Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-04

It was a disagreeaDle, sticky day Oh TIC
first week of June. Senator Fairbanks
frock coat thrown open, and with none Oh
his reputed icy dignity about him. WAS
lazily seated beside his disordered desk III
his old fashioned law office in Indianapolis
a room with neither carpet on the hoor nor
any of the other luxurious fittings which
have come to be seemingly necessary
mart Of the office of the successful lawyer
of Mr.. Fairbanks type. On his right ana
within arms reach were several tiers CT
law books, climbing almost to the ceiilhs
and running from the window back OF
their owner-the only window in the room
by the way-to within few feet of tha
opposite wall This hiatus was the Sole
means of communication between senator
and secretaries. with quarters on the other
side of the partition of leather-bound
tones.
Almost as soon as he had seated himself
the man who is now our new vice fresl-
dent dlved down into a capacious trousers
pocket pulled out a goodly-sized knife
p cross between pen and jack knife, with
more similarity to the latter than the Tor
mer-and began diligently sticking noles
with il in piece of paper Almost as 'iiS
as he chatted he made dabs at the sheet-
only when he became more earnest fhan
usual did he cease. Then he slowly eJoSeu
and opened the big blade with the same
precision that he permitted his sentences
to fall from his lips.
tn chat began with polltics-politics was
much in the air just then. The scnaIof
cleverly parred several questions concern
ing his candidacy for the post to which
he has since been elected, and then TOOK
the conversation in hand
Interest in Politics.
1T have always taken a keen interest in
politics; l was a delegate to county con-
yention in Ohio when l was tWenty-ohe
years old, and ever since then have tried
to live up to the obligations that citizen
ship in this country imposes upon every
man in it. / hold that II Is every man
bounden duty to be interested in politics.
and to take a lively part in the political
affairs of the nation. He does not perform
his duty who simply casts his vote; mat
should be only the contamination or All
his efforts for his country's welfare that ne
has put forth intellectually and sincerely
during the time previous to MS VISIT 10
the polling booth. This is nation OF the
people and if it is to remain nation OF
the people-which l sincerely believe II
will remain-none of US must shrk The
RESPONSIBILITIES of citizenship. The sluggard
in politics is every bit as detrimental 10
the general good as the sluggard in ousl-
ness is a drag to the men with Wnom ne
may be associated
AZ believe that man, as soon as ne
comes of age. should interest himself III
the vital problems that confront our couh-
try from time to time. l have told my
second son that he must take his assign
ments to speak this fall; he is now Study
ing law Fathers should encourage their
sons to a study and part in politics.; such
is their duty, and the fathers should nos
neglect to be as exemplary in politics as
they strive to be in business. L know OF
no more imposing evidence of right cin2eh-
ship than a father and his sons marching
together to the polls election day to
for the principles ltley
have honestly upheld during months VI
heated canvass"
The senator thoughfully closed and opened
his knife several times.
Politics Growing Cleaner.
''Of course, I am talking about clean
poIitics. and. on the whole 1 think our
politics is growing cleaner all the time. At
any rate, 1 hold that American politics is
far cleaner than the politics Of foreign
countries. The talks 1 had with Lord
Herschel convinced me that politics IN
Great Britain is on a much lower level than
in America. Every one knows how BRUSH
sneakers are hooted and pelted; but no
foreigner however critical, can justly &C,
cuse us of not according TO each side q nun
and free hearing in politics, and for this
and other reasons L take a hopeful view OF
our politics of the future. Where there Is
fair play there is bound to be much that
is wholesome-a leaven that Will leaVen
the HLlOte lump tNcHludAlS d SAtfS ti4ShN
will certainly heal up our sores.
Again the senator left off stabbing the
paper in his hands, and opened and smut
the knife. NJ,
az believe In politics that educates. Poll
tics is certainly as serious matter as
husiness to say the least. believe that
We as a people take our politics seriously,
as we should. Therefore. l hold that lhe
,,oIi+iSai sneaker who does not try 10 euu-
cate in mis- speeches makes botch OF the
whole matter We want facts, not 1unny
stories. A joke will undoubtedly tickle an
audience because We are hatioh VI
humorists and believe IN the Lyslene vi
hearty laughter. But we should not be
deceived by these risibilities The Ameri-
can man is not to be won by ticking ms
funny bone with funny yarn. ne
American man demands facts, ne tnin itI
facts he believes in facts; he respects facts.
he is nuided by facts Give him plenty OF
GOOD cold facts and he Will respect you
4rst and respect will frequently speedily
lead to enlistment IN the principles YOU
advocate.
Be Sure of Facts.
"a fact can mislead no one but 1t has
1,al,,,ently happened that a story or joke
,,sad TO illustrate point has led to confu-
sion and subsequent loss of votes. Let me
illustrate with the experience that set me
strongly against this method OF argument
on the stump. .,e, rs .,a
wool schedule in particular. and In order
tn make clear my point that IL IS diversity
which makes for prosperity said that my
father when l was boy, held that the
wool cljp came at an opportune time, as IL
sunplied him with the money with which
10 nav his taxes. After l had finished
sne5ling | went back TO my hotel. and
there half an hour or so after my return,
a travelling man, friend of mine, a fine
fellow as drummers are as rule, came
UP to me and said:
:. I heard a woman giving you fits a
while ago
urallv curious.
Well he said I was coming away
from the meeting and behind me was this
woman and a friend.
'''''You can't believe anything Mr.. Fair
hanks SAYS / heard her say. HE said
the wool clip came at an opportune time to
pay taxes. and it doesn't. Any fool round
here knows that taxes are paid in April
"And so they were. but in Ohio they were
paid I'm June. when the wool clip was GER
tainly opportune. OF course. I laughed at
the story, but II also struck deep home and
ever since then l have been exceedingly
careful to be sure of my facts and not to
confuse them, even unintentionally. in any
way wha tsoeyer."
The senator held his knife poised threat
eningly above the frayed paper. He swung
around I'm his chair and let his ewes RIM