The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-08-07

u at.
mere is much speculation az 70 Sc.
cretary Tafts acceptance of a place or
the Supreme Bench, which has been Of.
tered to him by the president. He will
not be required to make his decisior
until next winter. By that time il =
possible h a further light NAV be cast
upon the presidential campaign. one
OF Secretary Taft's brothers co,,rea;c
him to accept the appointment. vhilo
another strongly urges him TO seiza
the opportunity to become the rennh-
Ican nominee for president. AS a Sill
J preme Justice does not take his scat
until confirmed by the senate. possibly
a year may elapse before Secretary
TAFT IS called upon to make the mo-
mentOus decision. Time itself mav
point out the Oad he is to travel.
There is a refreshing certainty abou5
VICE President Fairbanks position. af-
ter considering the doubts that sur
round the names of Roosevelt and Taft
No n need have any hesitation in
believing that Charles Warren Fair
+ banks is a candidate for president. He
has been aiming for the presidency for
years, and his aim thus far has been
very good. His ambition is high and
honorable, and why should he not make
1t known? The very frankness of his
desire lends a charm to his candidacy.
and perhaps attracts sympathy from
many who are glad to see a man sue
coed in accomplishing a lifelong Dur-
pose.
Vice President Fairbanks is a native
Of Ohio and a resident Of Indiana-a
CT TDn O fNI1r 1Ht ton fn, tho ~o1-;lo-a
Indiana has been republican ~recentlv.
but 1t is a mighty uncertain state, and
one Of the biggest political battle
grounds. 1t would support Fairbanks
for the nomination, of course with ala
Gritty, rs against an outsider. Indianians
say, moreover, hat Fairbanks would
certainly carry the state against Bryan
or Hearst.
During the recen session of Congress
Vice President Fairbanks was indefati-
gable in pursuing the gentle art of
making friends. He is reputed to ne
cold, calculating, and repellant, but
this Characterization is an invention
of the enemy. Mr.. Fairbanks is the
personiicatiOn of courtesy and digni-
fed geniality. His dinners during the
past winner were more numerous than
those of the president, and some Of
them were costly. The number Of his
guests was great, and the social variety
in evidence was sometimes picturesque.
1t was generally understood that these
dinners were intended to convince the
diners of the presidential Attributes OF
their host. Mrs. Fairbanks, a hand
some and most h~Ospitable matron, Is
an enthusiastic partner in her nus
bands political ambition, and she has
assisted him in many ways.
AS vice president, Mr.. Fairbanks
has demonstrated good judgment, tact,
fairness and the ability to make friends
His duties were extremely la%bOrious,
especially at the latter end Of the Sess-
ion which recently closed. He was al
ways in his seat, and at the close OF
a ten-hour session was as fresh and
calm as at it's beginning. Under cir
cumstances which would have called
forth irascible remarks even from such
a model presiding officer as Senator
FRYE, there was not a sign OF lmp@-
thence from the imperturbable Indian
ian.
Mr.. Fairbanks is now rlsticating on
his farm in illinois. He IS an enjhu-
siastic farmer, as all presidential can
didates ought to be. The stories OF his
phenomenal absorption of buttermlik
have furnished a theme for pert para
graphers all over the country. ms TACT
is that Mr.. Fairbanks has so few points
Of criticism, either in public or private
life. that it is difficult for his enemies,
if he has any, to pierce his armor.
No man keeps his own counsel pet
ter than Mr.. Fairbanks. up 10 me
moment that he was nominated II
Chicago. not even his closest pOlltlcal
friends knew what his attitude would
be toward the vice presidency. NO one
man can be found who even pretenus
TO know what Mr.. Fairbanks program
me will be in campaigning Tor lhe
presidential nomination. He IS always
his own adviser, and knows no other
boss.
During the past few weeks uncle
Joe" Cannon has been widely discussed
as a presidential possibility. joseph
G. Cannon. Speaker Of the Gus OIL
representatives, is seventy years or age.
If elected he would be seventy-siA at
the end of his first term. inns IS
pretty old for the ordinary man, out
Uncle joe is as extraordinary IN ms
rs in others. Thirty years OF
service in the house seems to nave
given him perpetual youth. HIS !
is keen-far too keen in countlnS d
quorum TO suit the democrats-and MS
step is sprightly, even jaunty. "uncIe
Joe" does not nurse himself either. he
works like a Trojan, smokes i~ncessan,-
Iy. stays up late O. nights, and is al
together, perhaps, the busiest mar IN
The demands upon his time
and strength are incessant and veAa-
tious. He shakes them off as a New
shakes spray after a bath:
Uncle Joe" comes of Quaker stoc,
but one would not think so when ne IS
in action. His vocabulary is pictures
and smacks the soil. He is purely
American as any man who ever lei.
plains to go up to the halls OF