The sun., 1901-03-14
i. II. T.'s LETTER.

l'HlluuelplIu, NlurcH Id.
same visionary politicians, who no
ioubt are desirous of achieving fame,
have been busily engaged circulating an
extremely preposterous story regarding
a third term proposition for Mr.. McKin-
lry. As is customary among the aspir-
Ing wire re-pullers, Mark Hanna is given
mi credit for the launching o. this alb
surd notion, which is so irrational upon
its face that no sane man can possibly
believe Senator Hanna guilty of advanc-
ing such a. thought. Yet there are those
who look with alarm upon the effect
the discussion of this story has already
caused. Hanna has always been regard
,d as Il level-headed man, whatever his
ambitions may be, and it may be pre-
snmcd that even now, while in the flower
or his strength and influence, he has not
lost his customary sagacity. AS might
le naturally supposed, the friends of
llama are vigorously protesting against
the further publicity of the story, giving
rs their reason that it is nothing but
fabrication woven out of the whole
cloth, for the purpose of injuring Presi-
dent Mckinley and thereby creating a
breach between him and Hanna.
1t has long been known here and in
Washington that Mark Hanna has Bit
tcr enemies within his own party, who
would not hesitate to strike an injurious
blow. provided it could be done to advan-
tagc. While the third term proposition
is Il little premature, and seemingly upon
its face insanely absurd, some of the
best informed politicians look upon il
with mixture of doubt and disgust, as
they say they see in it a movement Of
Il master hand. 1t is explained by these
men, who never cease studying the politi-
cal frnament, that the originators of
the story caused its publication in or
der to get Mt the popularity of Vice
President Roosevelt.
Roosevelt, it is admitted, looks with
par,lonable pride upon the Presidents
chair, and ut this moment he is con
silcring his chances four years later.
At the National Convention. which was
held here last summer, Roosevelt dis
played an indifference regarding the
second place upon the ticket that drove
the leaders Of his boom almost upon the
verge Of insanity. He was not only
apathctic during the Excitement that pre-
vailed at that time, but cxnsperatingy
cool and collected, until Mark Hanna
took him in hand, disciplined him so
10 speak, and coerccd him into accepting
the honor which the country desired to
bcstow upon him.
1t was tacitly understood then and
there, between Hanna and RooScvelt'S
friends, that Mr.. Roosevelt should be
given first choice for the presidency in
1904. and for this reason the knowing
politicians take no stock in the third
term controversy. They regard it as II
story put out for the purpose of getting
the sentiment of the people upon which
future actions may be based. But what
ever the motives of Mark Hanna and his
followers may be. President Mckinley
has no thought of becoming his own
successor.
lie is positively opposed to third
term. and he will he found as firm in hi>
mind four years hence as he is today.
The third term talk may he banished
from the minds Of thinking men, with
the positive assurance that it will never
, ,inaterialize. 1t may he used ut intervals
MS ,compnss is used to determine the d
rcction Of the wind on the course of the
ship, hut for no other purpose.
Mark Hanna is not fool; neither is
President Mckinley nor Vice President
Roosevelt, but some of the present po-
litical aspirants may be so. classcd be-
fore the close Of the present year
There will he no third term for Ires-
dent Mckinley. because the people as II
mass are opposed to it and for the rea-
son, too. that the President himself looks
with decided dsfavor upon any such
extension of power
The vicissitudcs that have of late
marked the experiences of those con
iicctcd with the Lafayette Hotel, reached
Il climax Monday when two constables
appeared on the scene and took charge of
the famous old hostery in the name
of its recent purchaser the Land Title
Company. Some months ago Mr.. Lewis
Smith. the proprietor, was taken seri-
ously i'll, in consequence Of which he
went to Atlantic City TO recuperate
During his stay in the city by the sea.
Mr.. Baker, the manager. was stricken
with appendicitis. which was 50 acute
in character that il made an immediate
operation necessary. Within IL day or
two after the surgeon had used the
knife, Mr.. Baker died and Mr.. Smith,
who was then dangerously Sick. was not
apprised Of the loss of his manager until
some time later. During this interim,
the property was sold for $1,25O, 900 to
the Land Title Co.. which met oppo-
stion in the heirs to the estate. Upon
an appeal to the courts it was found that
the sale was legal in every particular.
whcreupon the heirs withdrew from the
field, with the result that the new owners
have no virtual possession of the prop
crty. Mr.. Smiths lease, it is alleged
expired on the 4th of March last, and as
ii was not renewed, it is announced that
he can be forced to vacate at short no
ticc.
he Land Title Company will raze the
old house and erect upon its magnificent
site an addition to its office building AZ
Broad and Chestnut streets. giving the
structure Il frontage on Chestnut, Broad
and SAMSON streets. thus making it one
of the most desirable office buildings in
that section of the city. Business ut the
hotel is being conducted as usual, but
lust how much longer il will be permit
ted To continue apparently remains to
he decided by the new owners. Mr.
Smiths many friends here. ana among
the travelling public. deplore his mis-
fortune and are extending to him their
sympathy.
There were hundreds of thousands of
converts made to the mayors filtration
pan Monday morning. when Philadelphia
turned on the muddy water of the
S'4luNlklil 10 take her mornings bath.