The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-20
TROUBLE ON FOR FAIRBANKS.
OPPOSITION TO NEW LIKELY TO
BRING 1T on.

the Effort 60 Prevent the indiana Man
From HeeOmlng National Chairman
WIN Probably Divide the Party IN the
HOosier State-The situation Described
INDIANAPOLIS, March l9-Indiana Re-
pubicans, who for years have regarded
Vice-President Fairbanks as an adroit
party leader and safe politician, are
greatly surprised that at this late day he
would invite formidable opposition in his
home State TO his candidacy for the Presi-
denoy in 1908 by opposition TO the known
choice Of President Roosevelt and Mr. Cor
telyou for the latter's successor as chairman
Of the national Republican comm itee,
They argue that Harry S. New, whatever
NAV be his personal feelings toward Mr.
Fairbanks, would not have attempted TO
use his place 10 defeat an Indiana candidate,
and that the State would certainly have sent
a solid Fairbanks delegation TO the national
convention.
In the expected defeat Of New, however,
they zee the opportunity for the formation
Of an anti-Fairbanks organization in the
State, for it Ia a well known fact that many
Republicans are tired OF dictation by the
Fairbanks influence and that open revolt
| has been prevented in the past only because
these men htIb MlAllOhb Oh abbANeoANN
| leader. Mr.. Fairbanks has caused the
| statement 10 be published here that he cares
| nothing about the Craftsmanship, Is wholly
| Indifferent regarding it, and has not made
any protest against the selection Of New.
On the other hand, friends Of Capt. New,
who have been TO Washington in his inter-
est and who were in consultation with
Secretary Cortelyou and President Roose-
welt. have returned with a very decided
! impression that the appointment has not
been made because il was distasteful TO
| Mr. Fairbanks.
There can he no doubt OF the friendship
OF the President for New nor Of the fact that
he Is Indifferent to the claims Of Fairbanks,
but he feels that the selection Of a sue
cessor 20 Mr.. Cortelyou as the head Of the
national committee ought to be made, II
possible, without exciting friction in any
quarter. It Is known here that the Presi-
dent discussed the matter with New and
that he suggested that there was some
thing better that New might have IL he
wanted IL. But New didn't want anything
better He does not want Office and will
not accept It. He was & nervous enough
10 say 10 the President that, while he would
not accept any appointment under the
I
Cortelyou az national chairman, he did
not want the place II the appointment would
in any way embarrass the President or
his Secretary. He left Washington inn
medately after thus defining his position.
In the meantime a very distinct line OF
demarcation is being drawn between the
Fairbanks and anti-Fairbanls followings
as a result Of the controversy. Probably
no man in Indiana could command more
influence In opposition TO Fairbanks than
Harry s. New, There is hardly one Of
Senator Beveridge's friends who would not
line up under his leadership II the defeat
Of Fairbanks for the Presidential nOmina-
ton were the object In Wow.
The Fairbanks men are not idle. Their
bureau II industriously at work and his
partisans are making appeals TO Republ-
cans, especially the younger class, and en-
deavoring 20 prevent anything like move
ment 20 the ranks Of the opposition. They
confess that Il has gone out over the country
that Mr. Fairbanks will have opposition
in bis own State and that some OF the Presi-
dental candidates may attempt TO make
capital out Of this fact.