Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-13
A FAIRBANKS BOOM
Effort to Capture the Alabama
Delegation.
WIN. F. ALDRlcH THE LEADER
Politics in Vice Presidents Recent.
Visit to Birmingham.
REPUBLICAN STATE CHAIRMAN
Who Has Resigned, Had Called Meet
ing for Today, but Postponed It
Until After August 81.
WIN. F. ALDRiCH THE LEADER
Politics in Vice Presidents Recent.
Visit TO Birmingham.
REPUBLICAN STATE CHAIRMAN
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala, June 13.-A boom
for Vice President Charles w. Fairbanks
for the republican presidential nomination
is said to be incubating in Alabama, and
the further statement is made that plans
are rapidly maturing for the capture of the
party machinery and the Alabama delega-
ton 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 it votes first, it's
vote might have marked sentimental eff
feet in 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. Aldrich.
a prominent and wealthy Shelby county
mine operator, member Of the state repub-
lican committee and long recognized as
party leader. Col Aldrich was one of the
most prominent men in arranging for the
entertainment of Mr.. Fairbanks on the oc-
as fraternal delegate to the general confer
ence of the Methodist Episcopal Church
South from the Methodist Episcopal
Church. Col Aldrich represented the
That Mr.. Fairbanks produced a most pleas
ant impression. not only upon republicans,
but upon all citizens alike. is admitted ON
all sides He declined fatty to discuss pol
itics, but 1t is now said that there was
deal of politics in his visit
Aldrich Working Quietly.
1t is understood that ever since the Vice
Presidents visit the Fairbanks men, headed
by Colonel Aldrich 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 repub-
lican committee, including the chairman
ship. which comes pretty nearly being the
whole party Recently 4. o. Thompson,
state republican chairman and patronage
referee of the President in Alabama, an
nounced that he had called a meeting of
the committee for June Is at which meet
ing he would tender his resignation. 1t
was then understood that the authorities
at Washington had made 1t known that
the President desired all committeeman
who held federal offices to resign their po-
litical places. Thompson is internal reve-
nue. collector for the district of Alabama.
1t was also understood that not only
Thompson, but all other members Of the
committee who are federal officeholders
would quit the committee. However. a
few days later Thompson withdrew his
call for the committee meeting and an
nounced that the meeting would not take
place until after August 27, the date of
the democratic state primary.
Sudden Change of Mind.
1t Is reported that Thompsons 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 COM
mittee. This belief is strengthened by an
interview which Colonel Aldrich, the leader
OF the Fairbanks forces, has just given
out strongly criticising Thompsons course,
declaring that Thompson's action is the
action of the "officeholding trust" Colonel
Aldrich also says that If the committee
does not meet until after August q it will
then be too late to put out republican
state ticket because the time will be too
short in which to make anything like an
effective campaign. Colonel Aldrich. 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 Alabama, which creates
a rather peculiar condition of affairs. SO
1t Is pointed out, indicating that the Fair
banks boom is travelling without the ad-
ministration's stamp of approval.
1t 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. .