The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-03-08
SEEKS
TO REGAIN POWER
Senator Will Accept Nomination
to Offset Loss Of Pres
tige.
Vice Presidency Counted as a
Step to the White
House.
Indiana No Longer Dominated Be-
cause of Beveridge's
Influence.

Washington, March s.-The fact
that Senator Charles w. Fairbanks is
willing to give up his seat in the
United States senate to accept the re-
|LShlican vice presidential nomination.
So. orr. to Washington politicians, to
demalV .planation.
There Sot1f few members Of the
senate who ~cfI1 willingly resign tbs
comparative peri. >ncy and cunula-
tive power Of their n. & abership in that
body for the brief. functionless, hol-
low honor Of the second place on the
ticket.
At first, considerable doubt existed
as to the report that Fairbanks had
assumed the receptive attitude; but
these doubts have been disstpated by
information from the most reliable
quarters. Confirmation which Indiana
politicians regard as final was lately
furnished In an editorial in the Fair
banks personal organ, the Indianapolis
News. This utterance, which is high
ly laudatory of the senator, is un-
derstood to have been authorized and
approved by him before it went into
type.
The politicians believe they have
found an explanation in the following
four considerations.
First-Polhical: 1t Is a matter Of
common report that Senator Fair
banks, from being the one-man power
Fof Indiana, has been compelled by the
aggressiveness and increasing prestige
Of the ambitious Beveridge, to share
the power. Many of his former adj
herents are now in primary alliance
with the younger senator, and, in case
of a. test Of strength between the two,
1t Is predicted that Fairbanks would
come off second best. At present
there is official harmony between the
two senators, but the peace is at best
n q ~ mr. ro q or f~11 vlyIft
the fatal clash always imminent.
The vice presidential proposition Of
fers a measure Of rehabilitation to his
waning prestige.
Sentimental Reasons.
Seeond-sentimen Regrets have
doubtless preyed upon the mind Of
Ecept the vice presidential nomination
four years ago. He was strongly
urged at that time to do SO. and he
believes, with many others, that he
could have had the nomination with
Mckinley by holding UP his finger.
Dental SEPARATIONS which looked for
ward to 1904, and he persistently re-
fused to accept the vice presidential
nomination. BY q natural process OF
reasoning, he concludes to avoid MAX
| ing a similar mistake again.
Third-Presidential: AS a step
ping stone to the presidential nom.
ination In 1908, Senator Fairbanks
without doubt, believes the vice pres.
idency to have Its uses. The office
carries modicum of dignity, will
| opportunities to go about the coun
| try making addresses before college:
and at solemn banquets, all of which
means the publicity which Is essen
tial to any presidential boom.
Fourth-Social: Mrs. Fairbank.
Is at the head Of the organization O.
the Daughters of the American Rev
olution, and fond of the social game
Mrs. Fairbanks Is delightful host
es and more ambitious than her in
ferior half. The social ladder In
Washington is long, and 1t is steepes
near the top, the most shaky. TIL
office of vice president would brin,
all there Is of the purely official so
ciety to their feet.
4 Fairbanks Reticent.
Senator Fairbanks is reluctant t
|; discuss the subject, and to those VIII
are not on intimate terms, affects t
believe that the honor Is bein
crowded upon him. But that is hi
well-known way.
It is worthy Of note that a. re
publican nomination is now treate
as equivalent to election. It is take
for granted that Roosevelt is certai
of nomination and election.
At the White House, the Fairbank
candidacy is viewed with equanimit,
Roosevelt will not, directly nor indi
rectly, personally or thru his frined
; oppose or favor any vice presidentis
; nominee.
Roosevelt believes he will b
elected without any serious oppos!
: ! = L 4 IL