St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1897-01-23
THE WHOLE THING.
Private Citizen Hanna the Great Repu;s
tican joss. ss

Hcan joss.
1t something new and preposterous
| to the American people that q private
citizen like Mark Hanna should assume
not only all the duties of a political boss
| IN ruling a party, but all the duties Of
| q dictator in fixing the policy OF the gov
ernment. Boss and car rule has APP
| peared in the past. But the display was
never as offensive before.
There was a sort of humor and good
nature in the appearance of Hanna as
the manager of Maj. MeKinley's cam
| paign for the presidential nomination.
He also displayed great executive ability
| in political management. AS an anna
teur, dashing into the political arena,
he surpassed in ability and craft thevet-
eran professionals and experts of many
campaigns.
| He defeated Reed, Allison, Harrison,
Morton, Alger and other candidates at
the republican national convention in
ST. Louis. It does not appear that he
displayed unusual cunning. He used
but few political arts. Itappeared mere
| ly that Hanna represented q possible
campaign fund of Monte Cristo proper
tons and that he would be the aInloner
of patronage if Mckinley should be
nominated for president and elected.
That settled it.
There could be no serious objection
/ to all this as partisan methods are pre-
ticed. Republican candidates always
are nominated by machine methods,
which include both terrorism and cor
ruption if they are necessary TO ac-
eomplish the purposes of machine lead
ers.
But now, after tie nomination and
election, comes a startling innovation.
Hanna has developed from caucus and
convention boss, from a mere faction or
| party organizer, to dictator who pro-
poses to shape the legislation of con
gress on tariff and financial subjects.
1t is the most fragrant usurpation OF
boss rule that ever was attempted.
The reports say that at a recent meet
ing of the senate committee on finance,
Hanna was the main spokesman and in
terpreter Of the Mckinley policy for
the future. It needs no unusual gift of
intelligence to understand that the Nc
kinney policy is inspired by Hanna.
There will be no legislation on the
tariff nor on finance which Mckinley
will approve unless it has Hanna's in
spiration and authorship.
Credible. rumor clothes Hanna with
power to negotiate in McKinley's name
for cabinet appointments. He will
make up the administration. He is to
exercise in McKinley's name. or rather
in the presidential name, the powers
OF the executive in constructing the
cabinet.
Every applicant for q federal appoint-
ment under Mckinley, each person ex-
peeting a share Of the patronage and
spoils, applies to Hanna for an indorse-
ment. 1t is understood that while he is
attempting to exercise czar rule in re-
gard to legislation he will be the foun-
tain and source Of presidential appoint
meats.
How long will the people stand this
hagrant display and offensive exercise
of one-man power outside of office or au-
thority? How will great republican
leaders stand the rule and dictation of a
new man who has intruded into party
counsels and control?
The appearance of a private citizen
assuming the duties and powers of Presi-
dent in debating public policy to a COM
mittee Of congress and in dispensing
the great patronage of the administers
ton is a. new "Ohio idea" of the worst
character. It must have originated In
the. depths of political perversity and
corruption.
Will the great republican leaders,
Senator Sherman, Speaker Reed, ex-Sen-
ator Thomas C. Platt and others of their
class. accept the dictatorship Of the new
man in politics? Will they abdicate the
place of honored leadership which they
have held for years in favor Of this in
terloper in public affairs?
It would not be unwfse to venture a
prediction to the effect that within six
months Boss and Gar Hanna will be the
most unpopular man in the republican
party or in the country, except, possibly,
Mckinley, If he shall obey Hanna's boss
and ear edictsi Chicago Chronicle.
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