The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-13
MIR. Hunt on ..Marcus A. Hanna,

Union y. Hunt, secretary of state, re-
sponded to the toast, Marcus A. Hanna"
Speaking of Mr.. Hanna's part in the last
presidential campaign, Mr.. Hunt said:
MANY faint-hearted Republicans insisted
that we had had too much Hanna and
that some other man should be made chair
man of the national committee. but VIII
liam Mckinley knew Mark Hanna, and
he knew that no other man in America
was so we'll equipped as he to manage the
organization of a great party, and Senator
Hanna was again chosen to lead the forces
of good government to victory. No sooner
was this done thar our political foes began
a campaign of Islander and abuse, but they
pushed the matter too far, and in sheer
self-defense Mark Hanna went before the
public and became acquainted with the
people and the people with him, and when
they came TO know him they loved and
respected him. The Ohio man was Mr..
Bryans especial horror. The Nebraskan
charged him with being labor crusher
and a heartless oppressor of the poor.
Senator Hanna stood these charges for
awhile, then buckled on his armor and
went out TO Nebraska, and when he re-
turned the political scalp of the boy or
ator' was displayed among the trophies
that ornamented the walls of his wigwam.
Fearlessly he challenged Mr.. Bryan and
in their charges as TO his abuse of labor.
He offered to pay them a reward and re-
sign his seat in the Senate II they would
attempt to prove the truth of their asser-
specific. and Mr.. Hanna took a firmer hold
than ever on the hearts of the people.
No other man ever grew so rapidly in pub
lie favor as has Mr.. Hanna during the
past three years. Four years ago one
would hardly have dared discuss him even
in a Republican meeting. To-day he has
the respect and confidence or millions or
his countrymen.
81 have never had the honor Of a close
personal acquaintance with Mr.. Hanna, but
those who know him we'll tell me he is a
Ia
most approachable men in public life. The
humblest citizen can talk with him at all
times and places and on terms of perfect
familiarity, and that he is the soul OF
frankness. With him there is never any
attempt at evasion or equivocation. His
methods are plain and simple and his man
ner direct. He has few of the ornamental
tions and embellishments of speech, but
strikes straight out from the shoulder and
always manages TO hit the mark. He has
demonstrated his ability TO handle great
things and to handle them successfully.
His career in the financial world shows
that he is a remarkable financier. His in
terests have been wide and varied and
they have been managed with rare skill
and ability. He is not only great manager
of business affairs, but great manager
of men well.
a revolution in the city of Cleveland among
street car men, not a single man employed
on his lines joined the strike. and they did
not join the strike because he was always
fair with them. His declaration that he
would rather bring about harmonious re-
latiOns between labor and capital than be
President of the United States is a sin
cere declaration, and the utterance of
man who has the courage Of his convictions
and who also has the ability to bring about
this much to be desired consumatio II
that ability is possessed by any living
man.
but with all his ability and with all
his determination and with his great sue
cess in the management of men and af-
fairs, the side OF Mark Hanna's nature
that touches most deeply the American
people is the tender side revealed by his
recently published articles on William Me-
Kinley. The friendship existing between
our martyred President and Senator Han
ma has become historic as the most re-
markable friendship In the annals OF
American politics. No man ever had a
truer or more unseliish friend than Will
lam Mckinley had in Senator Hanna, whom
the American people have come 10 regard
as a sincere patriot, animated solely by
a desire to do that which is best for the
people and the government. and whom
they also admire as a sincere, unselfsh
and loyal-hearted friend"