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

the fact that owing to an accident,
which was only gross carelessness
on the part of one of the brainiest
of men and masters of the printers
art, his right hand was so disabled
as to prevent him from presenting
reasons why republicans should
desert their chosen candidate for
one OF the most important positions
on the ticket, and vote for a man
who has succeeded in getting his
name on the ballot through the
active effort of certain supporters
of the republican candidate for gov
ernor. His wall was evidently only
an attempt to call attention to the
last issue of the Teller which should
be published last before election
day, and after it was too late to
bring forth any reply to the charges
which should be made.
The Teller is as full this week as
it usually is in it's last issue before
election, and it's arraignment of
Congressman Babcock occupies a
double column on it's first page.
The editor is content to share the
responsibility of these charges with
numerous signers whose names
occupy possible one quarter of the
space devoted to the article, truly a
generosity on his part.
Ever since several columns of
state printing were published in
the Teller in the latter part of last
winter, the Teller stands the avowed
opponent of the candidate who was
chosen by the majority of the voters
as the republican candidate for con-
gress from the third congressional
district. Since the nomination of
Congressman Babcock, issue after
issue of the paper has appeared with
no further charge against Congress
man Babcock, who for the past
twelve years has so efficiently re-
presented his constituents in con-
gress that each succeeding term has
seen him reelected by an increased
majority, than to apply to him the
epithet of "Old Bah" until this final
issue, when, by his calculations, no
other information to voters would
reach the voters until the ballot has
been voted, and the fatal die has
been cast
Is this application to Congress-
man Babcock of the term ''Old
Bah" a return to the times before
the assassination of President Lin
coin, when his enemies, for want
of arguments and facts against him,
fastened upon him the name of ''Old
Abe?" If so, then let it also be
remembered that the epithet con-
ce1ved in malice and hatred became
a household word by which our
splendid president was known in
every home in this land which pro-
fessed loyalty to our country, and
the term which was intended as an
insult and slur was taken by his
friends and used as a homely ap-
pellation to one for whom feelings
of respect and honor had given way
to feelings of love.
If after twelve years of public
service, the enemies Of Congress-
man Babcock after seven months
of effort can find no further crit
cism to make of him, either as a
public officer or as private citizen
than a parody upon his name, may
not the honest citizen feel fully
justified in casting his ballot for
him again?
The Teller has at last paid it's
debt of gratitude for the few col
umns of state printing which were
accorded it by the state administra-
ton and which changed the policy
of the Teller from a LaFollette
hater to most radical partisan. II
has made it's charges against Con
gresham Babcock in the last hour
before election. 1t has published
eighteen charges against Congress-
man Babcock-eighteen reasons
why the patriotic American resi-
dents of the third congressional
district should not vote for him
again, but instead should vote for
that candidate nominated through
the efforts of certain radical admin
istration supporters, a candidate
whose only influence, if elected, will
be to defeat republican policies and
harass republican administration.
Let us briefly examine these rea-
sons.
Il. He does not truly represent
in Congress the Republicans of said
district" This absolutely charges
nothing. For twelve years he has
been the member from this district.