Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-24
THE NEXT CAMPAIGN
Four Prominent Aspirants
for the White House.
ROOT WILL BE STRONG
TAFT, FAIRBANKS AND SHAW
LOOK LIKELY.
Early Predictions Which May Be Shat
tered by Events Occurring
at Any Time.


for presidential nomination begins four
years before the time the nomination is to
be made, but that is the case now, SO far
as a number of eminent republicans are
concerned. 1t is likewise pretty well UNI
derstood that there will be sharp contest
for the democratic nomination The an
nouncement of President Roosevelt that he
will not again be a candidate for the re-
publican nomination, and will not accept
the nomination under any circumstances,
has enabled men close to him to arrange
their affairs for either quiet or an open
campaign for the great honor that will be
conferred by the republicans of the coun-
try in the national convention in 1908.
First and most prominent Of these men is
Senator Fairbanks of Indiana, whose cleo
ton IS Vice President has raised him to
position of greater prominence than he has
heretofore occupied He has made tour
of every republican and close state. where
his speeches were absolutely unnecessary.
In number of states he has been boldly
introduced from the back end of his trains
and numerous platforms as the future
nominee for the presidency four years
from now He has smiled at these intro
auctions. but he has not at any time ind1-
Gated that the sentiments were erroneous
In fact, it is well known that Senator FAIR
banks has presidential aspirations, ana
that Indiana will support him from now on
for the chief honor to be bestowed by the
republican party in 1!bS.
Another man whose presluentlal aspira
lions are no secret to those who are close
to him is Secretary Shaw. He began ms
campaign tour earlier than Senator Fa1r-
banks, and has talked in as many places.
He opened in California. ana mas snahe l
hands with and talked to throngs OF peo-
pie in every state in the country. Secre-
tary Shaw is to be Iowa's candidate ~
1898, and there is little question that ne
nv of
of the west. -
In respect to campaign tours both SEN
ator Fairbanks and Secretary onstw ia We
followed the plan of the late freSiaenl
Mckinley who became better known 10 the
people of the country through his stump
ing tours of 1856 and 1882 than IN any other
way. He was known before that throush
the newspapers because OF ms pro,ectl N,,n
views but his campaign tours, when We're
extensive in their itineraries mace MN
personally acquainted with the republican
leaders and workers in every dlrectloh ana
formed for him the nucleus OF the great
hosts that Mark Hanna marshaled so sue
cessfully at ST. Louis in 1876.
Taft is Prominent.
secratarv Taft has presidential aspira-
tons. too. and has gotten out during the
campaign lust closed among the people,
hut NOT so generally as Senator Fairbanks
and Secretary Shaw. Out in Ohio the other
day Secretary aft was spoken of by one
Of his admirers as Ohio's candidate for the
n, esidency in 1898. and all lie dld was "
tell a Joke to turn the tongue OF ms auinii
err in another direction.
Another man who must be reckoned as
most probable candidate is Elihu Root OF
New York former Secretary OF war, d
bosom friend of President Roosevelt. fresi-
dent Roosevelt has described Mr.. ROOT as
fit to be President. cabinet omcer' sela.
chief Justice of the United States Supreme
Court or to hold any position in the lalu,
and the President is known to pc deepi!
appreciative of the valuable services OF M.
Root as member of the oHclal Iamis d.
tbe White House. Regardless of the New
York republican machine it is the over
whelming opinion of politicians or that
state that the delegation to the repuphcan
rational convention in 1903 will support MI.
Root unanimously and earnestly Iof Ing
oil esidential nominal ion.
This makes four big men OF the repupH-
can party who are probably certain ol pc
ing in the race for President. None Oh
them is old in years. as presidential can
didates go. The oldest Of the quartet IS
Elihu Root He was born in New York
February Is. 1Si5, and in 1908 will be sixty
three years old. He Is as young LOOKING
as Senator Fair bar ks, who was born seven
Years later in Ohio, his birthday being May
il. 1852. and who will be fifty-siX years OLD
when the convention assemblies IN 1913.
Secretary Shaw is just three years younger
than Elihu Root, but looks to be that
that Mr. Root carries himself in youthful
and sprightly manner, while secretary
Shaw swings along in careless way that
fails to betoken youth.
By long odds the youngest man or the
quartet is Secretary Taft who was born
September - 1851 and will. therefore, be
inst fifty-one years old at the time the
nomination is made. All of the four are
large fine looking men. Secretary 1aIt
weighs three hundred pounds and has one
of the finest faces of any man in public life.
Roots face is impressive and his manner
able Senator Fairbanks Is much over SIX
feet tall, well built for his size ana pre-
sents a dignified and conservative appear
arce that makes friends for MIN. Secretary
Shaw will weigh probably one hundred ana
seventy-four pounds, and OF the four Is
the best stump speaker. Root Is the most
finished orator. Neither Fairbanks nor
Root is among what are known in politics
as mixers" Secretary Shaw. on the other
hand is good mixer and pretty shreWd
politician Secretary Taft is a most pleas
ing man, and on the stump would make
many friends.
All Are Lawyers.
All four are lawyers Elihu Root probably
ranks as the peer of any lawyer in the
United States. Secretary Taft was not only
a noted lawyer but great United States
Judge. and if he cares to go on the Supreme
Court bench before 1908 comes around there
Is doubt tHdt lie Will NC put tifc1C W
President Roosevelt. In fact, it is pretty
well known that he is slated for the chief
justiceshp to succeed Chief Justice Fuller,
il the latter should retire in the next four
years. Senator Fairbanks has few, If any
superiors as a lawyer, and is understood to
be one of the greatest corporation lawyers
the west has ever known Secretary Shaw
has not practiced law In number of years.
His law business led him into the negotia-
ton of loans on farm lands and from that
he went into the general banking business
at Dennson and several other towns in his
home county.
The four republicans whose names are
thus coupled with one of the great events
of 1908 will be pretty conspicuous in the
public eye until then. AS vice president and
presiding officer of the Senate, Senator
Fairbanks will find much opportunity to
make people think of him. and, in view of
the fact that the hoodoo" has been re-
moved from the vice presidential chair. he
stands an even chance with any other man
to win his party's favor. He has been for
a long time strong within the coterie of able
men of the Senate. Many of them do not
hesitate now to put him forward as the
presidential nominee, despite the fact that
friends of theirs may come forward, and
he begins the presidential campaign with
many advantages.
Secretary Shaw expects to remain In the
cabinet and to do many things as Secre-
tary of the Treasury that will make him
frfa dc md Ac fno hoe Af< Ir