Evening star., 1909-04-27

Joseph w. Babcock. for fourteen years
a. representative in Congress from Wis
consin. and for many years chairman OF
:he republican national congressional
committee, died at his home. l B street
northwest, at 9:45 o'clock this morning
In statement prepared by his ply
sicians. the cause of death is given as
complication of diseases, from which he
had suffered. for several months. and
which was brought on by overwork. He
was unconscious when the end came. MIR.
Babcock was fifty.nine years of age
The statement Of the physicians also
says Mrs. Babcock. who broke down three
weeks ago from the great strain on her
nervous system, is slowly convalescing.
Members of the family stated today that
the funeral services will be held at the
home at time to be determined later.
All the immediate members of the fam
lily, except an adopted daughter. Mrs. $.
H. Reed of Sparta, Wis, were present
when Mr.. Babcock died. They are his
wife, Mrs. Kate w. Babcock: son by his
first wife. Charles E. Babcock OF Ne
cedah, Wis, and an adopted son. George
w. Babcock.
Performed Yeoman Service.
Mr. Babcock was known principally for
the yeOman work he performed for the
election of republican Congresses as
chairman of the republican congressional
committee. He was regarded among his
colleagues when he was in the House as
one of the shrewdest politicians in Con-
gress. AS chairman of the republican
congressional committee, Mr.. Babcock
managed six campaigns for the election of
republican House, not one of which d
he lose.
Mr.. Babcock was an ardent champion
of the National capital and as chairman
for many years of the House committee
on the District of Columbia he worked
with great zeal for any movement look
ing to the improvement of this city. He
was personally very popular with his col
leagues in the House, his defeat having
been brought about by combination
between the La Toilette faction of the
republican party. and the democrats in
Wisconsin, resulting in the election to the
Sixtieth Congress of Representative Muir
ply, a democrat. He was native of
Swanton, Vt.
A Native Of Vermont.
Joseph Weeks Babcock was born in
Swanton. VT. March 6, 1850, and moved
with his parents to Iowa in 1880. where
he resided until 1881, when he moved to
Necedah. Wis, where he made his home
For many years at that place he was en-
gagged in the manufacture of lumber. Mr..
Babcock was elected to the Wisconsin
legislature in 1888 and reelected in 1890.
Mr. Babcock was best known in the Ma
tional capital through his service on the
House committee on the District of Co.
lumbia. of which he was chairman in the
Fifty-fourth, Fifty-fifth, Fifty-sixth, Fff-
ty-seventh Fifty-eighth and Fifty-ninth
congresses being succeeded in this posi-
rp-pi
the Sixtieth Congress, by Representative
Samuel w. Smith of Michigan.
In 1904 Mr. BabcOck was a delegate-at-
large to the republican national conven-
tion and was appointed member of the
republican national committee in 1900, to
succeed the late Henry {. Payne. He was
chairman of the republican congressional
committee in 1894, 1896, 1898, 1880. 1902
and 1904, and a member of the House
ways and means committee in the Fifty
sixth, Fifty-seventh. Fifty-eighth and
Fifty-ninth congresses. In the House
Mr. Babcock served fourteen years, or
seven terms, from the Fifty-third TO the
Fifty-ninth Congress, inclusive. His
defeat was brought about by combina-
ton between the La Toilette faction o.
the republican party and the democrats.
resulting In the election to the S.xtieth
Congress OF Representative Murphy Of
Wisconsin, democrat.
His serious illness was of comparatively
recent date, although he had not been in
good health for some little time. Several
weeks ago his condition became grave but
he rallied and his exceptionally strong
constitution resisted the ravages of the
disease from which he suffered-liver
trouble with complications-untl sudden
sinking spell warned the attending physi-
clans that the end was near. At Mr.
Babcocks bedside when he died were his
son, Charles, and Harry w. Barney, for
many years his private secretary and
clerk Of the House District committee
and later a business associate of Mr..
Babcock
Mrs. Babcock Is also i'll, but her condi-
ton has improved since last week.
His Service to the District.
During his long service as chairman
of the House committee on the District
of Columbia Mr.. Babcock was brought