The times., 1899-09-05
THE CAMPAIGN In OHIO.
The Federal Administration Drawn
Into the Contest


COLUMBUS, Ohio, Sept. THE Rspub-
lfcans here are making every effort possible
to enlist the full support of the party ma
chinery. local, State. and national, to elect
their ticket on November 5. They realize
that they have their work cut out for them
II they intend to defeat John r. Mclean
for Governor. The nomination OF that gem
tleman by the GAINESVILLE convention has
sent such confusion and fear into Repuhli-
can State headquarters that Chairman Dick
has been hard put to conceal the effects
of Mr.. McLean's nomination Until six
weeks ago, when John r. Mclean was
mentioned seriously in connection with the
Democratic nomination, the Republican
managers felt that Ohio would be safely
Republican this year, and that the Demo-
Gratis would be beaten after a perfunctoTy
campaign by from 80 coo to 80, ,0O0 plurality.
That the party managers viewed the out
look with complacency was evidenced by
the fact that MIR. Hanna and Mr.. GrosveEov
sailed for Europe soon after the Republican
convention, and that they rested contented-
ly until the Cincinnati editor began 10
loom up formidably on the Ohio political
horizon. Mr.. Grosvenor has already re-
turned and Mr.. Hanna is fastening home
Their return so soon after the nomination
OF John K. Mclean is regarded by poll
ticians generally as not a little significant
of the feelings OF solicitude in Republican
headquarters.
Resourceful as is Mr.. Hanna in political
warfare, he is now. for the first time in
his life, matched against one who. it IS
believed, can outwit and defeat him at
every move on the political board In
John r. Mclean. Marcus A Hanna Will
find an opponent whom he can neither bull
doze nor intimidate. The Republicans
know this and are using every political
device to rally all leaders and all resources
in support Of their candidates
1t is now limited that Republican mana
gers IN Ohio will attempt to Offset the
admitted weakness Of their ticket in the
counties and in the State generally by en-
listing the interference and support of the
Federal Administration. Colonel Dick
realizes, it is asserted, that something
must be done at once to check the growing
popularity and strength OF the Democratic
nominees. He has, il is said, advised
strongly against calling upon the Admins
tration for help. knowing as he does that
any interference from Washington in State
elections is always regarded with disfaver
by the people of Ohio. He has eounseled.
1t is alleged. summoning the strong arm
OF the Federal authority only as a last
resort in case the Democratic nominees
should seem to have clearly an advantage
in the race. Colonel Dick has now, it is
said. altered his opinion somewhat and has
concurred in the wishes of other party
managers to invite assistance from the
National Capital
The recent visit of the Republican can
didate, Judge Nash. with President Nc
KinleY at Canton was made. 1t is said, at
the suggestion of Colonel Dick The pur-
pose of that friendly CALI was. it is al
legged. nothing less than TO prevail upon the
President to use the influence of the Ad-
mtnistration to help the Republicans of
Ohio out of hole. Ii is said that Judge
Nash outlined TO Mr.. Mckinley the
strength of the Democratic position in
Ohio this year. and represented to the
President that unless some supreme effort
should be made by Republicans. the State
would, in. all probability, go Democratic.
Mr.. Mckinley is said to have the matter
under consideration, and his decision is to
be announced as soon as Mr. Hanna re-
turns from Europe.
1t will be remembered that Mr.. Gros-
venor. few weeks before he left this
country for travel in England and France,
remarked in an interview that the Re
publicans of Ohio were not at that time
making much of a holler." But" he
added. as soon as Mr. Hanna gets back
from Europe we will move out to the open,
meet the enemy, and defeat him at the
polls" That was the interview. also. in
which Mr.. Grosvenor scored such eminent
public men in Ohio as John Sherman and
Joseph B. Foraker.
Now that Mr.. Hanna is coming back,
and both Mr.. Sherman and Mr.. Foraker
have friends enough TO resent the gratui-
tous filings of Mr.. Grosvenor, the Re-
publican managers will, it is thought. give
the signal for the boys" to begin to do
the ''holler" act all over Ohio. The clarion
| call is to be sounded. not from the State
House in Columbus, some say. but from the
White House in Washington President
Mckinley is expected TO blow the blast
lust as soon as Mr.. Hanna gets back from
Europe" and gives the word
1t has been suddenly discovered since
| john r. McLean's nomination that the peo-
| pie in Ohio have begun to clamor for free
rural delivery" in the postal service.
BILLY" Gaitree of Marietta and big
Tom Houpt of Findlay both Republican
| politicians, happen to be the free rural
delivery agents for the State. BILLY
and big Tom are nothing if not patriots
| The interests of Ohio are dearest TO their
| hearts The only thing in the world they
| love better than those interests is, per-
| haps, the free rural delivery" system.
| They want TO spread that convenience all
! over Ohio Billy and big Tom say
| that the State never needed the free rural
| delivery so badly as it does now that
! John R. Mclean has been nominated for
! Governor. 1t ought to go into effect right
| away, they declare. and postal carriers and
! postal clerks ought to be appointed GER
| tainly before November ), 1899. Billy
and big Tom think So and they have a
| habit OF framing their thoughts in nice ac-
/ cordance with the desires Of the Republican
! State Committee.
| E. G. Rathbone, Mr. McKiniey's direct
or of posts in Cuba" is another card that
! Colonel Dick is said to be holding up his
! sleeve. Major" Rathbone used to be "di-
| offices to "the faithful in Ohio before the
| expected back in ample time TO rally the
boys in the postoflces all over the State.
i He is pretty busy just now in Cuba. it is
| explained, but he is promised back as soon
as he is needed.
| In the mean time 8. S. Pursell, the ma
| jor's" assistant in the postoffice business,
| is on hand ready and eager for all emer-
gencies. SIP Pursell is admittedly an
artist in his line. 1t is said that he can
| make a postoffice "go further and last
| longer" and do more good than any
other Republican postal patriot in the
/ State.
! Il would seem on the whole that Mr..
| Hanna is about due in New York and that
/ the boys, from Grosvenor all the way down
or up-have been tipped off, to let the
| elephants loose and to get down to work
right away at the same old stand and in
the same old style.