The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-12-10
Babcock, in Letter Issued To-day,
D Again Rejects Dvertures Of
Johnson. ! Men,
---- - = 4! - ], y u.s.
AS the Case Stands Now the Wadena
Man Is Undoubtedly
Beaten. -

DR.. Babcock won't agree to a caucus. In
a letter sent to l.. Fl. Johnson this morn
ing. he declines the, latter,s proposals and
insists. on waiting until sthe Legislature
meets before settling the speakership
The doctors action is taken as a con-
tess1on of#weakness.I He evidently hopes
to profit by delay. AS The situation stands
to-day he is undoubtedly beaten. His
only hope is to make inroads on Johnson's
strength, and this he declares he will do.
On the other hand, the johnson . men
promise some important developments
within the next few days.
DR.. -Babcock's letter assumes that Gov-
ernor Van SAINT. ha S. iudica ted no interest
in the speakership fight, an assumption
not borne out by a perusal of the gov
ernors recent interview. 80 Il
The Babcock addressed directly to
Mr. Johnson is as follows; -~..5-t.s
Your communication Of yesterday reit-
Grating the proposition for "a caucus for
the special purpose of deciding the speak
ership question has been received by ME
and given careful consideration. In reply
l will again point to my letter on Nov. Is,
in which made the following statement:
" However,, since you have coupled the
governors name with youf- candidacy, =
will most willingly consent to have a eau
Gus at any time the governor himself may
designate over his own signature, pro-
Vided that at the sames time he will say
that my election as speaker would be a
personal or political affront to him, or that
it'would be in any wise prejudicial to the
best interests of the state.
I'm response to this communication
from me you openly made, the claim that
! the, state administration would lndorse
your candidacy, and you. doubtless re-
| member that in that letter you said that
this condition was my misfortune and not
your fault E4r Il
| :"'since then, however, Governor Van
| SAINT has given public expression of his
/ position in which he, positively refuses
to have anything to do with the speaker
| ship matter, saying: =. n.y. =.
L" 1T is notr1ny purpose to take any part
in the speakership contest It is not the
! province Of the governor to do so. That
prerogative rests with the members of
| the legislature.' ~ .-5H-- ... -
"Now. it seems to me- you must &C
knowledge that the claims which you and
your managers so stoutly made and upon
| which you rested the merits of your cam
didacy, have been absolutely swept aside.
| The only possible elementSof discord-the
over righteousness Of certain members OF
! the state CENTRAL conlmittee-has been
done. away with. There is no possible
reason for the belief that there. is either
any: danger to the party or to the merits
of either of our candidates. likely to
result from a continuance of the present
condition until the regular time for hold
| ing. a caucus. Just prior to the assembling
of the legislatures. ~ -" =
T. HMore than this. again call your at.
| tention to another point which have here
I tofore made in this correction, the ques
ton Of the expense to the members-elect
This expense WOULD be no slight matte1
4 and in my opiniofis It, would be absolute!
useless. if not foolish. 1t would amount.t(
about $1,000 at moderate estilna te, ana
do not believe thatC t he members elec
care@to incur such obligations for the sim
pie purpose of abbreviating this ,contes
TWO weeks S@s-2~ q II ~ 70 4 4
In view, therefore, of the fact that {
) special caucus w6u!dH 5e; not only imprac
ticable but useless ana without precedent
/ remain steadfast II the'-bel1efy that TIL
! best: interests Of the sta tezs and Of tn
party, not rtosmentiop the personal. inter
.ests of the two candidates, would be bes
served by pursuing a course entlrely@s1
keeping ewithTthe traditions of the past:
For myself, am of the opinion tina
the merits of my candidacy will not SUITE
if the members elect consider 1t In tn
usual manner. I am willing. that ever:
: possible moment be given for the pur
nose eof considering it's merits and tina
the members should have ample time t.
trevolve in their minds whether or no
thew desire to have both presiding OIL
: GERS of the legislature elected from tn
county of Hennepin.
I'm conclusion. allow me to: assure yo'
that I appreciate highly the fact that II
, VOur latest communication, IN speclh
language you admit that the contest ]
-. now one between yourself and myself.
condition which desire all members-elec
to understand