The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-30
FIGHTING FAIRBANKS AT HOME
BEVERIDGE AND HIS INDIANA
FRIENDS IN OPPOSITION.
VIII Demand . Primary Election Law win
which to Defeat Fairbanks watson
Hanley COmbine-Falrbanks's Backing
fr Presidency Largely Ofrcial.

Whlcn 10 Uofeat lrD2n wi tsOhs
Hanley Combine-FaIrbAnkss Backing
fr Presidency Largely Ofncial.
INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 29.-Members Of the
House and Senate who are adherents Of
Senator Beveridge are determined to have
a primary election law enacted. They say
the older politicians are under control OF
Vice-President Fairbanks and that the only
hope for the reelection OF Beverage lies in
a primary law that will give sach voter an
equal voice in the choice Of party leaders.
The conclusion that Beveridge Ia the tar
get Of a great political combination has
been forced upon him and his friends the
last few weeks. They say that Mr.. Fair
banks is at the head OF an organization the
purpose Of which is to nominate him for
President, to nominate Con gressnsn Wat
son Of the Sixth district for Governor and
name Gov. Hanly as B~everidge's successor
in the Senate. James p. Goodrich, chair
man Of the Republican State central COM
mittee, is in the combination, and It is said
that the Paris consulate is to be his reward
if Fairbanks is elected President.
Mr.. Fairbanks controls nine Of the thir-
teen members Of the State committee, and
these are active in their districts getting
into shape for the struggle. In addition
there are half a hundred Federal employees
appointed by MIR. Fairbanks, and possibly
twice az many State officials appointed by
Gov. Hanly.
This is the array that Senator Beveridge
must go against for a third term, and his
friends candidly avow that he will not be
equal to the emergency II present methods
of selecting campaign committees are con-
tinued.
B~everidge's friends have faith In the pri-
mary for the reason that his support is
largely among the young and active Re-
publicans Of the State, but outside OF two
or three cities they have proved impotent
because not versed In political methods. 1t
where the question OF leadership was sub
mitted to a primary Beveridge has Jared
much better than when delegates were
selected in township and county oonven-
tons by the old method.
In the last contest for member OF the
State central committee Fairbanks got nine
members and Beveridge four, but in a
majority of those cases in which Beveridge
lost he was assumed to have maiorities in
the districts. His friends say they were
simply wheedled out OF votes by the arts
of the old politicians whom Fairbanks
succeeded in lining up on his side and that
the only hope of defeating the Vice-Presi-
dent in the struggle to control the party
organization is in. having a primary law
and allowing the vote Of each man to DUN
the same in the selection OF committeeman.
Henry C. Starr, vice-president and general
counsel OF the Wisconsin Central Railroad:
Joseph B. Healing, United States District
Attorney for Indiana. and State Chairman
Goodrich are active in the work OF organiza-
ton throughout the State and are expected
to assume a belligerent attitude toward a
primary election law when IL is presented
in the form of a bill in the Legislature. But
great pressure is being brought to bear
upon Gov. Hanly n it is probable that he
will recommend such a measure in his
message.
He Is said 10 believe that such a law
would add strength TO his case, whatever
might be the result to Fairbanks and Wat
son, and as he Ia anxious TO respond to
every popular demand he may suggest 70
the Legislature the ~advisability Of such a
law. This would be unexpected strength
for the Beveridge cause, as seen by the
Senator's friends, and they are doing
everything in their power to bring Il about.