Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1900-02-08
Senator Hanna May Retire.

Repeated stories of Senator Hanna's
possible retirement from politics have
been treated here as purely specula-
tive They have been frowned down
by the Senator's friends, who insisted
that these tales, one and all, had the
same slim foundation, an occasional
ejaculation from the Senator's lips of
utter wearlness of the political game,
and desire, If he could, to be quit of
the burden he assumed when he set
out to nominate and elect his friend
and neighbor to the Presidency.
Speculation, however, has given way
to something a little more definite,
when it transPires that Senator Han
ma has himself said he will resign as
Senator from Ohio so soon as William
Mckinley is reelected President.
This statement was made to one of
the Senator's most powerful political
allies in Ohio, and 1t cannot be dismis-
sed as a New Years resolution, for it
was made after that date sacred to
new programs of conduct that are not
meant to be followed. The ally in
question says the Senator talked of
this intention in all seriousness,
The Senator's friend George Nash, is
Governor, and so he is assured he can
resign safely and name his successor,
whom the Governor will appoint.
With Nash in the executive Office the
astute political manipulation, which
was used to humor Bushnell into ap-
pointing Hanna to succeed John Sher-
man, will not be necessary.
The forecast is not speculative, but
it is, SO to speak, at this time, the
Congressman from the Nineteenth
District whom Governor Nash will be
asked by Senator Hanna to appoint as
Senator Foraker's colleague. But the
air castle which is the carpentry and
masonry of the dreams of State Chair
man, Congressman and Major General
Dick is wholly probable of realization.
To succeed to the full term after en-
joying Senator Hanna's unexpired
term, by appointment, would mean on
ly controlling some forty men, which
would give him the caucus nomination
in the legislature. To the real and
not merely nominal head of the Re-
publican State organization this would
be wholly feasible.
Mr. Dick said, some time since, ne
wished very much to be Governor of
Ohio, but he probably realizes that
this is as wholly out of his grasp as
was the similar ambition of General
Grosvenor. Both have been too great
extremists in Ohio factional squabbles
to make It safe for a convention to
nominate either on ticket destined
to win.
So well was this recognized in the
case of the Congressman from the
Eleventh district last winter that it
was common saying that not even
the power of Providence could com
pass the nomination OF General Gros-
venor and the same remark hardly |
would be disputed anywhere if applied |
to the Congressman from the Nine
teenth District.
But the Senatorship is possible for
either, and General Dicks recently de-
veloped state of hostility to Grosven-
or is said here to have been caused by |
the hope of the Senatorshlp and by the
fear Grosvenor wanted 1t, too. Gros-
friends have hunted in vain
Tor something to confirm their sus-
Dicions that Dick has helped foment I
ne opposition to Grosvenor's renom-
nation for Congress, but they are
aware he is the real obstacle in the
way of Grosvenor being made one of
he delegates-at-large from Ohio to
he Philadelphia convention.-Col.
Jor Com. Trib.