The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-25
LABOR And HANNA
Some Union Men Think His Possible
Candidacy a Joke
OTHERS BELIEVE HIM A WINNER
True Friend of Labor
Interests.

Mark Hanna as candidate for the re-
publican nomination for president appeal
Ing for support from the ranks of organ
lied labor in the country Is no lncongru-
GUS situation, ii considered from an un-
prejudiced standpoint, according to the
views Of some members of organized labor
in Minneapolis, andait is promised that il
the right bower of the Mckinley admin
istrations sees fit to enter the 1904 con-
test he can count upon enough support
from this and other sources in Minnesota
to insure pretty fight for the delegation
Then there are others prominent in the
local labor field who think that Hanna
as candidate for president Is quite i'm
possible and who refuse positively to con-
slider the matter other than as joke.
They won't believe that Hanna is serious
when She talks of rounding up organized
labor in his behalf. No more impossible
situation could be imagined, they insist,
than Hanna, a wealthy corporation man
himself, representing this class both Of
ficially and in person, and with an une-
quivocal corporation record from way
back, bidding for the support Of organ
lied labor on his record of only a year
or two past as factor in the settlement
of strikes. If he can really show a clear
record as liberal and fair-minded en-
ployer of labor during his business career
before he became prominent in politics,
the situation would not be so strongly
against him. they declare, but in their
estimation he can't do this. His latter
day solicitude for labor, manifested right
in the stress of a great national cam
paign in which he and his party had so
much at stake, does not qualify him SUI
ficiently for taking high rank as friend
Of labor, they insist. He has either got to
prove clear previous record or serve
longer apprenticeship before labor can
ba hat he &c Of u with bor
with them to stay.
Editor Stevens, Of the Union; M. E.
Neary, president of, the State Federation
of Labor and Phil Carlin, secretary Of
the building trades council, are promi-
nent among those who take this view
of the case. But Neary, and Stevens are
rock-ribbed democrats and naturally
could hardly be expected to be wholly I'M
prejudiced. ..,v a...
George f. Moulton, who, it will be re-
membered, paid a visit to the Hanna
shrine in Cleveland early in the winter,
and came back impressed with the idea
that Hanna was the. biggest man in his
party, and tho likeliest candidate for the
next nomination in the whole BUNCH in
sists that the foregoing sentiments do not
by any means represent the feeling among
the great mass of the republican element
Of organized labor in Minnesota. He
says he has made it his business to feel
the public pulse pretty generally during
the past few mont his and, in his estima-
ton, Hanna is strong with organized
labor and all other classes in the commu-
nifty and<is surely a conner. 49,.
81 tell you, my boy" says he, in that
confdentially impressive way of his, "old
Marc is all right, and there are lots of
people coming around to that way of
thinking right along these days. The
young man Roosevelt Is active and
brainy and strenuous, but for hard headed
common sense and firm and comprehen-
sive grasp of the situation under all cir
sumstanees and conditions Hanna is the
man, and you. will find labor warming UP
to him more and more as the months go
on. Now, you mark what say"
Mr.. Moulton is not SO far off in his esti-
mate Of Hanna's ability and sterling quail
ities according to w. J. Oker and Andrew
Lundquist, veteran members Of the car
penters' union Both men declare firm
belief in the Ohio mans honesty of pur-
pose, and they are confident that the facts
will show that he has been always just
employer of men and consistent friend
Of organized labor. His latter day SER
vices in connection with the miners and
steel workers strikes were of great mo-
ment, they claim, and stamp him as one
having the true interests of labor at
heart. They believe his candidacy should
be given fair consideration by organized
labor; that the facts do not justify labor
either in flying at his throat or taking his
candidacy as joke. r. -