Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1898-01-21
LATEST p0LTTTrAT sFNgATJ0v


The principa! political event, as well as
sensation, within the past ten days was the
election of Mr.. Marcus A. Hanna as United
States Senator for both the short and long
terms. Senator elect Hanna's terms of office
are TO begin in March next and end in 1905.
His election was the elimination of one of
the most bitter political contests In the his.
tory of this country. His Republican CD
ponents in Republican Legislature vehe-
mently opposed his candidacy and, until
his election was made, claimed a victory
So well laid were the plans to defeat Mr..
Hanna's aspirations that his opponents are
amazed at his success
But, though Mr.. Hanna has been elected,
the fight has not yet ended. Charges OF
bribery have been made by his Republican
enemies, and paper protesting against his
being sworn in as Senator has been for
warded to the United States Senate. The
Legislature of Ohio has begun an investi-
CATION into the charges, and the fight will
10 all probability be transferred to the ma.
tional legislature. 1t is understood that
message, conveying offers of money for
vote, was intercepted over the telephone,
and is made the basis of future attempts TO
prevent Mr.. Hanna being seated Mr..
Hanna is vigorously denounced by many
Republicans, and it is claimed that his cleo
ton to the United States Senate will cause
the loss OF Ohio in the next election, and
also New York as well. Mr.. Mckinley, it
seems, aided Mr.. Hanna, and now comes in
for shore of the vtuperation.
II may be regarded as much more than
possible that Mr.. Hanna and his managers
in Columbus were compelled to utter good
deal OF political promising paper prior to
their final victory, and it is highly probable
that the smoke and dust of the conflict will
hardly have cleared away before the hold
ers OF such instruments will be on hand de.
manding settlement.
Perhaps it is therefore unfortunate that
the noble American industry of office max
ing has suffered certain degree of languor
Mr.. Hanna may entertain some hope of re.
viving il through distinctive attack upon
the civil service law, but that even, if uti
mately successful, will take time. There is
fear then that the supply will not be nearly
up to the demand created by events in
Ohio.
II We add to this consideration, the p-ob-
ability that good deal of the patronage
may have become due and payable to Sena
tor Foraker since his early morning call at
the White House, which so closely preceded
the Hanna success in Columbus, there may
be reasonable doubt that the offices would
go around, even ii there were not any civil
service law, and people could be pulled in
or kicked out of government employ at will.
On all these accounts we are afraid that
the seat of the distinguished iron-monger
will be lined with lacks, rather than roses,
aud this might be SO aside from any prob
ability that unkind charges of bribery may
be investigated by the Senate. 1t is certain
that new and heavy influx of Ohio Re
publicans will be experienced, and that
most of their time will be spent in the
merry game OF hunting Hanna. Hotel men
may be thankful for that, but it does not
follow that Hanna will be. On the con-
trary, after the first exhilaratng flush OF
victory has faded from his colossal cheek,
it would not surprise us TO see him become
as pessimistic As old Schopenhaur. Yet he
may live to reach the conclusion that it was
hardly worth while to go through so much
to get 50 little.