Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 January 1916 — Editor Babcock Tells What He Don’t Remember. [ARTICLE]

Editor Babcock Tells What He Don’t Remember.

• ■ Desperate j in an effort to justify his. aptics ''vyhefe.. te_Tailfi.d ..to., secur.fi the postoffice Editor Babcock lays down, flat dawn in his argument about Warren T. McCray not being a fartter and asSails the editor of The Republican about a circumstance that occurred -in 1898,- when -a -com pany was being organized in Monticello to ofTeFils.servicesto the country in the Spanish-American crisis. Of course, the Democrat misrepresents.' is natural, but his statement calls for a statement of the facts briefly. Tfie writer was publishing papers at Brookston and Chalmers. When the first indications of trouble were sounded and the militia was called out plans were started 4n Monticello for the organization of a volunteer company. * The writer took "Up the movement at Brookston and Chalmers and on invitation from Captain Guthrie went to Monticello on the night of the organization of the company. Captain Guthrie. had been made a part of a plan to organize a regiment and was to become a major. He was present when the company was organized and. stated that his rela-tions-with thecompany had ceased and advised that another captain be chosen. A. A. Anheir was named captain, George H. Healey was npmed first lieutenant and Charles Sill -second lieutenant. John Ward had nothing to do with the organization and was not considered in the organization.

Then the plans for the regimental and battalion officering Were broken up and Mr. Guthrie did not receive his appointment as a major and he was welcomed hack to the company, the officers voluntarily moving down a grade. Then persons representing John Ward went to Indianapolis, filed a roster of names with the goveraor and claimed that there was a rival company and that John Ward was elected the first lieutenant. The writer of this article after learning of the deception returned to Monticello from Indianapolis and sett a telegram to Governor Mount signed by fifty Monticello people stating that there never-was but one company there and that John Ward had no part of a company. The reply was a visit to Monticello of LieutenantColonel Backus, of the new regiment. He came with instructions from Governor Mount to get John Ward a commission in the company or to notify those who were interested that the company could not be accepted. Ins toad of askH*g4o--be-capr. tain, the writer made way from first lieutenant to second lieutenant for Captain Guthrie and from second lieutenant for the ambition of John Ward, when the word came from the governor that the company which had been assembled at the old fair ground couid not go unless Ward was given a commission.

The writer had drilled squads of men in Brookston, Chalmers, Monon, Francesville, Medaryville, Remington, Wolcott, Battle Ground and other place's and had spent a lot of money in getting the company together. Captain Guthrie recognizing this and knowing that the company had been brought together by the writer paid him $175 to reimburse lilm for what he had spent. Whatever criticism was made at that time was based upon the treachery of those who had forced J ohn Ward unwillingly on the company. If The Democrat has a copy of The Chalmers Ledger of that period it would be very interesting if he would publish.“"what it said, the truth, instead of making false and purposely* malignant statements.