The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-12-30
FINISH FIGHT
AT COLUMBUS
RESULT. OF LEGISLATIVE CONTEST
IN OHIO WILL SETTLE LEAD
Err SHIP QUESTION
HANNA FORCING THE ISSUE
Senator Foraker Feels Called ON to
Deny That He Spoke Disparag-
ingly of Hanna to. Presi-
dent Roosevelt.
OLD MAN TAKEN UNAWAREs

CINCINNATI, Ohio, Dec. 29.-The
contest at Columbus this week between
the followers of Senator Foraker ard
Senator Hanna over the organization of
the legislature has extended to factional
circles elsewhere in the state. While
the members of the legislature and can
didates are fighting at Columbus, the
principals are kept busy at long distance
telephones, notably Senator Foraker and
George B. Cox in Cincinnati; Senator
Hanna. in Washington; Congressman
Dick, chairman of the state executive
committee, and other Republican leaders.
Senator Foraker is visited here by
many leaders and members of the legis-
lature. Today he made the following
statement:
THE story published from New York
that I spoke to the president in a de-
rogatory manner of Senator Hanna, and
told him to be on his guard lest he
have trouble to maintain his leadership
If Ohio politics, is an unqualified false
hood from beginning to end. / never had
any such talk with the president, and
it is not creditable to him to suppose
that he would have retold it to Senator
Hanna if I had. This story is but a
sample of many others appearing in
newspapers and being peddled about
from mouth to mouth for mischieyous
purposes"
Lines Are Closely Drawn.
Most of the Republican members this
year are serving their first term, and
according to precedent they are expected
to be members of the next legislature,
which will select Senator Hanna's sue
cessor. The Hanna candidate for the
speakership will be Representative w.
s. McKinnon, of Ashtabula county, the
game COCK of Republican politics. The
announcement that Senator Hanna had
determined to support his candidacy was
made by State Oil Inspector John r.
Malloy, who was the final herald to
George b. Cox when Hanna broke off
relations with that leader.
Following this announcement came the
official withdrawal of Representative A
G. Comings, of Lorain county, and Judge
Thomas publicly announced his with
drawal and said that between McKin-
non and Price he was for the former.
In the senate fight the name of Senator
Benjamin F. Writ, of Youngstown, has
been brought forward as the Hanna can
didate for president pro tenn. against
Senator Frank B. Archer, of Belmont,
thus making a complete array against
the unchanged Foraker slate.
Must BE a Finish Fight.
It was thought that there would be no
opposition to Archer but the decision
of Senator Hanna compels it in order
that there may be fair and square
test of strength between the factions.
On every office within the gift of the
general assembly in both branches each
side will name man, and there will be
no mistake as to what the result means.
The hour for compromise has passed
and the fight must be fought out to the
bitter end.
The decision of Senator Hanna does
not come exactly as a surprise. The
situation was such as to demand some
action of him if he intended to remain
in Ohio politics as a leader. The OPP
position was organized without his
knowledge, and when he regained his
senses and looked about him it was al
most too late to lead the. fight in the
house. Representative McKinnon has
been candidate since the last state
convention, and has the backing of most
of the old members of the lower branch.