The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-06-13
TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION.
POSTAGE PREPAID.
FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 1902.
BREACH BET WIEN ROOSEVELT
AND HANNA.

While il has been pretty openly hint
ed that senator Hanna would be Presi-
dent Roosevelts opponent for the presi-
Dental nomination. these two men have
been on very Intimate terms since the
latter entered the White house. Senator
Hanna has been frequently called in
to consult with and advise the presi-
dent, and it has been said that he has
really been closer 20 the president than
many of the so-called Roosevelt men
in congress.
This state at affairs could not last,
though. and now comes the breach be-
tween these W men. 1t is over a mat
ter # politics. and politics in Senator
HaEna's own state-an affair which.
Mr.. Hanna seems to think should be
left to him to manage He advises the
president not TO make an investigation
of the alleged violation of the civil SER
vice rules by fOur republican office
holders of that state, on the ground
that it will hurt the party. The charge
has been made that these four federal
office holders, three of them Senator
Hanna's appointees, have been guilty
of pernicious activity in politics. In
direct opposition to Mr.. Hanna's advice
the president has determined that this
violation of the law by the senator's
friends shall be looked into.
1t seems that Mr.. Burton. congress-
man from the Cleveland district and
chairman of the river and harbor COM
mittee, preferred formal charges of
violation of the civil service rules
against these friends of Mr.. Hanna,
UrGed the president to have the matter
investigated ard promised that the
charges would he sustained
The trobule grew out Of the proceed
ings of the recent republican state con-
vention in Ohio. in which Senator
Hanna. by means of federal office hold
ing friends carried everything before
him, and, as Mr. Burton charges, the
local political machine in the latter's
district has been SO organized as to put
men hostile to him in charge, and for
this reason Mr.. Burton will decline to
again be a candidate for congress.
To comDlicate matters still more and
10 widen the breach. the friends of Mr..
Burton are threatening to run him for
the senate against Mr.. Hanna.
Civil Service Commissioner Garfield
is to go to Cleveland this week, and it
is understood that his visit is for the
nrrpnn-o nS inIracfioa finn thas,a 49,
So the war Is on between Hanna and
Roosevelt. and the public may look to
see some fur tIy. If the president has
made up his mind to have an investiga-
ton of these matters. which. by the
way, are charges of violation of an or
der issued by himself. the public may
rest assured that there will be no turn
ing back. nor any withdrawing of
these republican federal office holders
if the president can prevent it. The
presidents worst enemies cannot &C
cuse him of double dealing or insin-
certify. If he undertakes this investi-
cation he will go to the bottom or it,
let the consequences be what they may.
That is the kind of man he is. When
he refused Senator Hanna's advice he
cast the die N there was no turning
back for him without injury to his
reputation in one of lis chief charac-
teristics. He knew when he made that
decision that Ee then threw down the
gage of battle to his most formidable
antagonist within his own party.
This viii be no inconsequential per-
sonal TIFF between two party leaders.
but will oe a battle for the mastery in
which n n It go down. The presi-
dent has touched the Ohio senator in a
tender spot. He has invaded his as
sumC prerogative of managing the
political affairs CT his state, and Mr..
Hanna will never forgive him, and be-