The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-09-16

Hay TO Mr. Dick. chairman OF the ONO
Republican Committee, is attracting
much attention and elioiting a great
deal of criticism. 1t is altogether an
unusual thing for the principal mem
Der Of the cabinet to NEEDLE in the po'
litical campaign of a State. and for so
dignihed a man as Mr. Hay to do this
unwonted thing, has started the tongues
Of the gossips in the briskest kind Of
clatter The almost universal surmise
is that the head Of the cabinet did not
volunteer TO take hand in the hot
Ohio campaign, but that he has been
urgently requested to do so by Mr. Nc
Kinlsy and the party managers, and
the inference drawn from the unusual
circumstance is that a great fear has
seized upon the Republican leaders over
the result Of the gubernatorial contest
in the Buckeye State. For Mclean and
the Democrats to carry Mr.. Mckinley s
own State would be most serious blow
to his aspiration for the denomination,
which it is generally understood he SO
keenly covets. The alarm has IN
doubtedly been rung, and rung so
loudly that its reverberations were
heard across the Atlantic. and saluteu
the tympanum Of Mark Hanna's ear so
appealingly that he at once seized ms
hat walking cane, overcoat and UNI
brella. and hustling his undergear half
packed into his valise. and hailing the
first cab he could see, hurried TO wharf
and caught the steamer for America.
He and his barrel Of money are badly
wanted lust now in Ohio. AS soon as
the steamer lands at New York Mark
now mark" the phrase-will take the
cannon ball express for Cleveland Ohio,
and at once open the ammunition box
that is to supply the cartridges for the
gubernatorial campaign. Among the
Oh dts in Washington is the statement
that Grosvenor the leading Republican
from Ohio in the House Of Representa-
tives, as bitter a Republican organizer
as breathes the vital air, has been on q
visit to the White House, and has been
influential in starting the fears Of the
President as to the result Of the pend
ing Ohio campaign. There is no kind Of
doubt but that the McKinleyits are fear
fully disturbed overthe complexion OF the
Ohio campaign. To add to the disorder
it is well known that Foraker is carry
ing a brick in his pocket for Mckinley.
And then. there is the Bushnell trouble.
II is well known and tenaceously treas
ured up. that Mark Hanna freely
traded off votes in the election two
years ago greatly to the peril Of Gov
Bushnell's prospects. The pigeons are
coming home to -oost The times In
Ohio-that is the Republican times
are sadly out of joint. Hanna on his
homeward voyage no doubt recalls the
despairing invocation in Hamlet
The times are out of joint o lackless
wight
That l should be the one to set them
right.
There can be no doubt that the NOM
nation Of Mclean as the Democratic
candidate for Governor has paralyzs
with fear the Republican party
in Ohio and in the country a.
large. The money that Mark Hanna
and Grosvenor will expend (out
Of their private pockets and out Of
the general campaign corruption fund.-
will be more than was required to pay
for the acquisition Of Louisiana in 1903.
with its stretch Of territory to the Pa
cihc Ocean and more than the value
Of the Northwestern territory coded by
Virginia to the Government in 1884,
Neither Hanna nor Grosvenor have sub
scribed a paper similar to the one given
by Martin and Tyler to the committee
in Oulpeper, not to spend dollar or
dime for votes or for liquor in the com
ing election No, they have subscrib-
ed no such paper and the head Of the
barrel" will be broken open and Its
contents scattered over the good old
ofice-seeking and office-holding State
Of Ohio.