Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-02-09
CAPITAL CHAT.
Continuous Service in Congress
vs.. Rotation.
Gossip as to Vice Presidential Posi-
bilities for 1904.
Busy Times for Names Two Members
in the Senate.

Was Eington. Feb. S.-(SpcciaD. -
There is a very wide disseminate II
from this city OF information in various
ferns at present, about the advantages
to constituencies in keeping a member
of Congress continuously in Office. j.
is still 4 moote1 question in large
majority of the 1856 Congressional u.s.
t.icts of the country. Rival aspira.'n
for Congressional honprs naturally SIN
CONTEND for the Principle of rotation.
Men holding seats in Congress and
desiring to retain II EN- naturally con-
| ted against the principle of rotation.
Constituencies in Maine adjudicataj
The question good many years ago.
at least Il quarter of century ago.
Therein it was pioneer state.
Recently Representative J. NJ. Robin
son, Il Democrat OF Fort WayD2,
IldiaEa, who has several terms Of
Congressional service to his credit, pre-
pared I. list of members of the Fifty
seventh and of the Fifth eighth Con-
sress, who have served more than fou-
| Germs. or eight years. Indiana is L
state that still clings somewhat to the
principle OF rotation. but Mr.. Robinson
prepared the list quite as much for the
benefit Of his friords as for his own
benefit. 1t demonstrated that there
are over 1CO members of the House
Republicans ard Democrats, now in the
ten year class and beyond it. OF
course it showed also, as nearly all the
voters in Maine are we'll aware, that
practically all the important chairman
ships and positions Of leadership were
with these men Of long service.
Members from districts, not yet
educated up to the idea of keeping Il
good man in as long as he is willing to
stay, are devising various ways for
getting the list, which Mr.. Robinson
prepared, into general circulation in
one form or another. The period of
nominating conventions will soon be at
hand. The information in the circular
makes the basis of a strong argument
in behalf OF the incumbents. In addi-
ton to that there is a speech which
Representative T. w. Sims, Il Democrat
of Tennessee, delivered in the House
several years ago, setting forth how
the long service men predominated
over the new members. Judge Sims
cited an example, which has long been
Il favorite one, of the length of service
Of Mainc's delegation. 1t shows that
Senator Hale has had 90 years i'll
Senate and 10 years previous to that III
the House; that Senator Frye has had
90 years in the Senate and IL years in
the House. The total years of service
of the famous four of Names Repre-
sentativcs in the House are also cited
as follows: Reed, % years; Dingley, IS
years; BOutelle, is years; and Mlliken,
16 years.
There has been q strong revival OF
talk here during the last week about
nominating Senator Charles w. Fair
banks, of Indiana, for the vice
Presidency. There is nothing decisive,
however, about it yet President
Roosevelt and his intimate Republican
friends would be entirely satisfied with
the nomination of Mr. Fairbanks. One
of Mr.. Roosevelt's very close friends
said today: Fairbanks would
strengthen our ticket. l would like to
see him named but 1 do not know yet
whether we can nominate him.
A month ago Mr.. Fairbanks was
much aveTse to considering any such
proposition. He had had letters from
several friends throughout Indiana,
describing political conditions, and on
the whole advising him against ac-
cepti1g any such nomination. They
thought he would be wiser to stay in
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