The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-06-16
HATCH FAIRBANKS
BOOM IN ALABAMA
AIdrich Has the Chick Under
His Wing
DOWN ON THE OFFICE TRUST
The Belief Is Expressed That the Fair
banks Forces Are Working Hard
to Get Control of the
Party Machinery.
DOWN ON THE OFFICE TRUST

Washington, June 15.-(Special.)-A
special from Birmingham to the Evening
Star says that "a boom for Vice Presi-
dent Charles W. Fairbanks for the re-
publican presidential nomination Is said
TO be ineubating in Alabama, and the fur
Their statement Is made that plans are
rapidly maturing for the capture of the
party machinery and the Alabama delega-
tion by the Fairbanks men. The chief i'm
portance attaching to the Alabama dele
cation to the republican national conven-
ton is that this states name is first on
the roll call of states, and as 1t votes first
its vote might have a marked sentiment
tai effect in a convention where a close
fight was on.
1T Is no longer denied that the head and
front of the Fairbanks boom in Alabama
is former Representative William f. AID
rich, a prominent and wealthy Shelby
county mine owner. member of the repub-
lican state committee and long recog-
nized as party leader. Colonel Aldrieh
was one of the most prominent men In ar
ranging for the entertainment of Mr.. Fair
banks on the occasion of his recent visit
to Birmingham as fraternal delegate to
the general conference of the Methodist
Episcopal church, south, from the Meth
odist Episcopal church. Colonel Aldrich
represented the Scottish Rite Masons In
the entertainment.
Made Good Impression.
THAT Mr.. Fairbanks produced a most
pleasant impression not only upon repub-
licans, but upon all citizens alike. is adj
mitted on all sides. He declined fatty 10
discuss politics, and 1t is now said that
there was a deal OF politics in his visit.
1T is understood that ever since the
vice presidents visit the Fairbanks men.
headed by Colonel Aldricn, have been
working quietly, but vigorously. to secure
Alabama for him. Part of their plan, 1t is
said, Is to capture the control Of the state
republican committee. including the chair
manship, which comes pretty nearly being
the whole party Recently j. o. Thomp-
son, state republican chairman. and pa
tronage referee of the President In Ala
bama, announced that he hal called a
meeting of the committee for June 49, at
which meeting he would tender his reslg-
nation. 1t was then understood that the
authorities at Washington had made it
known that the President desired ali COM
mtteemen who held federal offices to re-
sign their political places. Thompson is
internal revenue collector for the district
of Alabama. 1t was also understood that
not only Thompson, out all other mem
bers of the committee vino are federal
officeholders. would q lit the committee.
However, a few days later Thompson
withdre- his call for the meeting and
announced that the meeting would not
take place until after August 81, the date
of the democratic state p,inlary.
An Office-H gliding Trust.
ut is reported that Thompson's sudden
change of mind was due to the belief that
his political opponents probably ;the Fair
banks men, were planning to capture the
Craftsmanship and a majority of The GEM
mittee
This belief is strengthened by an inter-
view which Colonel Aldrich, the leader OF
the Fairbanks forces. has just given out
strongly criticizlng Thompson's course,
declaring that Thompson's action is the
action of the office holding trust Colonel
Aldrich also says that If the commit
tee does not meet until after August q
II will then be too late to put out re-
publican state ticket. because the time will
be too short in which to make anything
like an effective campaign. Colonel AL
drich, who was at one time one of the
three patronage referees of the President
in this state, but who now seems to be
at cross-purposes with the administration,
Is severe In his arraignment of the policy
of the Presidents political friends In Ala
bama which creates a rather peculiar
condition of affairs. so it is pointed out.
indicating that the Fairbanks boom is
travelling without the administration 8
stamp of approval.
at Is expected that before long the Fair
banks men will come out In the open in
their fight to secure control of the party
machinery in this state"