The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-27
ENLISTED FOR FAIRBANKS
The ID. A. II. Leaders to Urge Him
for President i'm 1901.
Influence of the society To BE Asked
In Behalf of the Indiana Senator
Unofficial Instructions to Re sent
To the state and City Chapters.

cure the nomination and, if possible,
the election as President of Senator
Fairbanks of Indiana, in 1904. The in
terval between 1901 and 1904 does not
daunt this body of women. They, ac-
cording to the best authority, believe
in taking time by the forelock in get
ting into the field early, and to this
end have formulated plans which,
unless they miscarry, will WELD most
powerful influence in bekalr of the Sem
ator from Indiana.
The plan of the d. A r. National
Board is TO unofIicially instruct every
chapter to use its individual influence
in behalf of Senator Fairbanks. Hus-
bands. fathers. sons. and friends are to
be enlisted in the movement. 1t is said
that all this is being done with the
knowledge of the President General,
Mrs. Fairbanks.
The tip to work for the nomination
the election of Senator Fairbanks has
gone out-the chapters are expected to
do the rest.
The advent of the Daughters of the
American Revolution into politics is in
sisted that the society was without po
litical coloring, and have often pro-
claimed that, as a body, they held aloof
from politics. Politics, according to the
leaders, was only necessary to bring
about the needed legislation for the
good of the organization. But now the
atmosphere has changed, and there are
many members of the Daughters of the
American Revolution who view the en-
tran & OF the organization into the po-
liticaI arena with no small degree of
alarm.
AT present, as far as can be learned,
there has been no protest, this being
due to the high esteem in which Mrs.
Fairbanks is held by her loyal sup
porters. Yet, it is said, many feel as
though the movement is bound to have
a reactionary effect, which, in the end,
will prove a boomerang. In the mean
time, however, the work of instructing
the various chapters is going on, and
the timid ones, who look upon the ven
ture with awe, are awaiting what they
term the thunderclap.
When the plans for launching the
Fairbanks Presidential boom were first
conceived, 1t is said that the members
of the national body, fearing their
plans would become known to the coun-
try at large, decided to exclude the
press, not only from the board meet
ings, but the national congresses as
we'll. The fact that such an action was
contemplated by the higher officers was
printed at the time. There were de-
mails. of course, but none from an Off
cial source, although Mrs. Donald Nc
Lean. the defeated candidate for presi-
dent general at the last congress, in
communication, stated that the national
board had no power to enact a law
which would exclude the press from the
congresses.
In spite of the publicity which the
scheme was given, ii is said that most
OF the members still entertain a hope
that the press wilfbe barred from the
meetings. But in what manner this
can be accomplished has rot yet been
decided upon. At the headquarters a
few days since. it was learned that the
idea OF excluding the press had been
temporarily abandoned. owing to the
severe criticism which followed the
publicity given to the scheme. Since
then, it is alleged, the leaders Of the
Daughters of the American Revolution
have been In a quandary. They are
trying TO solve the solution of furnish
ing the press with such news as will
best suit the organization TO have print
ed, without the presence Of reporters.
At the meeting. it is said when the
question Of closing the doors OF the
Daughters Of the American Revolution
congresses TO newspapers was under dis
cussion, the idea advanced wts to have
press committee appointed II give out
the news and at the same time act as
censors Still another plan suggested,
IL is said, was to have the reporters as
signed to the congresses pledge them
selves not to divulge or publish any
thing which would be liable TO bring
ridicule on the organization.
1t was brought out at this meeting
that the women sent to report the pre-
ceedfnes of the congress were more to
be feared than the men. Other sugges-
tions were made, but none acted upon.
the attempt to exclude the press crept
into print. it caused a great nutter of
excitement among those in charge of
the Fairbanks Presidential boom.
The charter of the Daughters of the
American Revolution, which was grant
ed by Congress February 20, 1896. in Ar
ticle ii Of its constitution, defines the
objects of the society as follows:
''O To perpetuate the memory Of the
spirit Of the men and women who
achieved American independence. by
the acquisition and protection of histor-
ical spots and the erection OF monu-
ments; by the encouragement Of histor- |
fcal research in relation to the Revolu-
tion and the publication OF its results.
by the preservation of documents and
relics, and Of the records of the indi-
Vidual services of Revolutionary SOL
diers and patriots, and by the promo |
ton Of celebrations of ali patriotic an
niversaries.
't2} To carry out the Injunction of |
Washington in his Farewell Address to |
the American people; TO promote as an |
object of primary importance. institu- !
tons for the general diffusion of |
knowledge, thus developing an enlight |
ened public opinion. and affordlng To |
young and old such advantages as shall |
develop In them the largest capacity /
for performing the duties of American |
citizens