The times., 1899-05-02
GENERAL POLITICAL
NEWS AND 90 SSLP
Mhnt d. the Mntter WIN Hnnnn.-

What Is the Matter With Hnnnn.-
Senator Hanna's latest interview tele-
graphed from his home city of Cleveland
was quite a shock to his followers in this
city. The interview bore internal and ex-
ternal signs of being a squeal. which was
about the last thing that Mr.. Hanna's sup
porters expected from him. Mr. Hanna.
they thought was too old and too expe-
rienced hand in the great game of poll
tics to weaken in the face OF his opponents
and plead the baby act. His strongest op-
ponents believed that he would at least
go down with his colors flying and his face
toward his fees. But unless Mr.. Hanna
has been msquoted Bismarck's description
of the Marquis of Salisbury would apply to
him: "a man of wood painted TO represent
iron." Mr. Hanna begins by stating that
he is opposed to bosssm. No man in mod
ern times has been more of an arbitrary
boss than Mr.. Hanna. He has held the
veto power on practically all Of the Presi
dents appointments with scarcely a sim
gle notable exception. Mr.. Mckinley has
not made an appointment since he became
President that was personally offensive to
your Uncle Mark Hanna. 1t is safe to say
that there is not one Federal officeholder
in the entire South appointed by Mr. Nc
kinley VINO does not owe his selection to
Mr.. Hanna. 1t is notorious fact that in
the great majority of instances Mr.. Han
mas endorsement has been absolutely nee
essary to insure the applicant an appoint
ment in the Government service in the
South. In Mr.. Hanna's own State he has
kindly permitted now and then a Foraker
man to slip through, but that was only
done as matter of policy, to keep Mr.
| Foraker good -natured. Fully 30 per cent
| OF the Federal appointments in the State of
Ohio by the present Administration are
| Hanna's personal strikers. This statement
does not admit of any argument 1t is a
| fact. Senator Hanna has not confined him
| self to his own State and the South in the
matter of supervising Federal patronage
| He has, according to all accounts, poked
his nose into nearly every State Senator
Thomas c. Platt could give interesting and
| corroborative testimony on this point;
| likewise Senator Henry Cabot Lodge of
Massachusetts, Senator Shelby NJ. Cullom
of Illinois, Matthew Stanley Quay of Penn
syivania, and score OF other Republican
leaders of equal prominence.
1t has almost become by word among
Republican statesmen that the favors they
were able to obtain from the Administra-
tion were by the grace of Mark Hanna -
And yet Senator Hanna now declares that
he is opposed to bossism and believes that
the people should rule. There is a very
plaintive note in Senator Hanna's inter-
view. He announces that he has no in
tention of trying to influence the coming
Republican State convention in his State
in its selection of candidate for Cover
nor. He has not conferred with his col
league. Mr.. Foraker. the senior Senator
from Ohio, and does not intend to. All that
Mr.. Hanna ventures to assert is that in his
opinion Toledo" Jones will not be the
nominee of the Republican State conyen-
tion for Governor. He does not appear
to be dead sure on this point, however.
Between the lines his followers detect
signs of uncertainty and misgiving which
amount almost TO a panic. Mr.. Hanna
statement that he has not seen Mr.. For
aker since the adjournment of Congress in
March is capable of being construed as an
appeal to that gentleman to come forward
and grant him the privilege of an au-
dence. Taken altogether, Mr.. Hanna's in
terview convinces many OF his best friends
that there is really something very serious
the matter with Mr.. Hanna. The ques-
tion is, What is it?"
Mr.. A!Ger's Ambition. - Mr.. sIcur
has permitted it to leak out that he is
an aspirant for senatorial honors. He
states frankly that he would like to succeed
March T. 1901, but he adds that he will
not consent to enter into any ''unseemly'
scramble for the place. This is taken to
mean by those who know Mr.. Alger that
he will not accept the position IL he cannot
get it. Mr.. Alger. unconsciously perhaps.
let a political secret out when he said
that Mr.. Mcmillan had promised to retire
in his (Alger's) favor at the expiration
of his term This would explain to a GER
tain extent the pertinacity with which Mr.
Alger has held on to his present position.
His resignation from the Cabinet for any
reason would injure his prospects of be-
coming Senator. Ii the matter could be
left to Mr. Mcmillan and Mr.. Alger it
would doubtless be settled in the latter's
favor forthwith. but Michigan politicians
say that neither one is likely to have very
much to say about the selection of Mr.
McMillan's s. successor when the time comes
Governor Pingree is an open candidate
himself for the place, and it is conceded
now that he has the inside track.
when l read the announcement that
Alger was a candidate for a senatorial
toga." said a Republican yesterday Il
breathed sigh of relief | said to my
self AT last Alger is going to get out of
the Cabinet But find that was little
premature in my calculations. The sena-
toral vacancy does not occur until the
close of the present Administration, so 1
suppose that we will have to put up
with him during the remainder of Mr.. Nc
Kinley's term. 1t is too bad. | think
that the President ought to suggest to
Mr. Alger that it would be wise for him
to resign from the Cabinet and devote his
exclusive attention to getting elected to
the Senate. Mr.. Alger certainly owes Mr.
Mckinley that much service in return for
favors received, but of course he cannot
| be expected TO take that view of the sit
uat!on. However. Alger's announced can
ddacy for the Senate viii open a very
pretty fight in Michigan. 1t is by no
means certain that Mr. Mcmillan intends
to pull out of the race. Verbal with
drawals. as a rule are of little value
They are rarely ever binding. My own
opinion is that Mr.. Alger will experience
considerable difficulty even If he receives
Mr.. McMillans assistance, in getting him.
self elected to the Senate
As Viewed by Western Republic
ans.-The candidacy of Secretary Alger to
succeed Mr.. Mcmillan in the Senate is not
entirely to the liking of certain Western
Republicans. 1t is claimed by these men
that Alger has established a record as
Secretary of War which. to say the least.
reflects no credit upon the party and that
the interests of the party organization
could best be subserved by the election
of some man with an untarnished pub
lie record. They deprecate the alleged
agitation which has been set on foot by
Ayers friends for his election. They
think that Mcmillan should be returned.
Representative Tawney of Minnesota, a
prominent Republican member of the
Ways and Means Committee, in speaking