The Indianapolis journal., 1904-02-08
Mr.. FAIRBANKS MAY BE
NOMINATED At CHICAGO
AGAINST HIS OWN WILL
Regarded by Leaders as the Most
Available Man for the Vice
Presidency.
GREAT FIELD FOR 1908
Fairbanks, Hanna, Spooner, Taft
and Root May Be Pushed fer
the Presidency.
GREAT FIELD FOR 1908
pecial to the Indianapolis Journal.

Special TO the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Feb. THE opinion Is
general just at this time among Republic
an leaders here that the vice presidential
nomination has settled already on Senator
Fairbanks of Indiana, and that nothing he
or his friends can do will shake it off in
time 20 permit the nomination to go else
where. Some of Senator Fairbankss
immediate friends regret this. They feel
that he should not permit the use of his
name They assert that it would be better
for him TO remain a senator than to go on
the ticket as a candidate for Vice Presi-
dent. But the fact remains that he is re-
garded as so available that his name is be-
ing pressed by the sheer force of circum-
stances, just as was Mr.. Roosevelt's in the
Philadelphia convention of 1900. Mr..
Roosevelt could not then. without lasting
discredt TO himself, have escaped that
nomination, much as he then desired to
do so.
Mr.. Fairbanks may go on the ticket, or,
by the time the convention is called to or
der, some other name may be sprung which
will be regarded as available. He may go
on the ticket and still be. after the expira-
tion of four years, counted among the
presidency. But il Mr.. Hanna is spared
his present serious illness and fully recov-
ers, he must be counted with in that COM
ing time; Senator Spooner will be regarded
as among the surely available ones. as will
also Secretary Taft in Ohio and Secretary
Root in New York. Surely all things point
to great field in 1908.
Expressions of deep regret are heard on
all sides among Senator Hanna's col
leagues on account of his serious illness. 1t
is feared by those who know him best that
no small part of his present condition was
brought upon him by. worry. 1t is known
here by those in position to know that Mr..
Hanna did not encourage the use of his
name as a presidential candidate against
Mr.. Roosevelt His disavowals were always
positive. Those who knew him believed
what he said. He was provoked that every
body was not ready to take him at his
word when he declared he was not a
candidate, and for this reason he refused
to say more than that, even when his
friends among the leaders of the party had
announced their belief that the tendency
was In the direction of the President 8
nomination. These conditions were quickly
taken advantage of by the gossips and they
charged Mr.. Hanna with double dealing,
with working to undermine Roosevelt at
least TO the extent of making a show Of
opposition in the convention. The simple,
plain denials by Hanna were not sufficient
to satisfy.
President Roosevelt is not so popular with
the New England contingent at the national
capital he few weeks ago. 1t has
been accepted as n certainty by the Down
East folks that Winthrop Murray Crane
was the choice of the President for the
Craftsmanship of the Republican national
committee. 1t develops that under the Sc
ductive influences OF Senator Quay, of Penn
sylvania, the President is now casting
sleeps eyes toward Boies Penrose, the
junior senator from the keystone State.
Penrose wants to succeed Hanna. Quay is
anxious that Penrose shall succeed the Ohio
senator at the head of the national COM
mittee Now 1t happens that this does not
suit the plans of Senator Lodge and some
of his friends In Massachusetts. Winthrop
Murray Crane is not anxious to manage
the next campaign, but Mr.. Lodge very
much desires that the former Governor
shall do so. Among other things Mr.. Lodge
wants to place his particular friend. Louis
A Coolidge, in the place now held by Perry
Heath. II the chairmanship goes to Penn
sylvania Mr.. Coolidge Ifobably would be
elbowed aside by some one of Mr.. Quay s
choosing. And this is the reason why some
OF the New England friends of the Presi-
dent are piqued with him. j. Z. NJ.