The Indianapolis journal., 1903-12-30
TO-DAY,s LOVE FEAST.

From present indications the Republican
representative Republicans from all parts
Of the State. 1t will not have the proper
tions Of a mass meeting. nor the authority
OF a delegate convention, but it Will be
typical assemblage of Republicans. from ma
tional leaders and commanding generals
down to the boys in the trenches and high
privates in the rear ranks
The time of the meeting is happily fixed
to insure the attendance probably of the
entire Republican delegation in Congress.
whom the holiday recess enables to be at
home. This alone should give special inter-
est TO the occasion. Indiana has never had
as strong delegation in Congress as the
present Republican delegation. and it will
be a pleasure to their constituents to see
them together. An admirer of Senator Fair
banks in a neighboring State spoke of him
a few days ago as "a seasoned statesman"
So he is-good timber and we'll seasoned.
Our junior senator has not had quite as
long a period of seasoning, but he has
ripened very fast. and is fit to work up into
anything. The list of Republican senator's
from Indiana includes some very able men
Henry S. Lane. Oliver p Morton, Daniel d.
Pratt. Benjamin Harrison, Charles W. Fair
banks and Albert ]. Beveridge-but it has
never had two serving together whom the
State and the party had better reason to
be proud of than the present ones
Much has been said concerning the ability
of the Republican delegation in the House
and the prominent positions they occupy.
With such a delegation as Hemenway, Hol-
liday, Watson, Overstreet. Cromer, Crum-
packer. the Lands brothers and Brick, some
Of them occupying prominent and all of
them honorable committee positions, and
recognized as among the leaders of the
House and shapers of legislation, the State
has reason to feel proud of the party that
supplies such men and the constituents who
nominate and elect them. 1t would be an
a1spicious omen if they could all be present
at to-day's love feast.
1t has become quite common for Repub-
licans to speak of Indiana as no longer in
the doubtful list. safely Republican State,
etc. There is good reason for this, and yet
it is not altogether a safe view to take.
Overeonfdence sometimes causes defeat,
strength or resources of the enemy. 1t has
happened more than once to both parties
that the hardest thing their committees and
campaign managers had to combat was
apathy due TO overconfidence. In common
with all Republicans. the Journal believes
that Indiana is now normally Republican,
but it is still fighting ground for the De
mocracy. In the last two national cleo
tions the Republicans had certain elements
of support which they may not have in the
next one, and the absence of which may
make a harder fight necessary to hold the
OF Republican majorities. 1t is to be hoped
to-days conference may beget enthusiasm,
but not overconfdence.
If the love feast shall contribute toward
laying the spirit of faction wherever it ex-
lists, toward composing local dissensions and
disseminating the idea that the paramount
object of all loyal Republicans should be
the success of the party rather than of any
individual. leaving individual aspirations TO
be considered after party success, 1t may
have results more lasting and important
than mere social enjoyment.
The Republicans of the State have cause
for self-congratulation that the chief polit-
ical event of the year, the election of
United States senator. holds for the party
the promise of perfect unity and harmony.
Notwithstanding the fact that the cam
paign is well under way. there is no talk
whatever of opposition TO Senator Bever-
idge. and ii is a safe prediction that there
will be none. He has we'll earned a return
to the Senate, and the Journal is convinced
that it voices the sentiment of the whole
party in declaring that Albert ]. Beveridge
not only should be. but will be- unanimously
reelected.