Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1904-02-04
BABCOCK OUTDOfS HIMSELF.
Calls q Convention for March ID, Sia
Weeks Earlier than ever he HAD
Dared Attempt Before, and
Eight Months PreCed-
InQ Election.


Wlien. III 1900, wv. Babcock had
a convention called to renominate
himself in April, the people hardly
realized the outrage until the trick
had been made successful. In the.
thirty days between the issuance of
the unexpected call and the meeting
of the convention, not half OF the
voters learned what was going on,
and but very few other than those
subject to the Congressman's orders
took any part in the caucuses; the
great majority making silent protest
by remaining away.
In 1902 the same program was car
ried out. A convention was called
on thirty days notice for April oath.
There was not such universal sur
prise at this, more Of the people hav
ing come to realize Babcock's disre-
gard for public wishes or interests
and his contempt for established
party usages. There appeared, how
ever, no one else ambitious for the
nomination, and the result was the
same as in 1900. Scarcely enough
citizens attende | tue caucuses to
form the delegations to be elected I,
and In county conventions many
towns were entirely unrepresented;
while from no town appeared a full
delegation. These stump-tail eau
cuses and county conventions, con-
trolled by Babcock's postmasters
and other servitors, went through
the form of electing themselves del
egates to the congressional conven-
ton at Lancaster, and there COM
pleted their mission OF renominating
their boss.
Emboldened by his success with
early conventions, Babcock now
plays the game stronger, and at
tempts more audacious snap judg-
meut on the people. He had his
committee of postmasters, railroad
agents, etc, meet in Madison last
week, and proclaim that for 1904 II
convention shall be held at Baraboo
on March 3d-siX weeks earlier than
ever he had dared to have it here
tofore.
But the situation is not now as
when he played the trick before.
There are several gentlemen in the
district ambitious to succeed Bah
coc Z. They and the people generally
have anticipated that an extra early
convention would be G He'd, and the
limited time Is likely to oe so well en-
ployed in showing up Mr.. Babcock's
official record and political methods
that he will misrepresent the Third
District no more after his present
term expires.
In undertaking to lead the Estate
wide fight" Of the Stalwarts against
Governor La Toilette and Republi-
can principles of the state, and at
the same tine continue himself in
Congress by means of this snap con-
vention and other political sharp
practice, Mr.. Babcock' vaultlng am
bition seems to have overleaped
itself.
Advices from all sections OF Iowa
county indicate that the people are
awake to the situation, and that they
will be on hand at the midwinter
caucuses to secure solid delegation
at Baraboo on March 3D., to vigorous
ly present the claims OF Iowa county
and the merits of George G.. Cox as
her cand date. No candidate in the
field opposing Babcock is more fav-
orably spoken of than Mr.. Cox. He
is the only "Simon pure farmer can
didate; the only one having a war
record to his credit. His sterling in
tegrity, staunch loyalty to, and readi-
ness to do service for, whatever
cause he represents, command for
him favorable consideration through
out the district, and warrant strong
hopes that his nomination will re-
suit. W. II. b.