The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-02-16
FIGHTING FOR
POLITICAL LIFE
FIRST OF THE CAUCUSES IN Bah
COCKS DISTRICT.
La Toilette and His Administration
Back of the Movement to Relegate
the Congressman to Private
Career-SOme Strenuous Winter
Campaigning-Wha 1t Means to
the Governor to Win.

Special to Tho Journal.
Madison, wis, Feb. 16.-The first cau-
cuses in the third congressional district
fight, which is being waged for the retire
Inent of Congressman j. w. Babcock from
political life, are being held in Iowa county
to-day. The result of these caucuses will
be the first indication Of the strength of
the two contendiug forces, tho it will not
by any means be the deciding feature of
the fight. Either side can lose and still
secure enough votes in the remaining
counties to control the convention The
indications are that it is about a stand-off
Babcock is figuring on carrying his
home county, Juneau, and Sank and
Grant, which would give a safe majority
in the convention. While the contest is
being waged with unrelenting vgor in
all sections of the district, it is the
1iercest in Sank and Grant counties. If
the opposition to the congressman can
carry one or both of them, it will prob
! ably control the convention to be held at
! Baraboo on March 8.
Ia Toilette Back Of It,
The fight against the denomination Of
Babcock Is being directed by Governor La
Toilette, who has taken the stump. The
state administration has brought out a
candidate in every county against the
congressman and has flooded the district
with literature vigorously attacking the
ord. The governor has also sent score
of public speakers into the district to OPP
pose the denomination Of the congress
man, among them being Irving l.. Len
root of Superior, speaker of the last as
semby; Colonel James Frear of Hudson,
Frank A. Hall Of Madison, James McKen-
Hie of Portage and l.. e. Gettle Of Edger-
ton, In addition, nearly all of the oppos-
ing candidates have taken the stump.
If Governor La Toilette wins it will
add to his national prestige and make
other congressman in the state who OPP
pose him quake in their boots.
New District Attorney.
Governor La Toilette has appointed f.
L. Mcnamara of Haywood district attor-
ney Of Sawyer county to succeed A. M
Sabin, resigned. The appointment is for
the term ending the first Monday Of jan
nary, 1905.
State Treasurer John J. Kempf an
nounoes that the interest on state funds
in state repositories last year aggregated
over $4,000, or about twice as much as
it costs to maintain the state treasury
department. Until a few years ago this
interest money was pocketed by the state
treasurers as part Of the perquistes Of
the office.
The First State bank of the village OF
Elmwood. Pierce county, has filed articles
of incorporation. The capital of the new
bank is $4,000, and it's incorpOrators are
.. w Croft, Fl. Bell, William Mccoy ct:
TO Lieberns and G. E. Fox. = o.
Lawrence Myratick. a saloonkeeper Of
Ashland and George Cunningham Of this
city were to-day taken to the house o.
correction in Milwaukee to serve sen
fences Of sixty and ninety days respeC
lively for selling liquor to Indians.
Ad VaIorem Taxation System.
The first arguments on the valuation o
railroad property under the new ad va
loren taxation law was heard by tn
state tax commission this afternoon. Thu
Chicago G. North Western were the frs
company heard. The st. Paul, Burlington
Omaha and 500 companies will be hear,
in turn. The preliminary assessments o
the roads will probably be made late thi
month.
Until all the assessments are made an
other provisions of the law are complies
with, the companies will continue to pa
taxes under the old license fee system
ranging from S. a mile to per cent O
the gross earnings in the state. depend
ing on the earnings a mile. Last yea
the aggregate taxes paid by the railroad
to the state were approximately 81, 800 00(
This year they will be about 10 per cen
more,