The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-03-07
FAIRBANKS NAME
SCARES UP TAFT
ENtSSARIES TO SOUTH BEGIN To
TALK OF HIM As COMPROMISE
CANDIDATE
INDIANA IS MODELLING
FRIENDS or TALL SYCAMORE or
THE WABASH SUGGEST An IN
INSTRUCTED DELEGATION
TO CONVENTION.
INDIANA IS MODELLING
BY JAMES J. MONTAGUE.

WASHINGTON. March s.--while
Colonel Roosevelt still doomed
menacing tho eastern horizon today,
President Taft happened 10 turn his
troubled eyes TO the westward. and
there TO his horror and dismay he
beheld the gaunt form OF Charles
Warren Fairbanks in the act of bow :
ing acknowledgements to Indiana
friends. who were offering him the
Chicago nomination
The worst Of this distressing Incl
dent is that the very men who William
Il. Mckinley, sent into the West and
South to work for Taft. are the men
who are talking Fairbanks, as a
compromise candidate" Now when
politicians began talking compromise
candidates, they have ceased to be
sure of the favorite. And Mr.. Taft
and his supporters know the dawn
OF IA doubt about him Is likely TO
be the dawn OF d disaster.
Here is how fairbansk came To he
injected into the running. Ten days
ago Director Mckinley sent for for
mer Senator Heminway. State Chair
man ]. =. Goodrich and Joseph b.
Keeling. all of Indiana, entertained
them lavishly and despatched them
into Tennessee and Texas and other
Southern States to operate the steam
srolier.
F 49,. : Eane-ss ThIaxs Tfe.. fip. +@. :.
Keeling. who went TO Texas. found
that Cecil Lyon. the national commit
teeman down there. had sewed up
the State committee for Roosevelt.
and he came back to try his hand
on other States. Today the White
House learned TO its alarm that In
stead Of talking instructed delegations
the three missionary politicians had
been talking against instructions, not
only In the Southern States. but in
Indiana. itself. Further. Information
was Instantly demanded. 1t came.
Keeling and Goodrich. the White
House learned. had been quietly tell
ing the Hoosiers. that II would be
better not to instruct, because II Taft
should prove weak for any reason.
the delegation could be left free to
support Fairbanks.
1t Is needless to say that these
tidings proved severe shock. Fair
banks has never been under suspicion.
The White House had reason to think
that Cummins was trying to reach
out into Indiana. but that the tall sy-
camore Of the Wabash could harbor
In his heart treason TO the cause Of
standpattism seemed Incredible. There
was nothing vague about the report.
however. and so disquieted were the
Taft forces that they talked Of little
else for the rest of the afternoon.
No Reply for Dixon.
The national Taft bureau tonight
announced that It would make no
reply to Senator Dixon's second chal-
ienge to a nationwide primary. In
response to McKinley's request that
the first challenge be made more defi-
mite and certain by specifying who
put Dixon In charge Of the Roose-
Welt fight Dixon came back with tho
statement that Roosevelt put him into
IT,
The Taft managers. after a. pro-
longed conference, also decided to re-
fuse to accept Senator Dlxon's chal-
~lengo to fight out the battle between
Taft and Roosevelt at presidential
preference primariea
The Taft managers believe that
they have warrant for their refusal
Of the challenge In the action OF tho
national committee. which In Its De-
'cemher meeting natly refused TO bind
The States 70 sslsction Of dslegates BY
urinary {. 4,