New-York tribune., 1907-04-29
THE FEELING IN INDIANA.

watching the trend Of events with unusual in
'ereSt' while the party workers the men who get
OUT ana DO things toward lining up delegates for
0"i'~iiiteS' are divided in their counsels and
Seem uncertain in what direction TO turn
Enough II is conceded that Vice-President Fair
OailAs VIII have solid delegation in the national
convention from this state even his friends
ADMIT that the party is not unit in the support
VI ms candidacy. and though delegation will
go to the convention instructed for him. the i'm
preston VIII go with them that the Indiana
Republicans would not be displeased if some
other man were nominated.
Inc reason for this condition is not hard TO
ma Since Senator Beveridge became factor
III Indiana and national politics there has been
q sraoual but steady tendency of the younger
nepuohcans OF the state 20 ally themselves with
hll1l as distinguished from the older leaders and
OUT OF this have arisen personal animosities
which have been increased very perceptibly by
the distribution Of patronage. So pointed have
'hese animosities become that as soon as
Beveridge appointee is inducted into office he is
classed as an anti-FairbankY man. and it sell
dom happens that he is not willing to live up
10 the distinction thus given him Appointees
OF Senator Hemenway and OF a majority OF the
congressman. who are firm friends Of the Vice
President. are assumed TO owe their advance
ment To the Fairbanks influence. and the differ
ences between the leaders are thus enhanced.
OF course there IS little reason for these distinc-
tions and the jealousies out of which they grow
but that they exist and will have their influence
IN the campaign for delegates to the national
convention not even a novice in Indiana politics
Will deny
ATTITUDE OF THE SOCIALISTS.
One of the peculiar phases which the Indiana
situation now presents is found In the strong
labor centres. notably the mining sections of the
state and the cities OF Terre Haute, Evansville,
Fort Wayne. South Bend and others. where the
socialist element is making the most headway.
In these sections and cities there has been
strong Hearst following among the Democrats.
and recently many OF the Republican voters
have been offsetting the claims Of Hearst upon
the laboring classes by holding UP the official
acts Of President Roosevelt in respect TO rail-
roads and trusts as better evidence of friendship
for the plain people than that which Hearst has
shown. So popular has the President become
with these classes. both Republicans and Demo-
Gratis, that Eugene V. Debs found 1t necessary to
hurl one of his philppics at the President in the
hope OF staying his popularity. There is evidence
that the letter OF Debs denouncing the President
as insincere and the tool Of the capitalist class
was the direct result OF the Presidents popu-
larity with the classes which Debs has in
huenced and OF the fear that he might be re-
nominated despite his refusal TO he candidate.
There is evidence in this state of an
ganized effort to nominate the President though
the Roosevelt Third Term League has been
sending letters 10 prominent Republicans and
Democrats throughout Indiana, urging them to
champion another nomination for him. The ar
gument is being industriousy circulated that
he is the peoples President. and not the repre-
an
view OF this fact 1t is urged that party lines
should be obliterated and Democrats and Re
publicans alike work for hts nomination. So far
as surface indications go these efforts are not
bearing fruit in Indiana, for there has been no
suggestion OF an organization for the Presi-
dent and the majority Of those who have re-
ceived the letters from the Roosevelt Third
Term League and have expressed themselves
on the subject do not regard the movement as
serious. in view OF the expressed determination
OF the President not TO be a candidate In fact
there seems 10 be a disposition. with an excep-
tion here and there. to take the President at
his word, and this is found among the opponents
of the Vice-President as we'll as among those
who favor his nomination.
STRONG SENTIMENT FOR MIR. TAFT
The President being self-eliminated from the
contest, the question of his preference as to u
successor is receiving more or less attention.
and there is a strong feeling in favor of Sec
retary Taft. There can be doubt that Presi-
dent Roosevelt is popular with many of the
Indiana Republicans, and some of those who
criticise his acts most freely express admira.
ton for their very boldness. though wishing that
they were directed into different channels Then
again, the men who have received appointments
under the administration give the President
credit for their advancement and feel under
obligations 70 indorse his supposed choice of a
successor. This sentiment is marked among the
men whom Senator Beveridge has recommended
for Office and they may be said 10 favor Taft
almost to a man. This does not mean. how
ever that they going 20 make fight against
Vice President Fairbanks and tIy to wrest any
OF the Indiana delegates from him. That is not
the way the Indiana Republican wins his VIC
tories over home man. on the contrary he
goes 20 the convention osteIisibly for the home
candidate, and says 70 delegations from other
states that Indiana will be satisfied with any
man whom the convention in its wisdom may
choose.
Mr.. Fairbanks recognizes conditions through
out the state and is insisting among his friends
that the delegates from the several districts be
men who his warmest supporters. He un-
derstands that the delegation will be instructed
FOR him and that there Will be protest from any
source against his selections. In the conferences
which he has held with his supporters he has
refDsed 10 name any one a delegate, but has
ala an obligation his friends to put only
frue and tried Fairbanks men on the delegation
n is eald among his friends that he does not
a,nect President Roosevelts name 10 be placed
before the convention. and they positive that
secretary Taft IS the man whom he will have
10 heat The ice-President Is reported 10 be |
CONVINCED that the President is not an inactive
ctor in the Presidential race, and expects the
p,,II mower of the administration 20 be exerted
for Taft's nomination. regardless OF the results
~ the contest now going on In Ohio