The Washington times., 1936-09-03
BABC0CK NOTE
EXPLAINS
STAND
BY J. EARLE MOSER

=. odDCONh "4A4 4AOb oNNA
reelection as president of the
American Federation of Govern,
ment Employees, but he will not
decline the job if, after he re-
signs September IA, the fedora
ton decides he is still the best
man to hold its scattered pudding
in one dish.
That was the between the
lines gist of a letter he sent yes
terday to q very perplexed De
partment of State lodge, which
had informed him that it had In
Structed it's delegate to vote for
him at the forthcoming Detroit
convention, but did not know what
his future intentions were. The
lodge, via President E. R. Perkins,
asked to know in advance what
situation is likely to arise so It's
delegate could be instructed.
Babcock'S answer, in part, said:
Il hope you will communicate
to the members of the State De
partment lodge my very deep ap-
probation for their action OF
confidence in my administration
of the affairs of the A. F. G. E.
/ have put three years of hard
work into the federation, both
in meeting employees problems
emanating from without, and
trying to maintain a stabilized
internal situation, in the face
of attacks from both sides.
"The most serious attack MADE
upon me resulted from the pub
LEGATION over my private sigma
ture of a document criticiZing
the Administration for the use
of spOilS methods. This article
did the job it was intended to
do and I have no regrets. 1t
spoke the truth and accomplish
ed its purpose for the benefit OF
the Government service and the
employees"
The A. F.. G. E. leader pointed
out that during the June meeting
of the executive council, when ne
was under fire. he collapsed, ano
has since been adjudged almost
48 per cent disabled due to In
crease in effects of his war In
juries. He added:
altogether I am not a very
good risk for intense activity in
the immediate future, and 1
think you and everybody else in
the federation are entitled to
know this. when considering
whether or not 1 should be given
consideration for reelection.
81 shall not be candidate for
reelection. 1 have never asked
anybody to vote for me for any
office, and shall not do so now.
request that you instruct your
delegate to vote to accept my
resignation.
Fl hope the convention will
elect a president who will, with
out deviation, pursue policies,
both external and internal,
which will be JUST to the Gov
eminent of the United States,
and FAIR to all Government
employees"
On the face Of it the statement
eliminates Babcock from conSid'
Grafton. He asks his resignation
be accepted to leave the field clear
and clean. But while he refuses
to solicit votes as a candidate he
isn't unwilling to return if enough
folk want him. And from reports
gathered hither and yon, he re
mains a potent possibility. The
pudding, mentioned above, is al
most all over the floor -.
Animal ImpOrtatiOnS
Seeking to improve live stock
in this country, the Agriculture
Department has imported severa.
breeds and types of farm animals
unfamiliar to America, all from
England. Three South Devon cat
tie. four large black hogs, % white
Wyandotte chickens and II white
Austrian turkeys are to be uSeC
for experimental purposes, includ
ing cross breeding, by the Bureau
of Dairy Industry. DR.. John R
Mohler, Bureau of Animal Indus
try chief, selected most Of them
while in England en- route to the
World Poultry Congress at Leip
zig, Germany. where he repre-
Sented the United States.