Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1904-11-05

of candidate Parker removed the
money question as political issue,
yet the conditions in this county
negative such copclusin. The
opposition to the reelection of Con-
gresham Babcock by the Teller
editor. and certain defeated can
didates for nomination will be
considered as founded not upon
principles but upon personal in
terests, and the charges made
against Mr.. Babcock are in. part
that he has debauched the suffrage
of this county with money. It is
reasonable to suppose that the
opposition of the Teller, an organ
which has always criticized republi-
can principles, which has always
sought to disrupt republican or
ganization, and which now urges
the republicans of this county to
desert notsonly Congressman Bah
cock but also the regular nominees
on the republican county ticket, is
occupying a position from principle,
or is it from desire for county and
state printing? Is it's position due
to the fact that it desires the enact
ment of principles SO often urged
by it in opposition to republican
policies? Regular and united re-
publican control has heretofore
been improbable for this paper
why not disrupt the party and Sc.
cure the advantages? We have here
also the unusual spectacle Of de-
feated candidates for nomination
turing against the regular nominee
of the party, and urging the sup
port of a person of another faith
and contrary party principles. It
has heretofore been considered the
part of manhood and party honesty
to support the successful opponent,
the more SO when his nomination
was practically the unanimous wish
of the people. Whether their posi-
ton and their desire for party dis
ruption is due to a desire for
revenge or the hope of political
preferment through disruption, can
only be conjectured, but upon either
theory it is equally subject to
criticism.
The charges made by them against
Mr.. Babcock are founded on mere
partisan assertions, not on fact,
many so old and so long neglected
as to warrant no consideration,
others founded on partisanship and
in no way connected with the
qualifications of candidate or with
national issues.
The bare assertion is made, that
after careful consideration by this
socalled committee Of republicans
| (headed by defeated candidate
it is found that Mr.. Babcock secured
his denomination by the lavish use
of money. Is this used to cast sus-
picion upon the honesty Of the can
didate or is it extended to brand
| the voters of this district as dis
| honest and purchasable? 1t neces-
sarily means the one or the other.
Are republican votes purchasable?
Was the majority of voters in every
precinct in the county except the
| two orthree against Babcock bought
with money! Were the delegates
here, administration and anti-ad-
min1stration alike, honorable men
from every part of this prosperous
county corrupted by the use of
money!. The voters of this county
we'll know the facts, they are well
able to answer for themselves such
a charge brought against them,
without requiring any investiga-
ton by this self-styied committee
Of republicans"
But the seriousness of this COM
mittee, their honesty Of purpose IN
caring for the welfare of their re-
publican neighbors, is shown by
their charge that the congressman is
not resident of this district. This
is founded upon the fact that dur
ing his long service he has seen fit
to have his family with him at the
seat of government, that he has
seen fit to devote his leisure time
from Congressional sessions to the
work of the nation in the govern
ment of District of Columbia, and
to other national business, and
above all, that he has seen fit to
sacrifice his personal political inter-
ests by remaining absent from his
district in the discharge OF the i'm
portant duties of chairman of the
national congressional committee,
during successive campaigns, in
stead of engaging in petty politi
cal tr1ckery at home. The charge