The Globe-republican., 1901-07-04
CASE OF BABCOCK.
TRUSTED BY ONE PARTY WHILE
SERVING ANOTHER
Author of a Plan Whose Provisions Are
Conflict with Business JudE Enent-
Economic sanity and the Principles OF
the Republican Platform

Mr. Babcock- of Wisconsin enjoys
the unique distinction of being con-
spicuous member OF one political party
while at the same time actively en-
gagged in promoting the prospects and
furthering the fortunes of another po-
Iitica1 party This gentleman is the rep
resentatiye in Congress of a district
composed largely OF Republican yOt-
ers, he is Il member of the House Com
mittee Ways and Means and he is
also the chairman of the National Re
publican Congressional Committee
While occupying this relation to his
constituents and to the Republican
party as a whole Mr. Babcock has sue
ceeded in gaining the fervent regard
of the enemies of his party. AS a
matter of fact he disputes with the
New England Free-Trade League the
priority of invention in connection
with the formation of a plan whose
success involves the overthrow of the
Republican party 1t often happens
that one is able to obtain patent
on another mans invention Be that
it may, Mr.. Babcock seems to have
the best of the situation, for even
though the New England Free-Trade
League may have originated the idea,
the Wisconsin Congressman was clear
ly the first to get patent on it,
We refer to the bill which Mr. Bah
cock, a Republican congressman, a Re
publican member of the ways and
means committee, and the chairman
of the National Republican Congress
S1ona1 committee, has introduced and
proposes to urge for passage propos-
ing to repeal all protective duties on
foreign made articles entering into
competition with trust made articles
in the United States. With loud ac-
claim the Democrats and Free-Traders
have hailed Mr.. Babcock as a states
man after their own hearts. Why
should they not? Has he not earned
their gratitude and their admlfa ton
What more could he do to entit1e him
self to honorary membership in the
Golden club? He stands sponsor for
a legislative measure which embOdieS
the Cobdenite contention that Pro
lection is robbery and that the tariff
is the mother of trusts" He has adopt
ed this view his own, and with all
the zeal OF a new convert he avows his
intention to press for the repeal Of
all duties that afford protection to ar
ticles produced by domestic trusts
Considering that such revision of the
tariff would take away protection from
nearly every industry in the country,
and that while it would not smash
single trust it would wreck thousands
of independent Industrial establish
ments not identified with any trust
Con gressman Babcock is clearly en-
titled to all the free-trade adulation
that is now being poured out upon
him.
Mr. Babcock has Ieaped into fame at
one bound. So did Benedict Arnold
among others. There is fame and
fame. But what about Mr.. Babcock's
rela tons with the Republican party ?
He is the representative elect of his
district in the Fifty-seventh congress
and cannot be unseated prior to March
4, 1908. He can, however. be omitted
from the house committee on ways and
means when the committee assign
ments are made next December. and
he can fail of reelection chairman
of the National Republican Congress
Siona1 committee. AS the responsible
author of a bill whose provisions are
in direct conflict with the platform OF
the Republican party. an ayCwed
enemy to the policy of protection to
American labor and industry, is he en-
titled to remain, ought he to be per
mitted to remain pseudo-Republican
member of the house ways and means
committee? Should he be again hon
ored and trusted with Craftsmanship
of the National Republican Congress
SionaI committee? The obvious an
swer is No. To retain Mr.. Babcock N
either position would be to bestow u
reward upon treachery and disloyalty.
BabcOck must go.