Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 60, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 November 1910 — JUST A MOMENT, MR. REPUBLICAN. [ARTICLE]

JUST A MOMENT, MR. REPUBLICAN.

We are informed that the local republican candidates and speakers to considerable extent, as usual, have been devoting most of their attention in the out-town-ships to denouncing “Babcock w and “The Jasper County Democrat.” Now just why they should do this you can form your own opinion. "Babcock” never stole a penny from Jasper county nor you nor no one else ever saw a line in The Democrat inimical to holiest government or good morals. It has stood like a bulwark against all kinds of graft, and of course has been bitterly denounced for it. But by whom? Honest now, haven’t you found "Babcock” was generally right? Had it not been for “Babcock” and The Democrat would you ever have heard anything about the bridge steals that had been going on here for years? Bab" cock didn’t bring the prosecution nor manufacture tire evidence that proved beyond a shadow of doubt that you and your democratic brother taxpayer were being robbed. A republican prosecutor, who refused to be choked off by Hie gang, conducted the inquiry which resulted in one conviction and opened the eyes of the taxpayers as to what had been go

ing on. "Babcock" said the charges of graft should be investigated. They were and their truth proved beyond a shadow of doubt*. Did “Babcock" do right, er should he have taken the position of your political organ and pooh-poohed the charges and abused the prosecutor for nosing into the matter? One of the highest republican officials in Jasper county said the tig-fires in that Milroy tp.,"bridge bid had been raised from $1,246 to $1,400 before “Babcock ' had ever seen the bid. He had examined it, as had others, and is of the same opinion now that he was when he first saw those figures under a glass, that it had

been raised. Prosecutor I ongwdl and all others who saw the bid are of the sante opinion, notwithstanding your county attorney and five other lawyers fought for more than a half a day to keep the jury from seeing thQ bid, and finally tied the lone prosecutor up by technical objections so that he could proceed no further, and the jury never got a glimpse of the paper. Prof. Smith, head of the engineeringpdepartment of Purdue University, and not “Babcock,” measured the bridges and showed how you had been swindled as well as the democratic taxpayer. “Babcock” and the Jasper County Democrat has always stood foi the people, and none of our traducers can point to a single deviation from this policy. You know it. They know it. That is why they denounce both. Don’t let them work on your political prejudges that they may continue to work ypu in other ways. Go to the polls next Tuesday morning and exercise your right as a free born and honest American citizen, who cannot be driv en or bossed, and cast your ballot as your better judgment tells you you should cast it—for a “new deal” in Jasper county.