The Washington times., 1901-07-12
,ircnlation Statement.
New RepubIicnn Machine.

Tho New York Evening POST prints
- somewhat sensational story from
Washington outlining an alleged
scheme by Senators Hanna, Elklhs' anu
others. the purpose OF which IS TO FORM
a machine within the Republican party
by which the policy and the nomlna-
tions Of the party shall be compie'eH
controlled. To an unbiased outsider II
looks very much as if the party was
prettv effectually controlled by Just
such a machine now; but there are
few things which Mr.. Hanna has not
vet succeeded in doing, and the story
referred TO, which purports TO come
from a prominent Republican, may
have some foundation.
The scheme is said To contemplate the
retirement of Secretary Hitchcock,
Postmaster General Smith, Fourth
Assistant Postmaster General Bristow'
and Pension Commissioner Evans. II
the object of the move is largely one OF
loot. the Interior and Postoftice Depart
ments are just the branches Of the Gov
eminent which the machine would be
anxious to have under complete control.
The patronage OF the Postofiice Depart
ment is enormous, while the Interior
Department abounds in rich pickings
or an immense scale.
We are left to infer that the four OIL
GERS specifically named cannot be con-
troIIed By Messrs. Hanna, Elkins, ct al
How this may be cannot, Of course, be
known by outsiders with absolute Ger
tainty. and the story may not be strict
" accurate in all Of its details. 1t may
even be that no scheme at all has been
fully formulated, but there is no reason
to doubt that in a general way the plan
suggested refects the IDEAS Of those
who aim to dominate the Republican
party.
Mr.. Hanna is the typical Republican
politician OF this day and generation.
He represents everything that the Re
publican party .-tands for, and some
thing more. There are few points
upon which the local leaders Of the
party have not yet been educated fully
up to the ideas of the Republican Ma
tional Chairman. and there can be no
doubt that he is anxious to complete
the great educational work. Such
a most effective instrumentality 10 that
end The material out Of which to form
the machine is not lacking, and we may
be sure that Mr.. Hanna knows just
where TO lay his hand upon IL He is
not in politics either for his health or
for fun. Of that We need no assurance
1t is about as certain as anything can
be ttat he is not allowing his Sena-
torial duties TO interfere with his pri-
vate business. Few men in America
are in closer touch with the industrial
situation than he is, and while the other
trust magnates are rolling up their mil
lions-hundreds OF millions. some Of
them-we may be sure that their
spokesman and champion in the Senate
is not entirely disregarding his own in
terests.
But aside from the acquisition Of
wealth, Mr.. Hanna has another ambi-
tion-he wants TO be President OF the
United States. In the late Presidential
campaign he made some speeches. The
published reports Of them do not stamp
him as a great statesman or even as
much of an orator: but he seems 10
have imagined that they were great,
and there can be no doubt that his ideas
Of himself have been growing apace
ever since the campaign closed. That
he has his eye u5.u the Presidency ad-
mits Of no question, and if he can form
such machine as the one which is
made the subject Of the Evening
Posts" story, it viii materially aid him
in securing the nomination. II seems
strange that with his claims upon the
party it should be necessary for him TO
scheme and contrive at all in order TO
secure this coveted prize. Perhaps it is
not, but then Mr.. Hanna never takes
anything for granted. and il he fails 10
secure the Republican nomination in
1903, it viii not be through any want OF
effort on his part.
But all OF these details aside. the
story of the probable formation Of this
political machine is Of some general in
terest, illustrating as it does the aims
and tendencies Of the Republican party
as now organized and led. II has be
come distinctively machine party,
both locally and nationally. and its
leaders are with very few exceptions
men whose own selfish interests. often
pecuniary, are the handspring Of every
political move they make.
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Kings and Emperorr.