Mr..
Babcock upon false and scandalous
suggestions, should be resented by
every German-Ame.ica in Wisconsin.
The effort of certain ministers to enter
politics is, TO my mind, reprehensible
and against the interests OF our county
and state. Alphabetically, Washing,
ton county is one of the largest pre-
ducers Of barley in the state, and while
believe in reasonable legislative su-
pervision and control of the LIQUOR
question, 1t is foreign TO my purposes,
as member Of the Wisconsin legisla-
ture, to do anything derogatory 70 the
interests of my district from an indus
trial standpoint. So far as there being
any particular sentiment in Washing
ton county in favor of any particular
candidate is concerned, have can
yassed the situation and find that the
sentiment here is divided Mr.. Bah
cock certainly has the support of some
of the strongest men in the county;
and it is also true that in conversation
with some Of the clergymen and
teachers find that they are supporters
of Mr.. Babcock and do not believe 10
the unwarranted and unnecessary in
reference of the Milwaukee ministers
AS all my constituents know, / am a
man of liberal ideas, and | am in favor
OF men with liberal ideas. | have no
word Of dicnara pamopt ur;+b rofaropoo