The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-03
A wRANGLE OVER PATRONAGE.


Except one member of the Ohio Assembly
who is so absurd as to declare that he pro-
poses to vote for a silver Republican for
senator, there is no difference of sentiment
on public issues among the Republicans of
that body. These men are like Republicans
oil over the country-practically one on all
political issues. In the history of the Re-
publican party there has never been a pc
Rod when the millions belonging to it were
so in accord on national issues. Still, one
might be led to assume that the bitter fight
in progress at the capital of Ohio is waged
over an irreconcilable difference of political
opinion instead of a struggle between am
bilious factionists for personal aggrandize-
ment and patronage.
1t is unnecessary to go back to the orr
gin of the quarrel. So far as Mr.. Kurtz is
concerned it goes back to the last Republic
an state convention. A state officer, with
salary of $780, he was anxious to continue
to be chairman of the Republican state
committee. In other words. he was greedy,
else he would have been content with his
office. Mr.. Hanna was opposed to Mr.. Kurtz
continuing as chairman, and he pushed him
out probably after the Hanna fashion,
which is harsh and rough. Thereat Kurtz
forgot his loudly professed devotion to Re-
publican principles, and went into the cam
vass to defeat Mr.. Hanna, even if by so
doing he should elect free-silver Demo-
crat. This makes it painfully evident that
Mr.. Kurtz is and has been a Republican
simply for what there is in it, He longed to
be a boss and a dictator-to have men do
his bidding in return for official favors. He
pinned to dispense patronage. He could never
have been a sound Republican, else he
would not so easily have found his way to
the camp of John r. Mclean. When next
Mr.. Kurtz appears in politics it will proba-
bly, be as a Democrat full of venom and
fighting the principles he has so warmly
cspoused. He was Republican for reve-
nue. only. OF the three Republican mem
bers from Cleveland who accepted the NOM
ination under a pledge to vote for Mr..
Hanna, in addition to his nomination by
the state convention, there can be no de-
Tense of their conduct. They are pledge
breakers.
Now for the other side: Mr. Hanna has
none of the qualifications of a public man
to deal with others. He is not only dog
matte, but he is exasperating. He has
learned his political methods in the field of
business competition, which often means to
knock down and drag out Mr.. Hanna could
have adjusted all differences had he been
possessed of any political sagacity He
could have pacified Kurtz and he could
have avoided the fight with the little but
venomous mayor of Cleveland. But this
is not the Hanna method. He pacifies with
a club and soothes with vitriol He has not
even displayed ordinary sagacity in regard
to the dispensing of federal offices in Ohio.
Men of political sagacity would have tried
to use the appointments in a manner which
would have won to him men who have been
opposed to him and brought to his support
representatives in Congress Instead of do
ing this it is said that he has acted as
dictator, not even consulting representa-
tives whose wishes it would have been pru-
dent to consult. He has habit of bullying
when it is entirely unnecessary, if that
method can ever be said to be necessary.
1t was so extensively displayed in Indiana
prior to President MchlnieyS NOMINATION.
that if the Republicans had not been large
ly in favor of his nomination Mr.. Hanna
would have lost him the delegation.
But Mr. Hanna's unfortunate character
istics do not warrant Kurtz an office-hod-
err in going into secret conclaves with the
most VIGOROUSLY corrupt Democrats in the
country to compass his defeat after he has
received the unanimous nomination of the
Republican state convention. Governor
Bushnell, who owes his election to the same
convention which declared for Mr.. Hanna,
can find no justification in a course of hos
tility Senator Foraker, who will be held
responsible should Mr.. Hanna be defeated,
should be able to see that the success of
Republican principles in Ohio is vastly more
important than the dispensing of a few Of
fees and that the defeat of man nomi-
mated by a state convention for senator
by those who call themselves his friends
will not commend him to the Republicans
of the country at large.