La Junta tribune., 1904-09-24
NE HAS DIGNITY AND FORCE
Al ns rsaisias - Eapssisses wu
Easbae Mn - Psesi1e 0v0 -
Seoste wilh Credit b ~ No.
tiso-Mekidey's friea1.

own, and his figure merely from . phyai-
cal point Of view IL 80 striking he has
been q marked man in Washington ever
since he came here. Ssright as an ar
row. thin. unusually tall. with bright
red cheeks, with n becoming amount OF
senatorial dignity. and YET with . genu-
inc democracy which is seldom eQualed
by public men. the Repubiican candi-
date for the vice presidency is more than
usually popular as public men 90.
Aside from this. however, che people
who are on the inside Of pubsc Affairs
in Washington know, a. people Of the
rest Of the country may not know. that
Senator Fairbanks Is one Of che coazpar-
atively few men In public life who have
actually made their impress upon the
adafrs Of the government. In every
church. every club. every VILLAGE dsbat-
ing society. In every Congress and every
Parfiamens. there are always select
few who do the great bulk Of the work.
who are men Of action, who are selected
by their associates to perform the things
which have 10 he done. who have the
executive gift which mAksA them wise in
council. and whose advice and assistance
are sought when great things are to be
done.
Csastseas asA AsAest.
Constantly courteous. Invariably kind
ly, always reserved. consistently modest,
never seeking to put himself in the front
rank, Senator Fairbanks il not usually
credited by the world st large with the
extraordinary influence he really pos
sesses here in wa.,lnston. His asao-
ciates In the Senate, the members Of the
cabinet, and those whose duty It II to
execute the law have learned. however.
the quiet force of the Senator from In
diana. and ever since he came here with
Mckinley in 1897 Senator Fairbanks has
been one of the inner circle. He has
grown stronger day by day until his
nomination for the vice presidency was
absolutely forced upon him because. In
the opinion of his associates in the Ben
ate aud the party leaders generally. he
was the best equipped man for the posi-
ton. and was by his traimng and by his
political association OF presidential size.
so that he might he ready At any time
to exercise the duties ot chief executive
il II should become necessary.
Few people are aware OF the unusual
degree to which William Mckinley gave
his confidence to Senator Fairbanks. The
two men were old friends. they repre-
sented much the same element in the
party. and in the early months Of 1897
following the bitter political battle of
the previous autumn Mckinley and Fair
banks were in constant touch and the
President-elect began TO lean upon the
SeDator-elect. This trust in the wisdom
Of the statesman from Indiana was never
lessened. but as month after month went
by the Indiana Senator was more and
more drawn into the deepest condolences
Of the President.
There were trying times in Washing
ton during the latter part Of 1897 and in
the early part OF 1885, The United States
and Spain were drifting inevitably to-
ward war. The sentiment in this conn
try was overwhelmingly in favor of in
reference in behalf Of the suffering peO-
pie of Cuba. The pressure for action
grew daily stronger. In the public press.
in Congress. in the churches. on the
streets, every where from the Atlantic
to the Pacific there was 4 constantly
growing sentiment that the United States
must put an end to the shocking condi
tons in Cuba.
NeKisIsy Knew Psbisc ssstinsat.
When he was elected William McKin-
ley well knew what this public sentiment
was and where 1t was likely to lead. No
man ever lived who was more skilled in
feeling the pulse Of the public than the
President who laid down his life At
Buffalo. When he came to the White
House. nevertheless, he was determined
to exhaust every device known to diplo-
macy. short = actual warfare. to bring
Spain to 'terms and to bring peace to
Cuba. Trained in the arts Of war him.
self. William Mckinley well knew that
war was not to be entered upon lightly.
He was for peace from the beginning.
During the 6rst sig months Of the Nc
kinley administration the tension here
In Washington was extraordinary. Pub
lie sentiment OF itself might have forced
= war because OF the outrages contin-
ually committed by the Sphniards upon
the poor people OF Cuba. Then came
the explosion Of the Maine, which
touched the spark In the magazine. and
within . few weeks the people Of the
United States were raging with the lust
OF blood.
S<ill William Mckinley stood stead
fast. He knew war was nearly in
evitable, but he was in 4 position to
know also that this country. rich though
1t was In men and resources, was not
ready for war. He was IN . position
to know that there were NO rides. NO
cannon, no clothes, no tents, no pro-
visions Of war for even the most mod
crate army. He had not exhausted d.
pIomacy. and even then be knew that
time was necessary TO prepare the coun-
try for war. The great public which
was ignorant OF the real situation and
which did not realfse lhat Q mistaken
public policy he'd allowed ous army to
run down to q point where We were not
fitted to HGht even little ration like
Spain, still thundefed for war and be-
gan 20 suspect the good faith and the
bravery Of man like William NcKin-
Iey.
Neksnlsy CsssafteA HasrbaakA
All this II history. which the world
knows and which need not Be recapitulat-
Cd h detail Whist tie world does NOT
gsnsraliy know Il that In ths smsn cir
c3e g Dss Who wsrs daily snd aiehtiy