Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-11-11


to the ticket from the outset is undisput-
ed The dislike Of Hanna in his own town,
and throughout the State, for that mat
ter is simply marvellous. 1t is more than
quiescent dislike; 1t is active burning ha-
tired that is absolutely appalling There is
no accounting for 1t by ordinary reason
ing the hostiles cannot we'll explain it
themselves. It appears to be instructive.
This antagonism, eating from Senator
Hanna's sudden rise to power, though he
was far from popular as a Cleveland bust
ness man, is deeper than mere jealousy Of
his mastership of the Republican party
1t springs from what is now the popular
conception of his personality. The preva-
lent idea is that this Hanna personality is
far from winning; 1t proves too often ac-
tually repellant He is sadly devoid of
tact in dealing with men. Intolerant OF OPP
position or manly independence of opinion
he considers nobody, conciliates nopody
He does not lead; he orders, he drives
Like the bull in the lane, he passes no
one and will permit no one to pass him.
His methods are those of the INSCRIPTIONS
ward boss, not those Of a national leader
Such methods may pull party through
one campaign successfully, but they do
not conduce to long tenure, either of the
boss or his party
This startling attack upon the ma
tional boss of the Republican party by
the party's chief organ is evidently
more to relieve the long pent-up dislike
of Hanna felt by the Tribune, which
knows it voices the sentiments of most
decent Republicans, than the result OF
anything the returns showed. Evil
IDENTIFY the Tribune was so anxious to
attack Hanna that it was rather hasty
in selecting its opportunity, for
Hanna's home was conspicuous for its
large Republican vote.
Still, though the Tribune's criticism
may not exactly fit the case in point,
there is no question that it hits the
nail on the head so far as Ohio gener-
ally is concerned, for, as we have al
ready pointed out, Hanna and Hanna
ism were condemned in Ohio by a
majority of about $4,000 of the total
vote. There is no question, also, that
the Tribunes criticism finds an echo In
the hearts of majority of Republicans
throughout the country, doubtless in
Guiding Hanna's own protege, Mr.. Nc
Kinley, himself, who certainly recog-
nizes the baneful influence of the
shadow Hanna as boss casts on his adj
ministration, but who, like the bal
ance of his party, has lacked the cour-
age to openly antagonize Hanna's
leadership
Thus the Tribune's article will tickle
thousands of Republicans who, should
they suddenly be ushered into Hanna's
presence, would bow and cringe before
the big boss's dominating personality.
Like all tyrants and brutal, bulldozing
leaders he is cordially hated by his own
forces and rules through the fear he
inspires.
1t ought to be a trifie different in
the case of the President, however,
for there is no man to whom Mckinley
owes more, personally and politically,
than Mark Hanna, who has been by
long odds the most potent factor in
elevating Mr.. Mckinley to his present
high position. Hanna's persistence,
Hanna's vigor, the trust funds that
Hanna was able to collect and his great
ability as an organizer and political
general are the sole stepping stones
by which Mckinley reached the presi-
dency Had it not been for Hanna
and Hanna's aid to-day William Nc
Kinley, who was unknown in national
polotics prior to 1896, would doubtless
be humble citizen of Canton, O., and
in pretty poor circumstances at that.
More than this, Mark Hanna has in
Cured his present unpopularity solely
through his efforts in behalf of Nc
Kinley's political elevation. True, by
shamefully kicking poor old John Sher-
man aside Hanna gained for himself
comfortable United States Senator
ship. but his efforts chiefly have been
in behalf of Mckinley.
Yet to-day McKinley's strongest
supporters are most antagonistic TO
Hanna, to whom they refer as a mill
stone about McKinley's neck and a
handicap upon his administration and
his future! Think Of it. Hanna, 20
whom Mckinley owes actually all he
has or has to expect referred to by
McKinleys friends as a milestone about
his protege's neck, as a handicap to
his future and a general stumbling
block in his path! Such is human graf
itude! How easily they forget that
Mckinley is not self-made, but a
Hanna-made man.
We predict, however, there will be
some fun before Hanna is ousted from
the premiership of the g. o. p.
The election of Judge Nash nv tha laru-