Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-12-09
ABOUT Mr.. HANNA.
He Will Not Be Next Secre-
tary Of the Treasury.
But May Have Cabinet Place. Would
Like to Be a Senator.
And As He is Modest Nan Can Have about
What He Likes.


Chairman Hanna's visit to the natlonai
capital has started a flood oil taiK 0oo"s
him. Mr.. Hanna Will certainly be one Oh
the big mon of the coming administrator.
Not until recently did he decide liiae no
wanted to live in Washington. iie toiu
mo the other day that last spring whlie
he was laboring for the nomination OF MS
friend Mckinley, and even as late as iase
summer, while engaged III tne calupaiSh'
he had no idea whatever OIL accepting any
office. His greatest desire was to get pack
to his business, to his home ana family,
and stay there. Even now be does not adj
nit that he wants Office, or, indeed that
he intends to take Office, but the general
understanding is that lie will come to
Washington March next ms member OF
the cabinet or as senator from ONO. vi
course, if it is to be rs the former, senator
Sherman will have to get out of the way,
and that means Secretary of State Sher-
man. If Mr.. Hanna does go into the cab
met it will he as secretary OF the navy
and not as secretary of the treasury.
Wants an Easy Job.
The big, good natured and popular
Ohioan has had SO much hard work of late
that he would like t. rest. His ambition is
to be a senator from Ohio, but if that fails
he would like to be secretary of the navy,
if he is to have any place in the cabinet,
because In that department he would not
be constantly harassed by the business of
the office. The secretaryships of navy and
of war are the easiest slaces in the cabinet.
These are Offices whicn will practically run
themselves The secretary may go away
L., b, rovinr I'm
reaus will manage the department almost
as well as if he were there in person. All
he needs to do is to designate some one to
sign the official mail for him in his alb
sence, and any one can do that.
1t is not so with the secretaryship of the
treasury or With the state department.
The heads of these great departments must
work They'are able to depend to some
extent upon the trained, skilled men OF
the office, but important matters OF policy
are constantly arising and demanding the
personal attention of the responsible man.
Chairman Hanna knows that successful
administration CT the office of secretary OF
the treasury requires either special apti-
tude or training, and, while he has conf
dence enough in himself to believe he could
do the work if pushed to it, he does not
care to take up so heavy burden. There
is no reason why he should. He can find
a more pleasant official station and one
which will enable him to be quite as in
fuential in the administration.
With all his hearty manners, self conf
dence, self reliance and great reputation
Mr. Hanna is a modest man. He does not
imagine that simply because he has been
successful in business and as managing
politician he is necessarily we'll fitted to
grapple with the theory and practice of the
governments great financial department.
If Mr. Hanna could have his way about it
and he may yeti know what he would
do. He would become q senator, and in
the upper branch employ his good nature,
his tact, his rare faculty Of making friends,
In promoting the success Of the Mckinley
administration.
Mckinley For Harmony.
A distinct feature of the new presidents
policy, as gather it from his friends, ia
one of constructveness. He wants perfect
harmony in the party, that he may build
up, and build rapidly and onduringly. He
does not want and does not intend to have
any pickering, any game of cross purposes
between executive and senate President
Cleveland has had Il great deal Of trouble
of that sort President Harrison was al
ways, or nearly always, in hot water with
the senate. The practical success of both
administrations was more or less lnarred
by these quarrels. Major Mckinley hopes
to get on well with both senate and house,
and he is already effecting a friendly I'M
derstanding with leaders at both ends of
the capitol and with men Of all factions.
If Mr.. Hanna were to come to the senate
as the successor Of Mr.. sherman, be could
BIO of great assistance there to his friend
tho president.
am not so sure that Mr.. sherman would
be a complete success in the state depart
ment. There is no other post in the gov
eminent SO eXacting in its demands upon
its Incumbent. Tho secretary of state
cannot turn important work over to his
subordinates. Only the routine or the
lesser matters go to them. He must him
self see ambassadors ana ministers. They
will not transact their business with as
sistant secretaries when the secretary is in
the department. 1t is beneath their dig
nifty to be turned over to an underling. 4
secretary of state must meet in keen COM
petition every day of his life the trained
bright men of the world who are sent
hither as ambassadors and ministers for
the purpose of getting the best of him 1t
Is their wits against his, and secretary of
foreign affairs who is not at his best, who
is not in full possession OF his alert and
active mental powers, must be at "a terrible
disadvantage.
Sherman and the State Department.
The question is whether or not Senator
Sherman at his advanced age-he is now
73-is quick and strong enough to fill the
bill. AS to his ability and patriotism
there is no question, nor is there any doubt
that his great career entities him to be
considered the foremost Republican, ex-
cepting only the president elect and Speak
er Reed. But | find many of MIR Sher-
mans most devoted friends doubtful of
his ability to successfully perform the du-
ties OF secretary of state.
Mr.. Sherman's present term in the sch
ate runs till March 4, 1899, and Ohio men
say he will not be reelected. If Mr.. Sher-
man serves ont his term, ~ aggregate
service in the senate will be "a years, ex-
ceeding by three years and Il half the rec
ord made by Thomas H. Benton.
Chief Eidridge of the Portland ire de-
nsar t.