Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-12-12
ROOSEVELT-HANNA
CONFERENCE
Was Marked by Distinct Evil
dence Of Sincere Friend
ship and Cordially.
DISCUSSING SITUATION
Conference Dealt Principally With
Pending and Prospective Lesisla-
ton Before Congress Concern
ing isthmian Canal.

Washington. Dec. IAN important
conference was held at the White
house between the president and SEN
ator Hanna of Ohio. 1t occurred on the
initiative Of Mi. Hanna, and to both
participants the conference was per-
fectly satisfactory.
At the conclusion OF the conference,
which 1t car be said was marked by
distinct evidence Of sincere friendship
and cordiality on both sides, neither
the president nor mate Hanna cared
to discuss for publication the details.
1t was stated that the mutual dis
cussion had not differed in any per-
sonal respects from other talks the
president and Senator Hanna have a
in the past. and which they Will have
in the future. 1t was announced that
the reports recently circulated that
there a been or was likely to be a
break in the existing pleasant relations
between the president and the senator
mount to "a-~preposterous absurd
ity." The president himself desires II
to be understood that hereafter he VIII
not take occasion to refer to these re-
ports or to dignity them with n at
tention. 1t may be said that the rela-
tons between the two are those OF cor
dial and appreciative friendship,
Discussed Canal Rights.
The conference took a wide range
1t dealt principally with pending n
prospective legislation before congress,
particularly with that relating to the
isthmian canal, and with general po-
lltical conditions. Both before n since
he became chairman of the inter-
oceanic canals committee of the SEN
ate Senator Hanna has manifested
deep interest in all that relates TO the
construction Of that waterway. He
- tAns-lk 90 1fonIIGo tho
present situation, especially its diplo-
matte phases, very fully with the pres
ident. Their agreement on the subject
WAS absolute. Both, it can be said,
are confident the position taken by the
administration will be approved by the
American people.
The contested confirmation of Cen
eral Leonard Wood was not considered.
though an incidental reference to 1t
was made. 1t is known that the pres
ident and Senator Hanna differ on
that subject, but each fully recognizes
that that difference Is honest and sin
cere, and it is believed by friends of
both that 1t can not possibly interrupt
their relations.
Likewise 1t can be said no discussion
took place concerning the chairmanship
of the republican national committee.
1t is known that President Roosevelt
has expressed to Mr.. Hanna his desire
that he should retain the chairman
ship. The senator has not yet an
nounced his final decision regarding the
matter. 1t may be said that the state
of Mr.. Hanna's health is involved in
the decision, and indeed, will be the
controlling factor in 1t.
After Senator Hanna left the White
he was besieged by newspaper
men, who desired to learn the result of
the conference. He declined to make a
statement, insisting h a as it was
merely a friendly talk over matters of
mutual interest 1t was of no public sig
niicance or Importance.
II spent a very pleasant evening" he
admitted finally. "That is about all
there is to it,. You can say, however,
that all these stories about wide diff
ferences between the president and
myself are absurd. l have no state
ment to make about the conference