Omaha daily bee., 1918-06-09

The late Charles w. Fairbanks was a
much misunderstood man, being commonly
supposed to be chilly, distant, self-centered-7
human iceberg, as it wcre-when in fact
/ no public man I know of was ever more
genial, easily accessible, courteous, warm
hearted and so ready to exert himself, even
at the sacrifice of his own time and personal
the popular reputation Of being cold and
rresponsivc / do not know, but it was GER
tainly undeserved, though once under its
spell it seems to have been impossible for
him to completely shake it off.
Nowhere Is a mans adaptabilty 50 tried
as at the Gridiron Club dinners, and yet the
Gridiron folks never had guest who fell
in with the spirit of their entertainments
more whole-souled. l have heard him several
times, after taking the severe grilling in the
most good-natured manner respond most
graciously and make the hit of the evening
by his pleasantries and humor. After the
famous cocktail incident" the vice president
figured in one of the Gridiron skits in which
the performers sang song to the tune Of
"Budweiser," with the refrain running THE
cocktail is friend of NINE" and presented
the guest of honor with huge goblet OF
buttermilk with bright yellow lemon float
ing in 1t. He accepted the buttermilk cocktail
with san acknowledgment scintillating with
wit and good.fellowship, just as everyone
knew he would.
A close personal and political friendship
continuation mshy years between Mr.. Fair
banks and my father, dating back to the first
Mckinley campaign, if not earlier. They
entertained q warm mutual admiration and
respect for each others opinions and fire.
quently conferred in person or by corrc-
spondence on subjects of public moment or
party policy In the 1900 republican national
convention at Philadelphia Senator Fair
banks was chairman Of the committee on
resolutions and my father secretary OF the
committee, and the two together put on the
finishing touches to the platform. They
were associated together again in inaugu-
rating and carrying through the Mckinley
memorial erected at Canton as testimonial
OF grateful nation through contributions
collected all over the country And when
my father died the vice president sent a
message Of sympathy full Of deep feeling.
Mr.. Fairbanks was visitor to Qmata;
several times in recent years, for the Asu
club, for home missions meeting, fory one
of the war fund campaigns, as wels aS On
political occasions. He has also fYsquentiy
passed through, stopping only Detween
trains, but never failed to let MT SNOW 80
that might come down to ths stauoh ana
have chat with him. re-nemaper one sucn !
occasion when he wired. mle tna. nc Wouia
hnt sunday aa~rr .soii, when there would be
abor, |. h.If Hoar between the arriving and
densr,;rg hoIr. Mr. Fairbanks, as every
one Knows w1 extremely tali-six feet two
or three inchfs-.-and appearing even taller
because of hi4 sienaelness, ana am oeioW
the average hEignt, measuring oniy nvS Ice1
four and hall inenes. Cn my return nome'
Me- Posawa,Ier asked:
did tT,s You &c Mr. Fairbanks and>@hat did
alVhv rothing in particular; just talked.
r. ,as - ,varm in the car that we got out
and ,..ILed ,,lp and down the platform Until
!. WAS t;me frlf>the train to pull out again"
"fsd I;Le ID see you two walking up and
down the platform tosethef' was 'he ie'of''
NJ r.;rhhnks once illustrated the diff
cu,t;es .rrnu|rtered by public speakers By
tsi,;ra ~. this story, which, perhaps, / have
rsiataa hsforJ: He was billed for political
address =. 1certain place where the chair
man n,ade an almost intermnable speech
of introductioEh. =,
,ho,t ,,s lid he. "Hc dwelt upon the inn
portance OF TIL; suDleet was 70 discuss a,u !,
explained the aineteni Al suinehss tnal insn.
be presented. tic .e.NSu Ao' l1'y gu mum nun