The Washington times., 1901-09-03
HANNA SEEKING CONTROL
Hopes to Dictate the Republican
Nomination i'm 1904.
Laying Plans to secure the Southern
DeIegations-A Piece of Political
StratcRy-Conditions Under Which
He Might Become n Candidate.

Stratcgy-Conditions Under Which
He Might Become "a Candidate.
NEW YORK, Sept 2-The Evening
Post prints the following from its WASH
ingtpn correspondent:
Although the Republican National Con-
vention is still three years distant. one OF
the most important strokes for securing
its control has already been accomplished.
The Southern delegates will, unless pres
ent plans greatly miscsrry, be responsive
10 the nod OF Marcus A. Hanna, and the
group of Republican inner managers of
whom he is the head. This information
comes from excellent sources.
''Of late there have been several occur
rences in Southern politics bearing upon
this fact, which have been misunderstood;
a speaker in the Virginia Republican State
Convention. for example. proposed MI
Hanna for the Presidency, and the ap-
plause which followed was significantly
prolonged. From Alabama inklings OF a
like feeling have recently come TO light.
Now this has been construed as indie
ative of desire on Mr.. Hanna's part TO
be a Presidential candidate, and that his
friends were setting up pins accordingly.
Such an inference is not warranted Mr..
Hama has not yet come to regard HIM
self seriously as a Presidential candidate,
but he does desire To control the next Re
publican convention. and he has found
so easy way of doing it that TO lay
down the sceptre OF power already in his
grasp would indeed be extraordinary.
Mr.. Hanna has never let go Of the or
ganizAtion which he built up in the South
for the convention OF 1896; HIS heutenants
have told the colored brethren who prin-
~ IL vak
tact 90 make as few changes as possible,
and whenever from death or other cause.
the admission of new man into their
charmed circle is necessary, TO see TO IL
that the newcomer will adhere 10 the old
understanding. These men are told not
to worry about the next Presidential can
didate; that before the time comes Mr..
Har,ns will communicate to them his
wishes. They are. in the meantime, to re-
tain control OF the local organization and
await deyelopmeuts This is all that the
Southern outbursts for Hanna for Prcsi-
dent have meant; they have been pu5iic
recognition of allegiance to him In any
form that he may desire. While waiting
for a concrete expression these Southern
organization men cheer for him much as
they would for the abstract idea of justice
or patriotism. or for an emblematic fig
will be commutable into direct votes for
whomever he decides upon for the re
publican nomination.
ain this movement Mr.. Hanna stands
for a small group of men who are the
real masters of the Republican party
They feel that they can run it much bet
ter than though its affairs were thrown
open to everybody throughout the coun-
try who cared to claim the Republican
name. They have accordingly perfected
an organization which by 1904 Will aston
ish the country, although they will then,
as now keep its real workings disguised
as much as possible. The Southern dele
gates compose nearly one-third of a ma
tional convention but they give strate-
gic strength far greater. The control, In
one mans hand, of a block of State con-
ventions which can be sprung from time
to time in such way as most effectively
to influence the country, is of the utmost
value.
THE desire of politicians everywhere
TO be on the winning side in Presiden-
tial contest. with all its various visions
of patronage and power, is tremendous.
When Mr. Hanna and his coterie, after
deliberate thought. decide upon Mr.. X Y.
Z. for the Republican nomination, they
will spring a Southern convention or TWO,
both unanimous for X. Y. z. THE wait
ing congregation of politicians who have
no preference, except one for being with
tte winners will prick up their ears at
IL surprisingly solid strength OF the Hon.
X Y. u. few Northern conventions
will then have their innings; and if per-
chance in the open field that will there
generally prevail some other candidate
seems to be creeping ahead. the Hama
syndicate will presently put into tle
stereopticon a few more X Y. a. lantern
slides, and in that way sentiment in the
North may be controlled to an amazing
extent.
THE country has not forgotten Mr..
Grosvenor's series of predictions in 1886,
which did so much to strengthen the
hearts of McKinleyites everywhere. The
totals were so gratifying that few read
ers analyzed them to see how largely
they were made up of Southern delegates
who represented practically nothing but
the financial resources Of somebody. Since
then. events have contributed greatly to
strengthen Mr.. Hanna's hold. proposal, I
II will be recalled. was made by Henry
Eray.se - S,-e down Southern represen-
tatioi, in Republican conventions to a
basis approximately dependent on the
vote actually cast. This alarmed the col
cred politicians of the South about as
much as a reported attempt to divert
Texas oil into the Gulf of Mexico would
now pOpuiaIlDn OF beaumont.
The Southern Republicans came on here in
considerable force, aid made an appeal
TO be allowed to retain their only remain
ing political asset. They We're victorious,
largely because Of the personal appeal of
President Mckinley, ard of the tireless
work of MIR. Hanna, Mr.. Dick, and others
in control of this inner organization
With becoming gratitude the Southern
delegates WENT back home. declaring of
Mr.. Hanna that they were his TO com
nand.'
The history of Southern delegations in
Republican conventions is interesting. The
cOiored man is now so generally excluded
from politics and its rewards that he
wants to make the most of what remains
do not care how active he is in Republican
csucuses- But travelling expenses are
high and the practice long ago arose on
the part Of Northern candidates of put
ting out some money for this purpose.
Besides such bills and some incidentals
an occasional trip through the North. to
Niagara Falls or some such place, was
thrown in.
But competition soon forced up these
rates. General Alger according to John
Shorman's trustworthy memoirs, did his
part toward bulling the market. BY 1896
the colored politician Of the South had
come to regard his right 10 attend the
National Convention and TO have voice
in IL equal to that Of the Northern dele
ize this feeling with the high Ideals
of politics OF Northern statesmen
a delicate euphemism grew up. II
was said that II the colored dele
gates, or the men who could be
HEALTHY SCH00I,WA4M