Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-07-28
ROOSE VELT~HANN
WILL SURELY
SPLIT,
PRESIDENTS FRIENDSHIP FOR
WOOD WILL CAUSE A BREAK
SOONER OR LATER, 1T
IS BELIEVED.

WASHINGTON. July 26.-Everyting
is shaping up for break between Sena-
tor Hanna and President Roosevelt. I'm
mediately after the death Of President Nc
Kinley political seers became busy with
predictions of a split in the Republican
party with the friends of Senator Hanna
heading a faction that would seek the
defeat of Mr. Roosevelt for nomination
in 1904 There were hints all during the
session of congress that such a break was
imminent but 1t failed to materialize. Sen
ator Hanna, so far as surface indications
went. was one of the few prominent Re-
publican senator's who remained loyal to
President Roosevelt and gave hearty sup
port to the policies advocated by him
when the president had been deserted by
nearly all of the Republican senators in
the fight for Cuban reciprocity, Mr.. Han
ma remained steadfast and warned his
party that failure to pass the reciprocity
measure would be rebuked by the people
at the polls. In nearly every measure be-
fore congress the Ohio senator was square
ly in support of the presidents attitude.
But the break now seems unavoidable.
1t will come when the president attempts
to bestow further honors upon General
Leonard Wood. late governor-general of
Cuba. General Wood wants to be at the
head of the Panama Canal commission
and the president is known to be favorably
considering his name in connection with
the appointment. Senator Hanna hates
Wood. He believes that Wood prosecuted
Rathbone in connection with the prosecu-
ton of the Cuban postal frauds. He be-
lieves that Rathbone was used as a scape-
goat, to cover up the extravaganza If not
corruption that marked the history Of
American occupation in Cuba. The Ohio
senator has made this plain to the presi-
dent. Before asking for a new trial for
Rathbone Senator Hanna had a careful
examination of the records made and
threatened to expose the extravaganza un-
less the president gave Rathbone re-
hearing. This was done and the threatened
break was averted for the time being.
Since the talk of promoting Wood to the
management of the canal enterprise Han
ma has served formal notice on the presi-
dent that he will oppose Woods confirma-
ton in the senate and will carry the fight
to the limit, even to a break of his party
relations with the president.
If this threat had been made two months
ago II is probable that the president would
have abandoned any idea of placing Gen
eral Wood on the proposed commission.
Just now however, the president believes
that his nomination is practically certain
and he is not particularly alarmed over
Senator Hanna's threat. Reports from
nearly all the states in the union indicate
an almost unanimous sentiment in favor
of Mr.. Roosevelt's nomination and he will
probably as soon have the break with
Senator Hanna come now as later, for it is
certain to come.
There are good many Republicans
more or less prominent in their party who
do not share President Roosevelt's conf
dence over his denomination. They be-
lieve that Senator Hanna's friends win
present formal opposition to the presi-
dents nomination and will urge the Ohio
senator for leadership of the party. So
strong has this feeling become that In
diana is also in the field with its candidate
in the person Of Senator Fairbanks. If the
break between Hanna and Roosevelt
comes soon it is certain that number Of
states will have delegations In convention
opposed to Roosevelt's nomination. Their
hope is to create a deadlock, in which
event it might be possible to secure the
nomination of either Senator Hanna or
Senator Fairbanks. =,
1t is generally understood that the presi-
dent will make no nominations for the
canal commission until late this fall, pos
sibly not until after the election. He will
then be in position to determine whether
it will be safe for him to invite the hght
that will certainly follow his bestowal or
further honors upon General Wood.