Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 October 1902 — NO BACKWARD STEP [ARTICLE]

NO BACKWARD STEP

Shoald the Republicans of Indiana Take This Year. IMPORTANT QUESTION INVOLVED Is Whether or Not the State Shall Suffer Prestige in National Affairs— Not Only the Senatorship but the Future of Republicanism In Indiana Involved In the Election of November 4th. The prestige of Indiana in. the greatest of the world's legislative bodies — the United States senate —is involved in the election of members of the legislature on November 4th. This in itself is sufficient reason why the Republicans of Indiana should do their whole duty. Not only is the re-election of Senator Fairbanks involved, but the reapportionment of the state for legislative purposes. Should Democratic leadership secure control of the Indiana legislature, it would beyond question proceed to the enactment of such a gerrymander as that under which Senator Turpie was elected in 1899, when, with a Republican majority of more than 10,000 in the state, a Democratic senator was sent to represent Indiana in the United States senate. In all her history Indiana has had no more faithful or useful representative in the upper branch of the national legislature than Senator Charles W. Fairbanks. Cautious but not cowardly, conservative but yet in touch and in sympathy with the most progressive political thought of the period, industrious, conscientious, thoughtful and forcible, he has impressed himself upon the great body in which he has served his state so well, as one of the leaders among American publicists. Few men in American public life have risen to substantial national prominence within a period so brief. In 1897 Senator Fairbanks was elected senator —the first public office he ever held. The year 1902 finds him in the fore-front among the leaders of that great body of law-njakers, his national reputation as s' statesman reflecting credit upon the commonwealth of Indiana throughout the Union.

Senator Fairbanks came into the responsibilities attendant upon a seat in the greatest legislative body in the world, at a time when the country stood upon the threshhold of a new era in its affairs—an era in which the country has not only attained a prosperity unexampled in the world’s history, but in which the American name has attained a new dignity and the American nation a new place in the family of nations. Potent Factor in Legislation. . In the momentous developments of the past five years, Senator Fairbanks has been, not a passive spectator, but a potent factor. With the historic administration of William McKinley he -was intimately and conspicuously identified. President McKinley was a rare judge of men, and that no man, even in the president's official family, stood higher in the confidence and esteem of the martyred president than did the senior senator from Indiana, Is significant of the character and ability of Mr. Fairbanks. Alike in temperament, similar in their convictions and their attainments, it is not surprising that there existed between President McKinley and Senator Fairbanks so strong a friendship, nor that the president so implicitly relied upon the judgment of his friend. It is a fact not generally known, even by the friends of Senator Fairbanks, that for weeks preceding the declaration of war against Spain, and during the trying months which ensued before the fall of Santiago, the senior senator from Indiana was almost nightly at the White House by invitation of the president, to talk over with him the momentous problems which were arising from day to day. The people of Indiana will not hesitate to express their confidence in a man whom William McKinley so implicitly trusted. Indiana Haa Fared Well. As a representative of the state at Washington Senator Fairbanks has been faithful and untiring In his activity for its welfare. The local interests of Indiana have never been more loyally looked after. Aa an evidence of this efficient activity the results of the first session of the S7th congress, recently.closed, may be cited. Never has Indiana fared so well at a*y single session; and In no slight degree this is due to the great Influence dxerted by Indiana’s senior senator in the upper branch of congress. The ballots cast for members of the legislature this year are not primarily votes for this candidate or that seeking a term In the general assembly. Every such vote, no matter what the 4>ust, In the nature of things, be a ballet for or against Senator Fairbanks. Despite the declaration In the Indiana platform In favor of popular election of senators. It Is impossible to say In whose behalf an adverse vote would count It might rpsult tn the preferment of any one of a dozen comparatively obscure man, but.in any event the effect would be a great diminution of the prestige now enjoyed by Indiana in national affairs. Such a backward step will be impossible if. laying aside petty personal considerations, every Republican will do his duty from <bw up to and including Tuesday, November 4th.