Evening star., 1936-09-13


This was submitted several weeks ago
when he went on leave after the Execu-
tive Council started recall proceedings
against him for attacking the "spoilS"
policy Of the Roosevelt administration
in a pamphlet circulated by the Re-
publican National Committee.
He said he would make no effort to
preside at the convention, even though
his leave is up as the gathering as
sembles and his tenure Of office lasts
until the delegates actually pass on
the resignation. He emphasized. how
ever, he intended to stay at the con-
vention for its duration, and might
take the floor in his own defense.
Babcock made it clear his remarks
were directed principally at three or
four Washington members of the
Executive Council-Cecil E. Custer,
treasurer, and two vice presidents,
Michael D. Schaefer and Ira Y. Balm.
He mentioned possibly" G. Carroll
Diamond, another vice president.
Erstwhile supporters of Babcock in
other factional fights. these four led
the recall movement.
Won't Be Goat"
II feel that they have hidden their
own errors behind me to my detri-
ment," he said. i anthem TO stop
it and propose 10 see that they do.
I'm not going to be the goat"
A specific complaint made by Bab-
cock is that minutes of the recall
hAoriY To t,xyf no
council on the ground that he had
20 asked. This. he said, Is not the
case, as he has nothing to hide" He
also charged the Washington men,
bers of the council with violating the
"gentlemen's agreement" to terminate
the cross-fire of recriminations that
marked the first breach between him.
self and his former associates.
Babcock insisted also that he could
control enough votes to block the
election of Charles T. Stengle, who
is being doomed for the presidency
by the conservative faction of the
District Department, which includes
four council members in its leader
ship. He declined, however, to say
what position he will take in the
election, which seems likely to de-
velop into a three-cornered race
among Stengle, John r. w. Smith,
head of War Department Lodge of
New York, and DR.. Thomas Larkin,
Justice Department economist, of
Elreno, Okla.
Members Under Fire.
The council members attacked by
8abcock already are under fire by the
''nberals" in the District Department,
who are seeking their recall, charg-
ing them with dictatorial tactics
One of the lodges in this fight is
Justice 81, against which suspension
proceedings are pending in the
council.
There was still no word from that
body tonight as to what would be
done, but the opinion prevailed that
the suspension order that was lifted
yesterday when the lodge go hear
ing here would be reinvoked.
The council also was confronted
with another problem today when rep
resentatives of the American Fedora
ton of State, County and Municipal
Employees split on plan for aff1liation
that Is to be voted on at the conven-
ton.
In brief Arnold zander of Madi-
son, Wis, provisional president Of the
Observation-Disclosures organization,
proposed that the contemplated plan
for afiliating with the A. F. G. E. be
abandoned, and that his group, over
which the A. F. g. E. has been granted
jurisdiction by the American Fedora
ton of Labor, be chartered directly
by the A. F. of L.
To the contrary, Abram Flicker of
New York, representing majority
faction in the State-county- municipal
group, recommended that the original
plan for charter through the A. F.
q. z. be gone through with.
Delegates Due Today.
The council must recommend one
OF the two courses to the convention.
Few of the delegates had arrived
here tonight, but the majority were
expected tomorrow morning.
The opening session Monday morn
ing will hear q talk by Representative
Ramspeck, Democrat, Of Georgia,
chairman Of the House Civil Service
Committee, and be acquainted with
the legislative program for Federal
workers to be urged on the next ses-
sion of Congress, In the report of the
acting president, Mrs. Bernice B.
Heffner.