New-York tribune., 1908-06-17
FAIRBANKS[N THE LEAD
BUT CHOICE NOT SURE.
administration Word Nay Change
Second Place Nomination.
by Telegraph to The Tribune. J

tBY IeieEraph to The Tribune
Chicago June l6.-TTnleSS word comes from
Washington in the near future favorable to some
other candidate, Vice-President Fairbanks is
almost certain to be re- nominated. On the other
hand, the motto of the administration is "One
fight at a time" and nothing will he done by
the administration forces in support of any Vice
Presidential candidate until the platform fight
is won, and possibly not until Mr. Taft is nomi-
mated.
The present programme of Frank II. H1tChCock
is that the convention shall adjourn after Mr..
Taft's nomination. During the recess the Vice
Presidential question will be settled. The like
Iihood of the Taft forces taking q hand after
they have disposed of other problems is very
considera BILE and this injects feature of ahso-
lutte uncertainty into the equation as it now
stands and renders every prediction hazardous
In the absence of such word from Washing
tom however the drift IS strongly toward Mr.
Fairbanks. notwithstanding repeated declara-
tions from his friends that he will not run,
which are generally interpreted a. their caution
against placing him in the position. while a
candidate for first place of being possibly
successfully receptive of the second.
DOLLIVER URGES FAIRBANKS.
This drift is due to the absence of any other
candidate on whom there is a general DISPOSE
ton to concentrate. Senator George D. Perkins.
chairman of the Iowa delegation, is said to-day
to have received the following telegram from
Mr.. Dolliver:
think Mr. Fairbanks ought to be rehominated
in case Taft shall be chosen. Mr. Fairbanks has
sacrificed his active relations with public life by
accepting the office of Vice President, and
man in the history of the government has proved
so satisfactory presiding officer in the Sen
ate If he is not available it looks to me if
we ought TO find some strong in New York
If it is thought that the nomination ought to 60
to the West, let us pick out some bright young
man in the Pacific states who could be relied
upon to make good campaign.
The Taft people. however. will refuse to admit
that Dollfver is out of the race.
The disposition to follow any lead from Wash
fngton is so strong that the report circulated
here that the White House had suggested Gov
ernor Cumnfns gave a decided boom to the
Iowan.
A majority of the Iowa delegation adheres to
the AIIison-Dolliver faction, but Senator Borah.
of Idaho who is leading the Cummins move
ment. met with the Iowa men tonight in an ef
fort to persuade them to favor the promotion
of Mr. Cummins- The Cummns men argue that
the very factionaI reasons which made Delivers
nomination in their opinion undesirable sug-
gest the wisdom of turning to Cummins. They
say that if Cummins remains in active politics
he will contest Delivers reelection surely
as he would precipitate fight to fill the vacancy
caused by Delivers election to the Vice-Presi-
dency and that the objections which the
seryative Senators have made to Delivers nomi-
nation lest they have Cumnnins a colleague
along with La Toilette, would not apply to plac-
in C-nmins in the Vice-President's chair They
say also that Cummins is strong tariff revis
ionist and as the platform is TO declare for re-
vision. he would be able to render great assist
ance in the campaign. he is OF the best
vote getters in the West.
MAY NAME SHERMAN TOO LATE.
IF the New York men were not tied hand and
foot by the logic of Governor Hughes, who has
not made himself a candidate, and therefore
cannot withdraw himself, if the state had a
candidate of unquestioned strength to hold in
reserve for the Vice Presidency, it could almost
certainly get the domination. But while the
New York delegates waiting for Taft,s nom
ination before caucusing on a candidate the
situation is likely to crystalline, and when they
finally vote to present Representative Sherman
as the states choice, according to the general
eyuectation, it may be 200 late. Mr.. Sherman
has undoubted popularity with present and for
mer Congressman from other states, but outside
of New York many doubtful of his vote get
ting power. If it were definitely announced now
that Sherman was New Yorks candidate the
situation might be different, but he has not the
commanding personality to be held as an eff
+ective potentiaI candidate If New York had d
socond Hughes in addition to the one to he sup
norted for President the mere suggestion that
a, the proper time he would be brought forward
would settle the matter. but the delegates
not disposed to delay the shaping of affairs for
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