The state herald., 1904-09-23
Indiana Senator WeII-Fitted for
the Vice Presidency.
HE HAS DIGNITY AND FORCE
And His Training and Experience Win
Enable Him to Preside Over the
Senate with Credit to the Ma.
tion-McKinlcy's Friend.

the government has great amount of
personal interest in the nomination Of
Senator Fairbanks of Indiana for second
place on the Republican ticket. The In
diana Senator has personality all his
own, and his figure merely from 4 physi-
cal point of view is SO striking he has
been marked man in Washington ever
since he came here. Straight as an ar
row, thin. unusually tall, with bright
red cheeks, with a becoming amount of
senatorial dignity, and yet with genu-
inc democracy which is seldom equaled
by public men, the Republican candi-
date for the vice presidency is more than
usually popular as public men go.
Aside from this, however, the people
who are on the inside OF public affairs
in Washington know, as people Of the
rest of the country may not know, that
Senator Fairbanks is one OF the compar-
auvely few men in public life who have
actually made their impress upon the
affairs of the government. In every
church, every club, every village debat-
ing society, in every Congress and every
Parliament, there are always a select
few who do the great bulk Of the work,
who are men of action, who are selected
by their associates to perform the things
which have to be done, who have the
executive gift which makes them wise In
council, and whose advice and assistance
are sought when great things are to be
done.
Courteous and Modest.
Constantly courteous, invariab bly, kind
IL. always reserved. consistently modest,
never seeking to put himself in the front
rnnE EairlsonlS Ia nnt usua lly
credited by the world at large with the
extraordinary influence he really pos
sesses here in Washington. His asso-
ciates in the Senate, the members Of the
cabinet, and those whose duty II is to
execute the law have learned, however,
the quiet force of the Senator from In
diana, and ever since he came here with
Mckinley in 1897 Senator Fairbanks has
been one of the inner circle. He has
grown stronger day by day until his
nomination for the vice presidency We
absolutely forced upon him because, =.
the opinion OF his associates In the SEN
ate and the party leaders generally, he
was the best equipped man for the posi-
ton, and was by his training and by his
political association of presidential size,
so that he might be ready at any time
w tAfENist tle uullts OF ClhcI s1eCulN6
II 1t should become necessary.
Few people are aware OF the unusual
degree to which William Mckinley gave
his confidence to Senator Fairbanks. The
two men were old friends, they repre-
sented much the same element In the
party, and in the early months of 1897
following the bitter political battle of
the previous autumn Mckinley and Fair
Ia. L.. .l
Prcsident-elect began TO lean upon the
senator-elect. This trust In the wisdom
OF the statesman from Indiana was never
lessened, but as month after month went
by the Indiana Senator was more and
more drawn into the deepest condolences
OF the President.
There were trying times In Wa shing-
ton during the latter part OF 1897 and In
the early part OF 1898. The United States
and Spain were drifting inevitably to-
ward war. The sentiment IN this coun-
try was overwhelmingly In favor Of In
reference Ia behalf Of the suffering peo-
pie OF Cuba. The pressure for action
grew daily stronger. In the public press.
In Congress, in the churches, on the
streets, everywhere from the Atlantic
10 the Pacific there was constantly
growing sentiment that the United States
must put an end to the shocking condl-
tons in Cubs.
Mckinley Knew Public sentIment.
When he was elected William Mckin-
ley well knew what this public sentiment
was aud whore II was likely TO lead. No
man ever lived who was more skilled In
feeling the pulse OF the public than the
President who laid down his life at
Buffalo. When he came TO the White
House, nevertheless, he was determined
to exhaust every device known TO dlplo-
macy, short OF actual warfare, 10 bring
spain 10 terms and 60 bring peace to
Cuba. Trained IN the arts of war him
self. William Mckinley well knew that
war was not 10 be entered upon lightly.
lie was for peace from the beginning.
During the first SIX months OF the Me-
hinl.y administration the tension here
IN Warrington was extraordinary. Pub
lle sentiment OF Itself might have forced
q war because Of the outrsges contln-
unlly committed by the Spnniards upon
III. poor people Of Cuba. Then came
the explosion Of the Maine, which
touched the spark In the magazine, aud
within few weeks the people OF the
United States were raging with the lust
Of blood.
san william Mckinley stood stead.
fast lie knew war was nearly In.
cNitable. but he was In position 10
know also that this country, rich though
II was In men and resources, was not
ready for war, lie was In = position
90 know that there were no rides, no
cannon, no clothes. 40 tents, no pro.
visions OF war for even the most mod.
crate army. lie had not exhausted dl.
plomaey. and even then be knew that
time was necessary 10 prepare the eonn.
Try for war. The great public which
was ignorant Of the real situation and
which did not realize that mistaken
public policy hal allowed our army 20
run down to point where We were no,
htted 20 hrht even a lli'ls nation Tx.
Spain, still thnndered 10 war aud be.
gnn 60 suspect the good is'h and ,h.
nrhNrrt OF man like william Mciiin.
ley.
Mckinley Consulted rairbanks.
All this II history. which th. world
know. aud which need not be- rccapltuiat.
ed IN detail. What the world does not
generally know IL that In ths small cir.
Gle OF men who were daily aud nightly
and sometimes even hourly called inta
council by william Mckinley 10 advise
him ha 90 the best thing TO be don.
20 preserve the honor and the dignity
Of the nation, Charles Warren Fair.
banks was always foremost IN the list
tls was summoned 90 the white House
Night after night an1 durinE = ums
when th- Rrnyest matters were under