The San Francisco call., 1898-01-06
THE OHIO CONTEST.

1) creditable to them in any respect \ is the contest which factious minority of
 - the Ohio Legislature is waging against the election of Senator Hanna to the office he now holds by appointment. It appears from all reports to be fight made solely from motives of personal spite and is not justified on any ground of public benefit or even party advantage.
 The appointment of Senator Hanna to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the retirement of Secretary Sherman was cordially approved by almost the whole membership of the Republican party of the State. When the time came to prepare for the campaign of last summer MT. Hanna put forward by the Republicans their candidate for the Senate. Nearly every county convention of the party indorsed him. His candidacy was a conspicuous feature of the can vass. The attacks of the Democratic and Populist fusion directed much against him than against the Republican candidate for Governor. The election of a Republican Legislature under such circumstances was proof that MT. Hanna is the choice of the Ohio voters well of his party for the Senatorship. The Republicans who are opposing him therefore violating their ex- press pledges to the people and the express com 1nands of the people to them.
 If the Republican bolters gave any reasonable excuse for their opposition the case against them would not be so bad. They have advanced, how ever, no whatever except to assert that MT. Hanna has treated them badly and they re- venging themselves Even the Governor who has taken prominent part in the fight the side of the factionists, has no defense to offer for his course except to assert that since he appointed Hanna to the Senatorshp the Senator has 'waged cruel and unrelenting war" upon him.
 The Governors plea of "cruel and unrelenting war is eclpsed, however, by the plea of Represen- tative Griffith that he never consent to vote for MT. Hanna because of indignities heaped upon his wife In the extraordinary letter addressed to the public on this subject MT. Griffith does not state the nature of the alleged indgnites nor does he give the names of the men who committed them. He simply strikes the attitude of an indig- nant husband and makes grand stand play of avenging wrong done to his spouse.
 Under ordinary conditions the people could af- ford to laugh in derision this faction quarrel of little men over petty spites and imaginary griev- ances, but unfortunately the conditions of politics are not ordinary. The Republican administration at Washington needs strong and vigorous sup port in the Senate, where the equal division of par ties threatens seriously interfere with the enact ment of important legislation essential to the well
 fare of the country. factiona strife in Ohio that threatens to weaken Republican supremacy in the Senate is therefore matter of national concern. If the bolters persist in their determination to de- feat the will of the party and of the people they might as well bid farewell to political life At the next election the Republicans whom they have be- trayed will follow the counsel given by stawart of party discipline and "conciliate them with an ax