Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-03

story of the Vice President. He will waive
the charge that he was bogn in Ohio, was
barefooted, freckle-faced, 'tousled head,
worked on farm, read books by candle
light, earned, mis- way through college,
cooked his own meals while there and
lived on 10 cents a week, for he did all
these things and had a mighty hard time
of it. He will also admit, if you put it
right up to him, that he moved into In
diana and began the fight of his life in the
law at Indianapolis. But suppose we skip
FORTY years or more; let's skip fifty-five
years, passing over the period that Fair
banks supported Judge Gresham for the
presidency as against his, other good friend
from Indiana-Gen. Harrison, who won and
whom Fairbanks offered to support as earn
estly after the convention as he had sup
ported Gresham before it. Let us not dwell
on the fact that some OF Harrison's friends
wanted to ignore Fairbanks and that Har-
rison said: No, you can't ignore Fair
banks"
As He is Today.
Let US skip that period when he was the
close friend and one OF the political advisers
Of President Mckinney Let 'us look at the
man as he is today.
Here, then, is Fairbanks-a tall man
standing more than six feet high; black
hair that might once have been tousled
/ back. there on the farm, but Is slick and
smooth now ana trained to cover the bald
spot on one side; a good pair of Shout
ders; long pair of legs; black frock
coat; a white vest; bow; handshake; a
few pleasant words-that's he.
Vice President Fairbanks is highly re-
earded by the business men Of the country
because they consider that he is conserva-
tive and safe. He is almost as conservative
as Senator Allison. Besides being conserva-
tive he is prodigious worker. He Is one
OF those men whom the biographers delight
ina man who never took a vacation. 1t
is said that Fairbanks is rich. He I'M
dot btedly made good use of his ability and
his opportunity in the practice of the law,
street regards riches.
When 1 was elected to the Senate" said
Mr.. Fairbanks to me the other evening, Il
gave up all law practice and / have not
practiced since. This was great .pecu-
mary loss to me, but l have felt that all
my time belonged to my state and the ma
ton while l was in public service"
One point should be particularly brought
out Mr.. Fairbanks has at all times during
his term of Office as Vice President strictly
upheld President Roosevelts administra-
ton. He has been loyal to the President in
every act. Mr.. Fairbanks position during
the past few months has begun to be looked
upon as the position of man who occupies
middle ground. He Is circumspect, there
fore the so-called vested interests Of the
country have begun to look toward him.
He is not a corporation man, therefore the
people believe In him. At his home the
other night I put this question directly to
him.
What about the corporations?'
He was silent a moment, then he an
swered slowly:
ITO use homely expression. they must
know who is the boss.
Views on the Labor Question.
On the labor question he said:
Labor organizations have their origin in
the instinct of self-preservation, of mutual
advancement, of common good, and are as
natural and legitimate as the organization
of capital. In fact, the organization Of Ia
Dor and capital go hand in hand. The one
is essentially the complement of the other.
That labor organizations have done much
to advance the cause Of labor there can be
no doubt. They have been earnest advo-
Gates of education, knowing full well that
knowledge is real power. They have es-
tablished newspapers throughout the coun-
try, intelligently devoted to the promotion
of their interests. They have founded be-
nevolences and paid millions OF dollars to
wages where inadequate, and secured rea-
sonable hours of service They have abol-
ished or modified conditions In the sweat
shops of great cities which were undermin-
ing the health and morals Of the operatives.
They have stood against the abuses Of child
labor.
."They have taught the necessity OF the
observance OF contracts, knowing full well
are the basis of commercial success They
have increased and seek to maintain a
higher morale among their membership.
They are opposed to anarchy. Anarchy has
no greater foe than they. They know that
| labor.s best interestA are dependent upon
| the maintenance of orderly and stable gov
eminent.
Labor must be free. with all the pre-.
negatives which pertain to freedom. II
must be free to sell its commodity in the
| highest market. So capital must be like
| wise free to buy labor where labor desires
| to sell its commodity. There must be reci-
procity OF privilege. reciprocity of oppor-
tunity. The true solution of the question
arising between labor and capital lies In
| the awakening public conscience; in a
thorough incubation of the principles OF
| fair dealing among men: in organization
and in wise. humane leadership, and in
| the establishment of boards of Cancellation
or arbitration which are absolutely free
\ from the polluting touch Of selfish interests
or political demagogues. to which the in.
terests concerned may freely and confident
| tally appeal.
Cheap Labor Not the Sole End.
Cheap labor is not the sole end we seek
| in the United States. 1t is our pride tina,
this Ia not q cheap-labor country. The