The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1902-10-30
NO BACKWARD STEP.
Should the Republicans of Indiana
Take This Year.
IMPORTANT QUESTION INVOLVED

Not Only the senatorship but the
Future of RepubIicanism in Indiana
Involved In the Election of Novem.
Der 4th.
The prestige of Indiana in the great
est of the worlds legislative bodies
the United States senate-is involved
In the election of members of the leg
islature on November 4th. This in
itself is sufficient reason why the Re-
publicans of Indiana should do their
whole duty. Not only is the reelection
of Senator Fairbanks involved. but the
reapportionment of the state for legis-
lative purposes. Should Democratic
leadership secure control of the Indi.
ana legislature, it would beyond ques
ton proceed to the enactment of such
a gerrymander as that under which
Senator Turpie was elected in 1899,
when, with Republican majority of
more than 10000 in the state, Demo
cratic senator was sent to represent
Indiana in the United States senate
In all her history Indiana has had
no more faithful or useful representa-
tive in the upper branch of the nation
al legislature than Senator Charles w.
Fairbanks. Cautious but not ccwardly,
conservative but yet in touch and in
sympathy with the most progressive
political thought of the period. indus
trious. conscientious, thoughtful and
forcible, he has impressed himself
upon the great body in which he has
served his state so well, as enc of the
leaders among American publicists.
Few men in American public life have
risen to substantial national promi-
nence within period so brief. In
1897 Senator Fairbanks was elected
senator-the first public Office he ever
held. The year 1902 finds him in the
forefront among the leaders of that
great body of lawmakers, his national
reputation as a statesman rejecting
credit upon the commonwealth of In
Qldua JUIOuSnOuL the Union.
Senator Fairbanks came into the re
sponsibilities attendant upon a seat in
the greatest legislative body in the
world, at time when the country
stood upon the Threshold of a new
era in its affairs-an era in which the
country has not only attained a pros
perity unexampled in the worlds his
tory, but in which the American name
has attained a new dignity and the
American nation a new place in the
family of nations.
Potent Factor In Legislation.
ii the momentous developments of
the past five years, Senator Fairbanks
has been, not passive spectator, but
a potent factor. With the historic ad-
ministration of William Mckinley ne
was intimately and conspicuously
identified. President Mckinley was a
rare Judge of men. and that no man.
even in the presidents official family,
stood higher in the confidence and es-
TEEN of the martyred president than
did the senior senator from Indiana,
is significant of the character and
ability Of Mr.. Fairbanks. Alike In
temperament. similar in their convic-
lions and their attachments. It is not
surprising that there existed between
President Mckinley and Senator Fair
banks so strong a. friendship, nor that
the president so implicitly relied upon
the Judgment of his friend. It is
fact not generally known, even by the
friends of Senator Fairbanks, that for
weeks preceding the declaration of
war against Spain, and during the
trying months which ensued before
the fall of Santiago, the senior sena-
tor from Indiana was almost nightly
at the White House by invitation of
the president, u talk over with him
the momentous problems which were
arising from day to day. The people
Of Indiana will not hesitate to express
their confidence in a man whom Will
liam Mckinley so implicitly trusted.
Indiana Has Fared Well.
AS a representative of the state at
Washington Senator Fairbanks has
been faithful and untiring in his activ-
ity for its welfare. The local interests
of Indiana have never been more
Loyalty looked after AS an evidence
of this efficient activity the results of
the first session of the 57th congress.
recently closed, may be cited. Never
has Indiana Jared so we'll at any single
session; and in NO slight degree this
is due to the great influence exerted
by In iiana's senior senator in the up
per branch of congress.
The ballots cast for members of the
legislature this year are not primarily
votes for this candidate or that seek
ing a term in the general assembly.
Every such vote, no matter what the
motive, must I'm the nature of things.
be ballot for or against Senator Fair
banks. Despite the declaration in the
Indiana platform in favor of popular
election of senators, it is impossible
to say in whose behalf an adverse vote
would count. 1t might result in the
preferment of any one of dozen COM
paratively obscure men, but in any
event the effect would be great d.
intuition of the prestige now enjoyed
by Indiana in national affairs. Such
backward step will be impossible If.
laying aside petty personal considera-
lions, every Republican will do his
duty from now up to and including
Tuesday, November 4th.