Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-21
MI. Fairbanks and Patronage.

The following dispatch from Indianapolis
appears in today's New York Tribune:
announcement was made here today by
friends of Vice Presdent-elect Fairbanks
that he will take no part in the next four
years in the distribution or the govern
ment patronage in this state, leaving 1t en-
tirely to the senators and representatives.
The announcement was made In connection
with a letter from the senator to ID. X.
Lucas, candidate for postmaster in TINS
city in which he said tina Senator Bever-
dge would make the appointment. The
letter is said to express the general poucs
that Mr.. Fairbanks will pursue regarding
appointments to Office, and TO De IN Hue
with a determination formed when he con-
cluded to be candidate to succeed Presi-
dent Roosevelt four years hence.
The reason for the voluntary relnquish-
ment of the government patronage is said
to be that the senator does not want to be
regarded as having machine at his back,
either at home or elsewhere. and to avoid
such a charge and the possible placing of
himself under obligations to members of
the party he concluded to wash his hands
of the patronage business at once. Those
who are known to be organizing his cam
paign here say that it is his desire to be
nominated by the republicans of the coun-
try and not by the influence of a machine
of his own making.
If we have here a correct presentation of
the case. Mr.. Fairbanks is to be congratu-
lated on his decision. 1t is in line with the
way in which he carried himself in the mat
ter of the vice presidency, and if it prom
Uses no more it undoubtedly promises COM
fort and dignity for him for the next four
years But does it not promise more than
that? A campaign for any office waged
upon the power of patronage and the prom
Use of patronage encounters a thousand and
one perils, and nine times out of ten comes
to grief. Mr.. Fairbanks stands so well
with the country that if he has his eyes
on the White House he can well afford to
make his appeal on the highest plane
The death of Mr.. Hendricks early in the
first Cleveland administration brought to a
close a very unhappy episode about pat
ronage. Mr.. Hendricks, for all his many
claims on respect, was a politician of the
old school and relied much upon machine
methods in politics. They had failed to land
him in the presidency, but when he reached
the vice presidency they at once became
very much in evidence. His lieutenants
rallied around him, and all wanted office,
Loyalty enough, as he had encouraged their
hopes. he undertook to provide for them
and for the most devoted of the number
he asked the postmastership of Indianap-
oils.
To the surprise of Mr.. Hendricks and
the great disgust of his Indiana followers,
Mr.. Cleveland was not in as complying a
mood expected. He seemed to hesitate
about the matter, and gave evidence Of
an intention to look over the head of Mr.
Hendricks in distributing some of the
hoosier places. Ultimately the friend of
Mr.. Hendricks was appointed postmaster
at Indianapolis. but only after much feeling
had been aroused, and a GOODNESS had
sprung up between the Vice President and
Mr. Cleveland. Had Mr.. Hendricks lived
there might have been breezy developments
from the clash, and especially as Mr. Cleve-
land was soon in hot water in other states
over the contests for office. Patronage and
the free trade message of December 1887
wrecked the first Cleveland administration