The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-03-08
Is the Biggest Man in
Republican Party.
He is Now Paying the Penalty
for His Prominence.
Speculations as to How He Will Get
Along in the Senate.

DECENTRALIZATION Vi tilt kONtTNllltHb
ments, Mark Hanna Is without any ques-
ton the biggest. Mr.. Hanna Is paying the
penalty OF fame. He is wanted by every
one. At his hotel people stand In line
waiting for chance to enter his room and
confer with him about official appoint
ments. Mr.. Hanna tries TO see every one.
His good nature IL greater than his
strength. He promptly informs all callers
that ID is not his business To parcel out the
offices; that is President Mckinley affair.
But as chairman Of the yational commit
tee it is generally recognized TO be his duty
TO help winnow the wheat from the chaff
and TO see that men who are entitled TO
consideration for their party services are
given chance to present their claims in
good season.
Hanna 10 Very Tired.
Mr.. Hanna has achieved his ambition
and become a senator of the United States.
This is very happy day for Mr.. Hanna.
He has seen his protege escorted TO the
White House by triumphant throng, and
he himself Is entitled to sit among the
elect in the American house of lords.
These are fine trophies for one man to
wear, a man who but few years ago was
unknown in our politics outside his own
state. But Mr.. Hanna has won these
victories and achieved this high place at
frightful cost He is really very tired
man. have never seen i'm public or pri-
vate life man who needs rest as much as
he does, and If Mr.. Hanna's physician does
not insist upon his giving up work and
worry for a time and deyoting himself
wholly to the task of recuperating his
strength, should not be surprised to see
total collapse. Mr.. Hanna has been under
tremendous strain for more than a year
The campaign for McKinley's nomination
really began two or three years ago active
ly. 1t had It's start at the Minneapolis
convention Of 1892, but for the last two
years Mr.. Hanna, as its organizer, has
thought or talked Of little else.
There was the campaign for the nomina-
ton. After that had been won the nation
al campaign came OH with five months Of
the most arduous and trying labor that
any man ever performed. How Mr.. Hanna
struggled and toiled and worried and car
ried point after point and put up his big,
broad shoulders and supported terrible
burden of responsibility no one but himself
and one or two friends knows. When the
election was over, 10 was supposed he would
get little rest. He certainly was entitled
to it. But not So He has worked almost
as hard since election day as he did before.
His office at Cleveland has been the Mecca
OF Office seekers. He usually found 80 men
waiting for him when he reached his desk,
and by nightfall the number had not di-
minished.
Leadership In the senate.
There is good deal of curiosity as to
how Mr.. Hanna will got along in the sem
ate. Some there are who predict he will
run afoul Of senatorial traditions; that he
will not have sufficient respect for the ira
iitions of that honorable body; that he will
try To become n leader too rapidly. One
and very prominent Republican
he is, said TO me: "Air. Hanna Is
great man. He has had wonderful sue
,ess. But he has been In the habit of run
ming regular military campaign. He has
ssued his orders like general in the field
md they have been obeyed. 1t will not do
or him to try those tactics in the senate.
They Will fail. In the senate, you know,
The equality OF men Is strictly recognized.
Here the tradition Is that every man Is ev-
'ry others equal. Things are accomplish
d by mutual concessions. The unwrittcn
aw Is that when a collision comes on one
nan says to the other, You yield little,
will yield little, and we will fix it up
No leadership in the sense In which that
ERIN Is applied Is possible In the senate.
even bir. Allison Mr.. Aldrich, Mr.. Cor
nan, Mr.. Quay, who are the actual leaders
Il the senate, do not try TO govern. They
oak and smooth and use soft methods.
All of which Is no doubt true. But in
ny opinion Mr.. Hanna will easily accom-
nodate himself 10 the circumstances. IL
10 keeps his health, he will soon become
ne of the most influential men in the sem
te by following the very methods which
he senate insists upon. know Mr. Han
"a pretty well, and know him TO be a
most adaptable man. He can use the erts
I flattery and softness and persuasion as
yell as any man. At any rate his career
n the upper branch will be watched with
reat interest.
Bumps on the Moon.
There can be no doubt that Mr.. Hanna's
roubles have only just begun The Office
eekers will poster the life out of him. In |
ddition he looks upon himself as respon-
bile to "a great degree for the success of |
he Mckinley administration. The prompt |
assage of the tariff bill Is his great mis- |
ON. To this he will bend all his energies. |
n this task his bed will not be one of |
)ses. There are thousand difficulties In |
ne way. AS one old senator expressed it: |
Mr. Hanna set out TO capture the moon.
Ie got IL, but now he finds there are
jumps on 10.
Major Mckinley took the oath of office
pom Bible furnished him by the bishops
the African NJ. II. church IL was
orgeous affair made specially for the oc-
ision I'm bindery at Cincinnati Tho
,vcrs wero inlaid with gold and silver.
O many in the vast audience which as
mbled at the east front of the capitol
iere seemed TO be something peculiarly
tting that the representatives Of the once
)wntrodden race should furnish the Bible
a which n new president took the oath of
Is Office. But the Judges and officers OF
10 supreme court were not pleased that
le bishops were permitted 10 furnish the
)ok. This Is ono Of their prcrogatiyes
ld has been from time immemorial.
Gorge Washington was sworn In the first
me by the secretary Of congress, but after
Iat the chief Justice or n justice Of the su.
'eme court has always presided az the
rmony. The Bible used, after being ap-
I'm scrihcl and signed on tho dv |