Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1902-01-06
OUTSIDE THE BREASTW0RKS.


The result of the late Hanna-Fora-
ker fight ut Columbus, was discounted
a day of two in advance of the time
it was actually pulled off
1t was distinctly victory Tor
Hanna, and just as surely II defeat
for Foraker. The latter may make
as many claims TO drawn battle and
the like as he pleases. The public
verdict is against him in this respect,
and 1t is in accordance with the facts.
Foraker started out to wipe Hanna
out OF the bosshlp in Ohio, and to
leave him, politically speaking, Il
stranded and discredited man. In this
attempt he wholly failed, and the fact
that Hanna did not succeed in landing
for his cump-followers II few small
jobs In the Senate does not render
his victory over his colleague any less
decisive.
We are not grleving over this out
come of fight in which the people
have no particular interest, and which
demonstrates the hollowness of Re
publican pretensions of party harmony
and good-fellowship. Mark Hanna
has many qualities ms politician
which are not lovable. But this Is to
be said for him: Coarse and brutal
as he is in his political methods, he
always fights I'm the open, and his enc
mics know that they will find him in
their front and not bushwhaking In
the rear. Not as much can be said for
Foraker. His record for opcnness IN
lighting and for loyalty to his party
friends has not always been snvory
sprung his fake ballot box sensation
FOR the purpose Of running politically
Gov. Campbell TO do the latter 1t
would have been necessary to drag
down and besmlrch AT least three
eminent Ohio Republicans. John Sher-
man, William Mckinley and Benjamin
Butterworth, all of whom were as
Ynocent of the charge us was Gov.
Campbell. NO one but Foraker took
any stock In the sensation and he had
every reason TO believe there was moth.
ing In 1t In advance of springmg It.
but he exploited II all the same.
Political friendship. or even common
political gratitude had no weight with
him. For the purpose of his own nd-
vantage he was ready to sncriice men
who had every claim TO his forbear-
ance, ana TO rise to political prestige
by trampling them under foot In the
inire OF personal disgrace.
In 1893 when his man Kurtz made
the fight on Hanna Foraker abandoned
him In the midst of 1t, when Il was
being waged for his own advantage
and probably at his instigation. And
when--thus forsaken by his principal,
kurtz went down TO defeat, but still
standing by his guns, Foraker did not
have the grace or the manhood To
utter one note Of pity, but left his
lieutenant TO shoulder the load always
piled on II beaten politician.
For these reasons added to very
many others, Mr.. Hanna is to be con.
graduated on having won in fight
very little credltablc to anybody. The
victory, such as 1t is is his.
As TO its effect upon his own for
tunes there Is not much that can be
predicted with certainty II leaves
him In possession Of the Ohio field, NO
far as his party is concerned, and this
VIII keep lots of hcnchmen In line,
who always keep their noses turned tp
windward 10 catch the smell of the
loayes and fishes no inconsldcrablc
matter In modern politics. We do not
see that II detracts much from this
result that Hanna was obliged to ca
into the camp of the Dnugherty faction
and to pick up Il candidate for Spenkc,
who would make no promises and wlc
was probably personally distasteful tc
him. The prestige Of the conflict sti,
remains with him.
AS for Foraker, he may think him
self lucky that he showed his han.
TOO late for Hanna TO turn in and bea
him for reelection TO the senate. II.
the latter surely would have done If II.
had known six months ago what h,
knows now AT best he stands as
whipped man in "A fight of his owl
inviting, and In which he put fortl
every effort TO win.