The Washington times., 1936-08-04
STRATT0N OUT
ASA.E.G.E.
HOPEFUL
By ]. EARLE MOsER

BY J. EARLE MOSER
E. Claude Babcock'S resignation
as president of the American Fed
Grafton Of Government Employees
will be accepted by a 81 vote.
Ruloff r. Stratton will not be
elected in his place as president.
Despite its recent injunction To
prevent its suspension, the legal
movements Of the Department OF
Justice Lodge will not thwart pu'
nitive intentions Of the executive
council Of the organization for al,
legged embarrassment Of the Gov.
ernment service" in It's fight
against j. Edgar Hoover for firings
in the Federal Bureau Of InVeSti-
cation for incompetency.
These facts became known to.
day after exclusive interviews with
members Of the A. F. @. e. execu'
tive council who are familiar with
intentions Of the body and know
what it's future moves will be.
Babcock, it was definitely ascer.
tanned, has no hope of continuing
as president of the Government
organization. From indications
that have been checked without
chance of error, he is through
Since the recent clash between
him and the executive council,
over his blast at the New Deal
through a pamphlet issued by the
Republican national COMMITTEES, it
has been found that approx.
mately two-thirds Of the A. F. G. E.
lodges in the field service are on
record against him via pledged
votes, said votes to be cast at the
next convention, September IA, in
Detroit.
With Washington units almost
wholly lined up against the former
president, it is expected his resig.
nation will be quickly accepted
when offered. In the meantime,
Mr.. Babcock says the annuity as.
Sociation he has organized is thriv-
ing and indicated today that &C,
tion Of the A. F. G. E. doesn't
really matter to him.
The recently announced candi.
dacy Of Ruloff r. Stratton, well
known Civil Service Commission
statiStician, has also been mini.
miZed by influential members of
the executive council. HE is only
one Of the many favorite sons who
have been proposed so far" said
one today, and his success was sale
to be doubtful If not hopeless. It
was pointed out that Mr.. Stratton
is up for retirement" with the
Civil Service Commission and that
it is unlikely that a man his age
would be chosen. Who will be the
serious prospect for president re.
mains unknown, even by A. F. G.
E. higher ups"
The request for court injunc.
ton revealed Saturday by the Jus
tice Department lodge against its
suspension has drawn mostly
amusement. It Is declared that
the executive council hasn't yet
met to decide lust what we will
do" but it is also pointed out that
81 days are available from August
/, to decide upon a course of
action,
The requested Injunction is de.
clared by A. F. G. E. lawyers to be
faulty" because injunctions must
be based on "irreparable and i'm.
mediate damage" This didn't oc.
cur 1t Is said, because the fact the
Justice lodge may defend itself
before the coming convention
knocks out the "irreparable"
clause. Further, it is said, Is mem.
bers of the lodge were In good
standing before and the "rump
crowd" that has taken control Of
the unit will be fought to the bit
ter end.
1t was also pointed out by high
A. F. G. E. members that when a
group Of them attempted injunc.
tion proceedings against the Ma
tion@ Federation of Federal EN-.
ployeS in 1882, against withdrawal
from the American Federation of
Labor. the movement got nowhere.
And this will be settled, is the
opinion. even if it must go to De
troit's convention floor.
Odds and Ends
Here are some of the decisions
Comptroller General McCarl
splashed out during his 15-year
regime: No more than regular
train fare If you ride in an air.
plane when there is no need Of
haste rejection Of $3.50 lunch
claim because no other lunchroom
in the town asked so much. de
nial Of a request for $11.50 by vice
counsel for special drinking water
because the native drinking water
was considered unsafe.