Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-01
AT THE WHITE HOUSE
The President and the Vice
Presidential Nomination.
WILL NOT INTERFERE
HAS DECIDED NOT TO MAKE A
SINGLE SUGGESTION.
Conference With Senator Fairbanks
Opening Western Lands-Adjourn-
ment of Congress Talk.

The most positive statement can be made
this far in advance of the republican ma
tional convention that President Roosevelt
will not make a single suggestion to any
one as to preference for his running
mate on the republican ticket,
The President has unequivocally made his
position known on this question, and with
in the last few days has repeated that he
will not depart from his intention in this
respect. He feels. it is said. that 1t would
be highly improper for him to intimate to
the convention his wishes to a running
mate and probably impoltic as well. He
believes that the republican national con-
vention will act wisely and thoroughly in
regard to the vice presidential nomination,
and that it will act with a view to giving
strength and popularity to the republican
ticket. Having this belief the President Will
do nothing, and will content himself with
assurances to that effect to all who consult
him.
Similar to McKinley's Case.
The attitude of the President is the same
as that of President Mckinley prior to the
Philadelphia convention four years ago.
Mr.. Mckinley made no effort to dictate to
that convention who should be nominated
or how he should be nominated. He re-
fused SteadfaStly to permit himself to be
drawn into an expression of his preferences,
knowing that the real excitement and inter-
est of the convention would be in the nomi-
nation of vice presidential candidate. Mr..
Roosevelt is now much in the same position.
He sees that his own nomination Is assured
beyond doubt and that the interest of the
Chicago convention will center to a large
extent in the contest over second place.
There may be many candidates and much
opportunity to honor favorite sons from all
directions EXPRESSION OnlniOD from
the President. unless he was sure of bad
work on the part of the convention, might
be resented to the detriment of the entire
ticket. The President is able to foresee the
consequences of such an action. and he will
carefully avoid every word or step that
would lead him to the direction of favoring
any person.
Fight for Second Place.
With a free and open fight In the conven-
| ton the contest for second place will grow
! in interest from now on. The harmonious
atmosphere that pervades the republican
party as to first place will not, it is predict
ed by party leaders, prevent friendly rivalry
within the party as to the vice presidency
and will not lead to discord or strife.
AS the second place looks now, however,
one man is apparently far in the lead. and
If his friends push the temporary advan-
tage the fight for second place on the
ticket may be settled within few months
leaving the convention little TO do but rat
ify the general wish of the party as to both
places. Such a convention would be almost
unprecedented and would put the party
on record as having acted in the most per-
feet harmony and unanimity as to every
thing.
Senator Fairbanks of Indiana is the man
most talked of at this time for second
place. He was at the White House today
and had a conference with the President
Many of his close friends in Washington
have believed that he and the President
iyht III
ond place. That is it is thought that the
Indiana senator might insist on knowing
whether the President had any preferences
before allowing his friends ali over the
country to continue their efforts In his be-
half. But such an understanding with the
President will be entirely unnecessary
when Senator Fairbanks is informed that
the President has no preferences.
He, in fact, probably received this In
formation several days ago. and conse-
quently has done nothing to check the ad-
vances of his admirers. Had he found that
the President was committed to some man
or policy did not look with favor upon
the use of Senator Fairbanks name the
latter would naturally have fastened to
have put stop to all further efforts In
his behalf. The fact that he understands
the Presidents neutral attitude and real
ICES that there will be no objection on the
part of the President to his connection with
the ticket enables Senator Fairbanks to
let the campaign for him go on to be
stopped later If he desires or left TO run
its course to the end. tacitly putting him.
self in the position of a receptive candi-
date.
Senator Fairbanks will not, 1t is said
on good authority, direct anv campaisn
for the nomination. He simply saws to his
close friends that he is not a candidate
for second place. The logic of this in view
OF the knowledge that he is so general I1x,
talked of. would be signal to his friends
that he would not turn over n hand for
the nomina ton, but that if it is offered to
attitude he is expected to assume from
now until the Chicago convention meets
In Indiana no work will be necessary 70
secure the delegation for his nomination,
ana he VIII receive support from Ohio Nil
nois and adjoining states without a cam
pafgn being made for him His friends
must determine for themselves whether a
night must be made for him later Possi-
bly, If Senator Fairbanks saw that thara
was to be fight he would retire from the
held. II lie can be nominated without
question the honor would be one he could
not afford to decline in advance or after
being nominated but if his friends enter
into scramble he will withdraw That is
Ihought to be the situation as Senator
Fairbanks views it.
Opening Lands to Homestead.
The Presidents views as to the auction
or sealed bid plans of opening government
lands to settlement are attracting much at
tention among western men. Representa-
men will confer with the President this
afternoon on the subject. AS a rule the
representatives of states in which govern
ment lands are about to be opened to
homestead are opposed to either of these
plans They have many objections to them.
Mr.. Dixon says that the principal objec-
tion is that the best lands would go to men
with the most money, while worthy citi-
zens with little money deprived of the
chance to secure homes. He favors the old
plan of registering all those who desire
tracts of land, and If the number is in ex-
cess of the number of lots to draw the
names of the applicants in lottery fashion
bill has passed the House to open for
settlement about 100, 600 acres of the Crow
reservation in Montana, and this bill is ex-
pected to pass the Senate. s. G. Reynolds.
the agent of the Crows, was at the White
House with Representative Dixon today.
Secretary Hitchcock, Assistant Secretary
Ryan, the board of Indian commissioners
and the large majority of the Indian on
cials in the Interior Department are de-
clared to be strongly in favor of putting up
the lands at auction or disposing of them