Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1906-03-31

Washington, D. c., March rs.
Congressm IN j. W. Babcock has
decided to decline a re. election as
chairman of the Republican con-
gressiOnal committee. During the
entire session he has repeated
to the republican members of con-
gress as we'll as to the party lead
ers generally that he would not
again take charge of the congress
sional campaign. Notwithstanding
these often reiterated statements,
the republican leaders in congress as
we'll as many of the leaders of the
administration have sought to dis
suade him from declining the posi-
ton, 1t being believed that Con-
gresham Babcock, better than any
man who could be selected could
best serve his party by again TAX
ing charge of the congressional cleo
ton campaign. For many weeks
the leaders have been labor1ng with
Congressman Babcock to get him
to reconsider his determination, but
he positively declined to again serve
in a capacity which has led to re-
publican success in congress for the
past two years.
At meeting called this week
and which was attended by many
of the republican leaders of the
house. every possible effort was put
forth to have Congressman Babcock
change his determination, but he
announced that he had fully con-
sidered the matter and had come to
the conclusi IN that his party had
no just right to expect further serv-
ice from him at the expense of his
time and inclination, and at sac
rifce of the personal work and at
tention to the campaign in his dis
trict. The leaders present at the
conference assured him that there
would be no opposition to him what
ever and that if he would say that
he would accept reelection prac-
tically every republican member in
the house would agree to the pro-
position. While approaching this
expression of confidence in his serv-
Ices to his party from his associates,
Congressman BabcOck refused to
depart from his intention to retire
and absolutely declined to consider
the question of again becoming
chairman of the committee. He
based this upon a desire to be free
from the burdens of a campaign
which of necessity would take him
away from his district and state and
announced that he intended to
devote his time and attention to the
affairs of his district SO far as the
coming campaign was concerned.
In view of Mr.. Babcock's declin-
ing reelection, the house republi-
cans have practically agreed that
his successor will be Congressman
Jas. Sherman of New York, while
Congressman J. A. Tawney of Min
nesota will be vice chairman. j. III.
Davidson, of Wisconsin is promin-
emily mentioned in connection with
the secretaryship, the place now
held by Congressman Overstreet of
Indiana.
Practically all repu blican mem
bers express regret over the deter
mination of Congressman Babcock
to refuse absolutely reelection as
chairman. The fact that he has IN
some measures opposed the organi-
zatiOn leaders, has in no way dimin-
ished his popularity nor lessened
his influence, for among those who
were most urgent in a demand for
his reelection was Speaker Cannon.
After a successful service of ten
years, Con ressman Babcock be-
lieves that some other man should
bear the burden he has carried as a
sacrifice in inclination as well as
time.
~
One of the truly great speeches
of the session was delivered by
Senator Spooner in the senate
Thursday and Friday upon the legal
phases of the rate commission bill.
Tt was considered to be one Of the
most profound and lawyer-like argu-
ments ever delivered IN the senate
and will go far towards strengthen
ing measures among those who de-
sire the enactment of an adequate
law that will stand the test of the
courts. 1t was to this phase of the
law than Senator Spooner addressed
himself, declaring that it was the