Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-12-11
HANNA'S WAYS.
Said Not to Be Diplomatic
Nor Very Polished.
A Keen Newspaper Man Who Pleased
Him by His Quick Retort.
The National Committeeman Sojourn .
washington His Great Success.

Washington, Dec. 10. = Especially. =
Mark Hanna's sojourn In the nationai
capital during the past week has mace
him many friends There was great curl
osity on the part Of public men to meet
him. Though great many senators and
representatives had known Mr. Hanna
during the campaign, others had not
formed his acquaintance and were eager
to learn what manner OF man the much
talked Of campaign manager is. Hanna Is
not a man of much polish. He affects
mono of the niceties of diplomatic or social
intercourse. But for all that he Is lik-
able man, and few meet him without be-
ing singularly attracted to him. He has
the genuine American good nature and
cheerfulness, the genuine American love
for jokes and wit, and this quality stands
him in good stead. Everything he does
has thrown about it an air of good humor,
of patience, of cheerful willingness to give
and take, that Is sure to please.
Hanna's HumOr.
II Mr.. Hanna has predominating
characteristic, l should say it is this love
of cheerfulness and of cheerful men. He
will not have long faced, melancholy
man about him. He says life is too short
for that sort of thing. If Hanna likes a
man, you may be sure he ''sasses" him.
For instance Henry Payne, who was Mr.
Hanna's right hand man during the CAM
paign and who is likely to be postmaster
general under the new administration
Hanna is continually railing at. There Is
intense rivalry between them as to which
can say the sharper things about the other.
Mr. Hanna likes newspaper men because,
as "a rule, they are sharp Of wit and bold
OF speech The chairman of the national
Republican committee does not like q
man who comes around with too much
solemnity and an exaggerated notion of
the seriousness of life. FIf man can t
give and take joke, says Hanna, "there
is something wrong with him"
Among the many newspaper men who
thronged about Hanna on the day Of his
arrival in Washington was one the chair
man had known but little They had met
few times only during the campaign, and
never under such circumstances that they
could get we'll acquainted. This correspond
ent was somewhat surprised when he
paused before Mr.. Hanna, who was en-
ragged In conversation with number of
gentlemen, and asked where the chairman
was going to dine that night to receive
the following reply:
"None of your darned business"
But this newspaper man knew his man,
and he knew human nature. Instead OF
losing his temper or permitting himself to
be disconnected he returned to the attack In
the spirit in which it was made
"That remark shows you are a green ono
in Washington, Mr.. Hanna" he said, "for
otherwise you would know that everything
on the face of the earth is business Of mine.
Where are you going to diner"
cat ex-Secretary Fosters, blast your
replied Hanna with laugh. And after tho
correspondent had gone away the chairman
added: "That young man is all right. Did
you notice how nicely he turned lne?"
A Bit of Blunt Speech.
This correspondent will get on famously
with Mr.. Hanna, whereas If he had shown
the white feather the big man would have
had no further use for him. To another
correspondent who was sitting In the midst
of group Of newspaper men and politi-
clans MIR Hanna turned suddenly with
well feigned Indignation.
"You are the darned cuss that has made
lnOIo uTOuUlo luz lfl0 tUbu duy Ottl0I ucWS-
paper man on earth" he exclaimed.
II am glad of it, retorted the corre-
spondent, "ana tell you right here I'll
make a heap more trouble for you before
get through with you"
If this man had apologized or whined,
Hanna would have dropped him forever.
AS 1t is, they are very good friends.
These little stories give cue to the char
Ankr 80 ~,,ks IL. Il
sometimes seemingly brusque Of manner
he means nothing by it. He has one of the
most kindly hearts in the world. He would
not hurt mans feelings for the world
not a decent mans.
In the newspaper profession, as in any
other, there are all sorts Of people, One
writer, not Washington correspondent,
had printed some mean things about Han
ma. At the St Louis convention be turned
up with proposition, which he discreetly
sent by third party, that if Mr.. Hanna
would give him "the inside" of things he
would agree not to write any more dis
agreeable stuff. Mr.. Hanna's answer was
characteristics:
You tell the man who sent you that
he can go to the bad place, and the sooner
the BETTER
Elements of Success.
Hanna loves frankness If he loves any
thing, and the wonder Is that he gets on
SO well as political manager He despises
secrets and mystery. When he came ia
washington year ago, on the occasion OF
the meeting Of the national Republican
committee, and took several rooms at the
Arlington hotel and had prominent people
brought in to see him, one of his friends
came around one day with a long face,
saying:
Hanna, they are talking about you all
over town. They say you have come down
here and opened up regular Mckinley
headquarters, and that your sole business
here Is to boom Mckinley for the presi.
dental nomination. What can We dc
about it?"
DO about IT." replied Hanna. "Why,
II any one has any doubts about what
am here for I will 20 and get banne,
painted with the words Mckinley Head.
quartsrs' on 1t and have It flung across
sne stfeet want everybody to know IL
We are not here tor Mckinley. what
are we'here fore''
All the big senators and uo,,t,o,.n. h.v.
Deen 70 see Hanna during the last week
snd'ehey all like him. Thew can sse no,s
In 49,