The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-16
CALL FOR CONVENTION
NOT PURPOSELY PUT OFF
BY CHAIRMAN MA. HANNA
Friends of the Senator Incensed
at InsinuatiOns Of Bad Faith
and Interior Motives.
PAYNE RIDICULES IDEA
That Effort Is Being Made to
Prejudice Roosevelt's Cause
Vice Presidential Gossip.
Special TO the Indianapolis Journal.

Special 20 the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Jan. is much
gossip here over the alleged fight" between
Senators Foraker and Hanna, which has
resulted in a charge being made against the
latter that he has purpOsely withheld issu-
ing the call for the Republican national
convention, to the prejudice of President
Roosevelt. This charge has incensed Mr..
Hanna's friends, who assert that there is
no ground for it and they point to the
fact that in many instances in the past
calls for national conventions have been
delayed much later than in the present
case. An effort has been made 10 create
a sensation over Chairman Hanna's alleged
delay in issuing the call and this effort is
laid at the door of Senator Foraker and his
friends. The Republican national com
mittee met here on Dec. IL. Since that time
Mr.. Hanna has been i'll. and in addition,
has given much time and attention to
affairs in Ohio incident to his reelection 10
the Senate.
Postmaster General Payne. who is vice
chairman of the national committee.
ridicules the idea there is any Interior
motive on the part of Chairman Hanna in
not giving out the call. 1t is
UOllltQ Oul tudl MI. Ildlilds even
If he had designs on the nomination.
could not gain anything by Withholding the
call. One of the destinations is that at
the proper time the call will be given to
the public and that in many respects it will
be novel and new and so framed as to pre-
~cipitate contests in State delegations
pledged to the President. Inquiry develops
that there is no truth in this report.
The committee directed Mr.. Hanna, at its
meeting here in December, TO issue the call
In substance the same as that of 1900,
xrhfph nrnrf1n1 PNr The nfcaffnn Of 6a1o-
gates in district conventions. 1t is charged
that Mr.. Hanna's friends desire that dele
cations shall be elected in State conven-
call. which Chairman Hanna will give pub
licity on his return 10 Washington to-mOr-
row or Monday
Gossip as to Indiana politics and men con-
tinues to occupy a prominent place in cur
rent discussion at the national capital.
The Star tonight prints the following.
"A conference that Senator Beveridge, of
Indiana, had with the President this morn
ing, although probably relating to other
matters. recalls the deep interest felt in
Indiana as to whether the name of Senator
Fairbanks or Governor Durbin is to be pre-
scented for vice presidential nominee on the
Republican ticket with President Roosevelt.
Senator Fairbanks can have the support
of the State If he desires. but he is doing
nothing to obtain that support, and has
told none of his friends that he would ac-
cept the nomination if offered to him. Sem
ator Fairbanks is a man who says little
about his plans. On the other hand. Gov
ernor Durbin is believed to aspire to the
nomination., and the way he has been play
ing his cards recently lends strength TO
the idea that he would like to be on the
Republican ticket and will make a fight
If senator Fairbanks does not soon give
some idea of his intentions. Indiana people
are beginning TO conclude that a man from
that State will be put on the ticket, or
ought to be put on the ticket. and that is
why they are so earnestly gossipng about
Fairbanks and Durbin."
There was a report here to-day that Rep
resentative Watson had come out strongly
for the nomination of Senator Hanna. Mr..
Watson denied to-day that he had author
lied any interview on the subject.
The Indiana colony in Washington was
much interested in a special dispatch
printed here under an Indianapolis date line
tonight to the effect that "ex-Mayor
Charles A. Bookwalter is fixing his fences
TO seek the Republican nomination for Con-
gress against Representative Overstreet."
Mr.. Overstreet would not Omment on the
matter when seen to-day
JOHN E. MONK