Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-04-29
Convinces the People That He
Is Not an Icicle, But a Bril-
liant, sociable Man
IGNORED POLITICS ALTOGETHER
This Looked Upon as tho shrewdest
Possible Political Move - Guest of
Governor While in Des Moipes =
Vice President in a Mad Automobile
Race to Catch His Train.
Special to Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines April 29.-Vice Presi-
dent Charles w. Fairbanks has dis
PEELED cloud that obscured his claims
to popularity and to being a good fell
low.
An impression prevails among poll
ticians, at least among many polit1-
clans, that the visit of Fairbanks to
Iowa Saturday was good thing for
Fairbanks. He made friends. He con-
vinced men that he was not an icicle.
He made gooa In number of speech
es He declined to talk politics or
about his own candidacy for president.
He was in the state an entire day ard
he addressed many Of the most influ-
entail men in Iowa at the college OF
agriculture and the Grant club Satur-
day night. Fairbanks men were elated
because the impression he left in the
state was good.
Always In control of himself, per-
fectly. the vice president would be the
last to assume that the complimentary
things which the politicians have been
saying on his visit to the state binds
Iowa to him and his presidential am
bitions.
He didn't talk politics while inside
the borders Of the state. He made
three speeches, attended two lunch
cons and banquet, visited at the
home of the governor of the common
wealth. while in the city of Des
Moines, and all the time was sur
rounded by politicians on the qui vive,
but never word about 1908.
That was the shrswdest possible
politics for Mr.. Fairbanks. 1t made
his friends, The real Fairbanks men,
chuckle and was another indication
to them that he is capable. They knew
that all the talk, all the offers of COM
bination, all the calculation possible
would not have achieved more than the
favorable impression he sought to
leave, and which his friends were graf
ified to find he had left among Iowa
people.
The vice president was the guest of
Governor Curnmins while in the city.
Arriving, he said that he would leave
by the Rock Island yesterday morning
at 7:45 o'clock. This was the UNDER
standing the governor got from con-
yersation with his distinguished guest.
But the vice president had mistaken
the railroads and their manner OF en-
tering the city. Thls developed yes
terday morning.
Summoned to an early hour break
fast. the vice president was perfectly
comfortable and the governor was con-
fident that with the aid of the auto
mobile of Mr. H. A. Rawson, making
the train proposition dwindle into IN
significance. The second officer of the
government was not burdened with
luggage. Az ordinary leather suit
case, which gave evidence OF having
been on trip or two before, COM
nleted the sum total Of the vice prest-
dents luggage. 1t was loaded into the
auto and the party left the corner OF
Twenty fifth street and Forest drive
for the Rock Island.
Arriving there the vice president op-
served that it was not the right de-
NOT and altno it already was train
time. he explained the mistake to the
governor, and they started for the
Northwestern. The Northwestern
train leaves at 1880, and the party had
only scant time, according to the auto
and other time pieces. But 1T was de-
cided to make the try.
Being early and Sunday morning
fortunately the streets were not
thronged by people or crowded Win
vehicles. Keeping to the street car
tracks, the carriage was Kept gong
straight, tho at the Kirkwood corner
there was as pretty spectacle OF skid
ding on tine asphalt as ever was Illus
trated in the motor magazines.
The vice president was reminded OF
the day after election in 1904, when he
was at the ST. Louis fair. He and Sec
retary Taft were there together. Quite
party attended them as they did
the fair. Among the party was Free
man r. Conaway of the Ames Intelli-
gencer. When the vice president saw
Conaway at Ames Saturday, he re-
called the incidents and something akin
to a signal of significant recollection
passed between the two. Conaway has
a picture of the party. and promised TO
send the vice president one.
But al the close of the tour of the
fair grounds on the occasion referred to
the vice president, who had just been
elected, essayed to make train and
was taken OH an automobile for the
purpose. That ride and the one with
Governor Cunmins in the Rawson auto
here yesterday were mates.
But the auto and its distinguished
passenger made the train all right,
tho by the skin of the teeth of the
chauffeur.
Among the guests at the Grant club
banquet Saturday night, and who came
to Iowa especially to attend the affair
and to hear Vice President Fairbanks,
was Col. George D. Roper, of Rock
ford. Ill. He was deeply touched by
the illusions made by the vice presf-
dent to the early experiences of Cen
ora1 Grant fnr the very excellent reA.