Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 307, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 December 1913 — An Open Letter to the Editor of The Democrat. [ARTICLE]

An Open Letter to the Editor of The Democrat.

Editors Republican: I want to commend your article in answer to Mr Babcock’s cruel and almost entirely false ieport of the last county convention of the democrats. It seems Bab is so .filled with anger and desire for revenge that he is hardly responsible for what he says. His charge that the convention was packed- in the interest of Muprhy and Peterson I know to be without any foundation in truth. I put the laboring oar in his hands and challenge him for the proof of his assertion. On Saturday of the precinct convention I did*solicit democrats to attend the meeting, but solicited all alike and never asking whether they stood with the Babcock party or any other. Mr. Babcock was nominated as a delegate and his poor showing was not because the convention was packed, but it was because the democrats are tired and disgusted with the course being pursued by him. I have long been associated in a political way with such men as James T. Randle, N. Bates, Frank Welsh, George Stemble, Lee Glazebrook, Felix Irwin, N, Littlefield, J. A. McFarland, Wm. Hoover, Eli Gerber, L. Strong and many others. Men wtho were democrats and who stood for democratic principles before Mr. Babcock was known, and I deny that they belong to any click or faction in any way opposed to the Wilson administration, but that they are genuine Wilson and Bryan democrats. Ido know that Mr. Babcock did oppose both Wilson and Bryan before the Baltimore convention and said to the writer that Bryan was a d—m fool tor making the brave fight he did against Tammany and Wall Street interests and in favor of progressive democratic and I know that Mr. Babcock, if he lent any assistance at all to the Wilson campaign, it was done grudgingly. T do not remember one editorial in his paper favorable to Wilson. And now to try to pbse as an original Wiilson-Bryan democrat is too absurd. He says he represents 90 per cent of the democrats of Jasper county. Will he prove it? He knows* he cannot. As to his attack on Mr. Murphy and John B. Peterson, these men. are amply able to care tor themselves. Mr. Babcock has a head line on the title page of his paper that says The Democrat is the official organ of the democratic party in Jasper county. Once that was true, but it is not true now and unless he changes ' his course the central committee will see that the statement is erased. Personally, I have nothing against Mr. Babcock. As an editor he has ability, but his whole being is so filled with the spirit of revenge that all his influence that might be/or good is entirely destroyed. I ©an only wish that Mr. Babcoek might dearly see his error, and seeing it turn away from it, and use his paper and his talents tor good, not only for the party with Which he is identified, but for the good of the people in general, and no one will be any more glad to extend the hand of friendship' than L and in this I know I am expressing the sentiments, not only of his party, but of the people everywhere. No man can be truly great and noble Who cannot be great in defeat as well as in victory. W. R. NOWELB.

(In this very nice manner W. B. Newels, a life-long democrat and a man of the highest type of citizenship, has set forth the position of the men whom Editor Babcockhas misrepresented and has presented to the democrats of the county the truth, which for some peculiar reason Editor Babcock has withheld, apparently while controlled by anger and personal disappointment. Mr. Newels holds out an olive branch, offering a cessation of hostillities and an easy road to peace within the ranks of the democratic party of Jasper county. It is understood that other democrats who have been very much surprised and disappointed at the selfish and destructive policy of Editor Babcock hold the same view as Mr. Nowels, and will welcome the editor back into the party councils if he will make his paper a true representative of the party and not us« it to vent the animosity of the editor. Mr. Nowels could not have presented‘the matter in a fairer manner and certainly every democrat in the county will give it their hearty approval—Editor.)