Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-25
LINED II Up FOR BATTLE
ssA.t
Hanna sand Foraker Have
Initial Clash.
az
BOTH SPEAK PLAINLY
FORMER OPPOSES THE INDoRsE-
-MENr OF ROOSEVELT.
80 =
Latter Declares His Colleague Precipi-
tated the Issue and Will Have
to Meet It.

T.
At Cleveland Saturday afternoon Senator
Hanna made a statement concerning wide
ly circulated reports as to his position i'll
connection with the proposed resolution to
be introduced at the coming republican
state convention indorsing President Roose-
welt for second term. Senator Hanna
said:
II have seen the reported Interview with
Senator Foraker with reference to the pro-
posed Endorsement of the nomination of
President Roosevelt by the next Ohio re-
publican state convention. At the outset 1
want to deny that Mr.. Dover. my private
secretary, or, SO far as know, any of my
friends had anything to do with raising
this question
The first knew Of 1t was when I read in
the papers previous interview with Sem
ator Foraker; which 1 construed as an ex-
preston of his own personal views. This
was followed by interview with Gen.
Grosvenor along the same line. These
made it apparent that there was dis
position on the part of some people to sug-
gest such action by the convention.
Il certainly have no criticism to make of
any individual as to his rights to entertain
or to express such views, but I certainly
do criticfse the propriety OF action along
that line by the delegates to the state con-
Ventfon. who are chosen for the purpose OF
Stdte tiChct.
Considers It Improper.
1t does not appear to me to be entirely
proper for this convention to assume the
prerogative of the one to be chosen in 1904,
and upon which one will rest the reSpon-
sib1lity of representing and expressing the
sentiment In our state for any candidate.
1T would seem unnecessary for me to
say that these conclusions are in no way
influenced by any personal desires am
billions of my own.
q have often stated. both privately and
publicly, that l am not and will not be
candidate for the presidential nomination.
'On account of my position as chairman
OF the republican national committee, and
the further fact that this year l am sup
posed to HAYES vital interest in the results
| in Ohio as bearing upon my reelection to
the United States Senate. 1t would be pre-
sumed that might have some influence
as to the policy or action of the state con-
vention this year in national affairs.
In that connection it would seem appar-
ent, If such a resolution were adopted, that,
whatever that Influence might be. 1t had
been exerted in a direction which would
cause just criticism on the part of any
other person who might aspire to be can
didate for the. republican nomination Tor
President In 1904. For these reasons I am
opposed to the adoption of such a reso-
luton :. G
Foraker Replies.
oeflttoI 4 "TeH SIlOWH the STATE
ment of his colleague, dictated the follow
irg:
Senator Hanna is mistaken in saying he
ever read any interview with me or state
ment by me prior to the interview of Mr.
Dover and Senator Patterson and Mr. NAL
10y. If anything purporting to be an inter-
view with me appeared prior to that time.
it was not only wholly unauthorized, but
without my knowledge. Until their inter
views appeared 1 had not given the sub
ject any thought whatever. 1 put out my
interview in answer to theirs because the
reasons they assigned were of such a char
acter that L thought they miSrepreSented
the sentiment of Ohio republicans.
''They were, first. that by next year. on
account of some great blunder which the
President might commit. he would be a
dead one; second if Ohio republicans de-
clared in favor of President ROoSeveltS
nomination this year, we would not be in
a situation to demand from him any pat
ronage thereafter; and. third, that he was
not very popular in Ohio anyway. the
sta tement being made that either Senator
Hanna or Senator Fairbanks had far more
friends in Ohio than President Roosevelt.
81 thought the assumption, in view of the
splendid administration President Roose-
welt has given us. that he would make
some terrible blunder next year quite gra-
tuitious, to say the least of it, and that it
was an injustice to the republicans of Ohio
to intimate that they would be controlled
in a matter of such great Importance and
high dignity by groveling considerations Of
patronage and that while Senator Hanna
and Senator Fairbanks are both deservedly
popular with the republicans of Ohio, it
was nevertheless, a misrepresentation to
suppose that they would be preferred
presidential Candidates to PRESIDENT ROoSe-
welt in 1904.
Says Reasons Were insufficient.
''T may be mistaken about all these mat
ters. but l have great confidence that I
r Il; 4 10
the reasons assigned sufficient or of even
worthy character. Senator Hanna has now
added a fourth reason, and that is that
Ohio republicans should not express their
preference no matter how decided it may
be. for President Roosevelt, because he
CHanna) being chairman of the national
committee 1t would appear that other can
didates for the presidency are not to re-
ceive fair treatment. 1 submit that this
reason although much more respectable
than the Others is not a good one.
..In the first place. l don't know Of any
other candidates. and 1 don't think the
country has heard of any other. If there
are others this is a good time to name them.
Rut assuming that there are other candi-
dates. l do not know of any reason why
Ohio should not express preference if she
has one. We have twice expressed our
preferences a year in advance; both times,
il is true for Ohio men. But it must be re-
membered that there has not been a time
since HAYES was a candidate, in 1876, when
Ohio has not had either an active or pas
sive candidate and that fact properly re-
strained us from declaring in favor of a
candidate from another state.
"Resides,l there, shas never been time
until now. during the last thirty years.
when. except for Sherman and Mckinley
Ohio has not been divided in sentiment as
to presidential candidates: Other states
have been in the. habit of declaring long in
advance their presidential preferences New
YORK. Pennsylvania. Illinois and other
states all declared a year ago in favor of
the nomination of Roosevelt. do not know
what other states will do this year. but I
| anprehend that. some of them-I think most
Of them-win declare their preferences for
| him as our candidate.