Evening star., 1901-12-09
TEMPEST IN A TEAPOT
RUMOR OF FRICTION OVER ORGANI-
ZATION OF OHIO LEGISLATURE.
Mr.. Foraker Makes Statement Say
Ing That His Relations With Mr..
Hanna Are Cordial.

Senator Foraker of Ohio, in answer to
numerous applications made to him for a
statement concerning the alleged friction
between him and Senator Hanna over the
organization of the Ohio legislature, today
gave out the following:
IT have been SO overwhelmed with my
duties here that it has been impossible for
me to keep fully up with the newspapers
1 did not therefore have chance to read
until yesterday and this morning what has
happened in the Ohio newspapers about the
organization of the Ohio legislature. The
whole thing may be appropriately charac-
terized as tempest in teapot, and very
small teapot at that.
Beyond a natural desire to help men
who would help me to get places they want
l have no interest in the question who shall
have this, that or any other Office In con-
nection with the organization of either the
house or the senate.
Has Not Made Anybody Candidate.
II have not made anybody a candidate
for any place, and in so far as 1 have had
or expressed a preference for any one 1t
has had no reference whatever to Senator
Hanna or his reelection. AT the risk of
the remark appearing disrespectful, 1 feel
bound to say that did not think of him or
his political interests in any such connec-
tion. 1t did not occur to me that these
matters had any reference to him or his
political future.
81 do not know what Mr.. Kurtz has said
or done except from his statements that
have appeared in the newspapers, which I
have no doubt are absolutely truthful, but
l do happen to know that he had nothing
to do with making Mr.. Scobey a candidate
or of making Mr.. Speelman or Mr.. Price a
candidate, but whether he had or not he
has not represented me or pretended to, SO
far as / have any knowledge, in regard to
any of these matters.
'~The story that 1 have been appealed to
repeatedly to make conceSS onS for the sake
of harmony and had refused to do SO is
utterly unwarranted except to this extent,
Senator Hanna wrote me a letter request
ing me to favor Mr.. Uhl for clerk of the
senate. / answered as politely as l could,
expressing regret that 1 was unable be-
cause of my promise to another to comply
with his wish.
Cordial Relations With Hanna.
Senator Hanna took exception and
would not think of doing so to my answer.
On the contrary, in the only conversation 1
have ever had with him in regard to these
matters, he said he recognized that 1t was
my privilege and also his to stand by our
mutual friends and that where We might
have differing preferences there was no
position Our conversation on this subject
was entirely friendly and our relations have
been and are entirely cordial. We do not
always agree about everything, but when
we differ there is no thought of unkindness
on the part Of one toward the other, simply
because we do not happen to see in that
particular case exactly right.
$50 far as the organization of the legisla-
ture is concerned, to speak my mind frank
ly>about it, 1 do not think either Senator
Hanna or myself should be bothered about
it, or that We should have any special care
as to how or by whom the various places
are filled, provided good men are chosen
who will creditably represent the party
and the state. ! do not know OF any Of the
candidates who have been mentioned for the
respective places who are not good men,
who will, if chosen, worthily fill the posi-
tions they are seeking.
II decline, therefore, to be excited or dis
turbed in the slightest by the plays of the
imagination, which are flashing SO sensa-
tionalIy in the columns of newspapers not
noted for devotion to the interests of the
republican party.