Evening star., 1902-08-08
A NATIONAL CHAIRMAN
New England Boom for Gov.
Crane.
THE LEADERS UNEASY
THINK SENATOR HANNA SHOULD
REMAIN.
Believe He Would Be Loyal to the
President in That
Position.
THE LEADERS UNEASY

Many republicans who favor the nomtna-
tion Of President Roosevelt in 1904 are feel
ing very uneasy over the course being pur-
sued by New England men who desire to
have Gov. Crane Of Massachusetts succeed
Senator Hanna as chairman Of the repub-
lican national committee. The reason tor
this course on the part of the New England
friends of Mr.. Roosevelt is that they feel
greater confidence in Gov. Cranes loyalty
to the President than they do in that of
Senator Hanna, because they fear MIR.
Hannas ambition and conspicuous position
among republican leaders may lead him to
allow a boom for himself to take on head
way at a critical period Of the proceedings
leading up to the conventions choice of its
nominee. But many other republicans and
strong advocates of Mr.. Roosevelt regard
this view Of the New Englanders as un
wise in the extreme, and they are preparing
to do everything in their power to head off
the Crane boom for chairman of the ma
tional committee and to keep Mr.. Hanna in
that place.
Their reason for this course is that they
feel that so long as Mr.. Hanna holds the
position of chairman his loyalty to Roose-
Velt is assured, and that as soon as he
should be relieved of the responsibility of
that position all the forces that would nat
urally rally about him and urge him as a
candidate for the nomination would gain
strength, with the result that he would at
least be made formidable rival Of the
President.
Cordial Relations Maintained.
1t is quite well understood that Mr.
Roosevelt has maintained cordial relations
with Mr. Hanna. But this same cordiality
of relationship does not extend to all of
Mr. Hanna's friends, many of whom have
met with disappointment at the hands of
the President. These men, 1t is said, form
Nf i,,q, +;,~l, III:
they would be glad to see a break between
the President and Mr.. Hanna, in which
case they would press the claims of the
ONO senator for the nomination. This is
what friends of Mr.. Roosevelt are afraid
OF, and they hope to have the cordial rea-
tlons between the President and the Ohio
senator maintained and to keep the latter
as chairman of the republican national
committee and the natural manager of the
campaign OF the next republican nominee
They feel that he will not sanction a
boom for himself so long as he maintains
mat relation toward the President. They
declare that Mr.. Roosevelt has practically
every other element in his party back of
him for the nomination, and if they can
Keep the Hanna men in subsection they
may succeed in securing Rooseyelt's nomi-
nation by acclama ton. If New England
men were to push Gov. Crane forward as
chairman of the national committee he
cause of suspicion that Mr.. Hanna NAV
have presidential ambitions himself thew
might give the latter a very good reason
for retiring from that important position.
though they say that would not lessen his
influence with the party, while it would re-
lieve him from any obliga ton he NAV now
feel to support the man for the presidency
who was nominated for the second place
on the republican ticket with his approval.
Looked at With Anxiety.
What the advocates of Governor Crane
may do in pursuing their advocacy of him
for the Craftsmanship is being looked for
ward to with anxiety by Mr. Roosevelt's
friends. The conspicuous ability of Gov
ernor Crane is acknowledged, but his lack
OF experience is referred to as reason why
ne could not be a match for Mr. Hanna In
the handling of a great national campaign
making necessary a knowledge Of condi-
tions in every state of the Union. This
ability will be of greater Importance In the
nominating convention than in the election
because there are elements of doubt In re-
lauon to the nominating convention hut
republicans feel that the results of the ma
tonal election in 1904 are assured and that
whoever gets the nomination will be elect
ed. Governor Crane is a millionaire who
keeps loose purse string, is mixer" and
Is regarded as a thoroughly good fellow
with ambition, vast amount of ability as
an organizer, and, indeed, with all the quail
ties to make successful political leader
But his experience and operations up to
the present time have been confined almost
entirely to Massa chusetts. He has an army
OF friends who have been enthusiastic for
his advancement along political lines and
they have confidence in him which is born
of an intimate acquaintance covering many
years. They are also friends of Mr. Roose-
yelt and they want to bring the two mon
together
Those who are feeling anxious about the
way Governor Cranes eligibility as chair
man of the national committee Is being
pressed, place the greatest reliance on the
judgment of Mr.. Roosevelt himself because
they know that he can practically control
the situation SO far as the Craftsmanship is
concerned. They believe that Mr.. Roosevelt
Is very glad to keep Senator Hanna just
where he is, and are quite confident that he
will be able to do so. They will, it is said,
bring such influence as they can on the
friends of Gov. Crane to induce them to see
the situation they see it and to cease
any attack on Mr.. Hanna as chairman of
the national committee.