Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-04-08
a-uDY OF BAscock.
Figure c., His Attitude and Vote
Committee.
Washington. Al

washington, April 4.
TIRE IS q vast amount of guessing
going OF in congressional circles in
ccrncoticn with the attitude and vote
in the ways and means committee, of
Congressman Rabcock Of Wisconsin.
There is 70 Disgusting the fact that
his apparent change OF front was q ire
nendouG surprise to the anti-conces-
Ss!onists. ard it came as something of
surprise even to the followers of
thu lead Of the ways and means COM
nittee. The question is: What in
hucnce was sufficient to cause Mr..
Babcock to vote for the committee
bill? Mr.. Babccck says he voted for
it, against his own personal convic-
tons. because majority of the re-
publicans of the house seemed to in
/ cline that way.
There are those, however. who be-
lieye perhaps there is something else
behind this move on the part of Mr..
Babcock.
The Man.
A knowledge of Mr. Babcock. his
mental temperament, pertinacity and
determination, are really necessary
that one may obtain a correct line on
! the situation. To the individual who
has studied the Wisconsin congress
! man and is reasonably familiar with
his characteristics it will occur that
! possibly there is something in this
transaction not open to public gaze.
Babcock's One Idea.
Mr.. Babcock came to congress last
fall with one dominant motive inspir
ing him. He proposed, if it were pos
! sible, to force legislation modifying
the steel and glass schedules includ
ed in the Dingley tariff laws. He has
! steadfastly met with the most discour
aging obstacles in his efforts on thai
line, and UP to this moment there has
not seemed to offer an opportunity tc
get his proposition before the house
Notwithstanding this, Mr. Babcock
has not in any degree lost interest in
his proposition nor abated one par
ticle his enthusiasm or determination
to press it,
Held Balance of Power.
Last week Mr.. Babcock held the
balance of power in the ways ant
means committee. His vote eithel
way would be decisive. He finally
cast his vote, as he admits with the
Cuban concessionists and against his
own convictions. 1t is intimated thai
Mr.. Babcock is not the man to permit
an opportunity to such as was pre-
sented to him, to pass without cutting
little hay in the interest of his stee
reduction proposition. 1t is known
that MI. Babcock was long in consul
tation with the President and with
| the leaders of the ways and means
committee. What transpired at these
conferences cannot be appropriated
but it would not be surprising if Mr.
Babcock had demanded and received
some, encouragement of a substantial
nature in the way of concessions or
the line of legislation in which he is
greatly interested.
OF course this is all speculation
but the assumption is based upon Ger
tain known conditions, coupled witt
deductions that would be considered
logical and natural.
Mr.. Babcock simply demands thai
the tariff shall be amended so that al
American may buy steel and iror
structural and other products a!
cheaply as buyer in South Africa
1t is said that builder in Ohio has q
man in Europe who buys iron ant
steel from the Pittsburg concerns
ships it to Europe and then back tt
the United States; pays the duty an6
then saves money on the transaction
The cost to the Ohio man, after paying