Omaha daily bee., 1900-12-29
HOW THE WORK WAS DONE.
story of Chairman Hann0's Financia
Management of the Campaign.

New York Mail and Express.
This is the story, an open secret, known
to many men, but never before published of
how the last republican campaign for the
presidency was kept in active operation
until its successful conclusion.
1t is a fact that at one time Chairman n
Hanna and his associates in the conduct OF
that political battle were face to face with
the threatened necessity of closing the re-
publican national headquarters, both in
Chicago and here; dismissing practically
all their clerical force, cancelling all con-
tracts for preparing, printing and distribut-
ing campaign literature and withdraw wing
from the stump all paid "spellbinders," re-
tanning only volunteer orators and main
tanning only a small office in the two cities.
This crisis occurred, moreover, at that very
period OF the campaign when, for various
reasons, the tide OF the popular sentiment
seemed to be setting Bryanward, and when
the much-quoted republican apathy was ex-
citing the most serious apprehension among
the leading advocates Of President McKin-
ley's reelection. ~. 49,. -
AS a business man 1t has been with Mr.
Hanna cardinal principle never to incur
an obligation which he could not see a
clear way to meet. For years president ial
campaigns had been conducted with an eye
first to their partisan success and second
to their financing. The campaigns of 1884,
1888 and 1892 had all closed with the ma =
tional committees Of each OF the great
parties heavily in debt. These obligations
had been either paid or compromised, but
many of the debts incurred in one campaign
had not been paid. either in whole or in
part, until the beginning of the next.
When Mr.. Hanna took charge of the first
Mo mi atap -, L.
that he was going to conduct that first
battle" as strictly business proposition.
Politicians laughed at him. Yet within a
week after the election in November he
had closed the republican national head
quarters with every bill paid-a feat never
before performed by any national chairman.
The politicians ceased to laugh. They took
| 1t for granted that Senator Hanna meant It
when he said that the campaign o. 1900
would be run on exactly the same business
principles
After the Philadelphia and Kansas City
| conventions had been held Chairman
Hanna came to this city. For necessary
campaign funds he addressed himself
primarily to men whose business affairs
made them interested In the continued
prosperity of the country. for the sake Of
their employees and other dependent and
co-relatlVe enterprises as well as Tor them
| selves. He called together twenty such
men in this city and they subscribed GER
tain amount 1t will be remembered that
Mr.. Hanna at this time visited Boston, but
1t may be said that his journey there
| yielded results more valuable in sentiment
| than in cash. In Philadelphia also sub
| scriptions did not meet expectation and be-
| fora, ,long Mr.. Hanna found It necessary to
caN the New York twenty together second
| time. Again the twenty responded
After a journey to Chicago to open the
| headquarters there Chairman Hanna paid a
visit to this city. This was at the time
when republican apathy seemed most alarm.
| ing. Men were everywhere taking the re-
election Of Mckinley as a matter Of course.