The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-12
THE DRIFT OF POLITICS

pecanoe county delegates to tho state con-
vention will be opposed 10 Hearst For
several weeks an effort has been making
in this county for the formation OF
Hearst club, but as yet the organizatloa.
has not been perfected Hearst's strongest
supporter in Lafayette is former Mayor
+. T. ID. Mckinley.
The Columbus, o. Dispatch, in its sun
day issue. publishes a half-page sketch OF
Senator Charles w. Fairbanks. of Indiana.
from which the following excerpts are
taken:
Charles Warren Fairbanks United
States senator from Indiana. is a man who
will never be too old TO learn -Four years
kago he could have been the Republican
nominee for Vice President. That was just
before the combination was Effected that
resulted in the choice OF Theodore RooSe-
welt. Fairbanks did not want the vico
presidency then. and said 50 in no uneer-
/ tain tones. He says he does not want II
now but his tone has a Barkis-Iike ring
IF the reports that come 10 Washington
from all parts OF the country may be
relied upon, the Republican party is CENTER
ing its wish upon Mr.. Fairbanks for second
place The leaders in both houses OF Con-
gress who are leaders in their own States.
are certainly in his favor.
Considerations of great pith and mo-
ment point to Senator Fairbanks as
available man for the vice presidency. while
personality and his place OF residence are
| both desirable, under present circum-
| stances. He is the personihcation of safe
/ ness and stability from political point OF
| view He is master of his party in Indiana.
| and represents fairly the people OF the mid
| die West. who demand recognition on the
national ticket.
! FAIRBANKS was pointed out long ago as
a suitable partner for Roosevelt in the race
| for the two great offices. No man in the
| Senate has a keener ear, nor one that is
| lar, oil m Ho hac
| Kinley's constituencies TO the popular
| whisper. Nor is he heavy in his mental
| processes. He is merely the personifca-
/ ton OF circumspection. He listens much.
| but speaks seldom. and If his fingers were
ever burnt the cuticle has all become new.
If he were called to the presidency he
| would not be loved as Mckinley was. nor
| despised as Hayes was. But his lack OF
| backbone would be at all times apparent.
Fairbanks is fair speaker, having
| more dignity than grace, and applying
himself strictly 10 the hard and dry facts
| of the case. He studies a question from
the bottom up and all around the sides
and is one of the best listeners in the
Senate. He listened attentively 10 all of
Senator Morgan's interminable disquisi-
lions on the Panama question, drank in all
the fine points in the statehood debate.
and was always in his seat when party
wrangles over the Postoffice Department
| disclosures were expected to develop issues
| for the next campaign.
"One of the Indiana statemans quail
tiles is that of never letting go. He has
| had charge of the bill for the construction
of a new building for the departments OF
State, Justice and Commerce The Repub-
hcan steering committee decided two
weeks ago that this bill, along with lot
of others. should go into the waste basket.
| But Fairbanks does not accept that
| decision at its face value. He has brought
it up at every opportunity and forced the
Senate to discuss il, though he must have
known that whatever was said on the sub
ject much talk thrown away.
Through his persistence he almost brought
the Senate to agreement for vote on
the bill. and IL was only the crankiness
of Senator Teller that saved the Repub-
| lcan steering committee, after ALL
Senator Fairbanks caution is a prov
erb in the Senate. He is almost as con-
sentative as Senator Allison, who has never
been known to commit himself He was
seated in his committee room one morning
, | when his secretary, Jerry Matthews
brought him fat package received in ths
mails; Jerry began to open II ana ans, dis.
wooden cylinders, to which was attached
} peg with a string.
Take 1T away, Jerry: cried Senate
, Jerry hustled the supposed internal ma
chine into another room and cautiousl,
unfolded its wrappinss; The package con
sticks attached by strings and bearing tn
, legend: Vote for Abraham Lincoln Brici
for Congress-
THE drums were the invention OF
Hoosier in Representative Bricks distric
: / and were harmless, except for the racke
they made. But not until they were re
moved from their wrappings and separated
would Senator Fairbanks permit them L
be brought into his room.
, "Once in while the most cautious maj
is taken in, and even Senator Fairbank'
: is no exception. After Mckinley had beel
inaugurated the second time and had an
nounced that under no circumstances
would he accent another term. Fairbank
was mentioned as likely candidate Tor tn
, presidency in 1904 He returned his mys
. | ferrous smile to all inquiries as TO his at
titude, but the idea was evidently not dis
pleasing TO him. One day Jerry Matthew
| received a letter from Fairbanks Re
publican Club in Baltimore addressed &
t the Indiana senator and declaring I'm fat
tering language that IL had taken UP tn
, | fight for his nomination in 1904
81 must treat them kindly, Jerry. OBJ
| to be so mean, but 1 suppose as a matte
of good faith I must recognize them witt
a small contribution. l shall send them
7 | check for SIS
( HE did so, and within two weeks yerr!
e was overwhelmed with letters from Fair
parts of the South. Every letter greete'
: the Indiana senator as the next Presiden
S and limited that small contributions woul
/, | be thankfully received.
n "A little investigation disclosed the FAC
r that the original club i'm Baltimore wa
| made up of citizens of the colored popuia
tion to whom a check for s25 meant sea
: son of prolonged enthusiasm BY the free
: masonry Of that race, the news had sprea
{ like wildfire through the South that Fair
$ banks was good thing. and the letter
z followed. Colored editors got an inkiin
e of the movement and deluged Fairbank
t with polite requests for subscription
their papers, the only simon-pure Fair
= banks sheet in the United States.
= The Indiana statesman pinched on hi
e politeness with snap, and the Fairbank
Il Republican clubs, even in the sunny Soutf
= succumbed TO a killing frost