The sun., 1903-06-24
LODGE TO SUCCEED HANNA
As CHAIRMAN or REPIRLICAN
NATIONAL COMMITTEE.
More Than Gossip In IlcDOrt--Iilrna Would
Not Want to Go Back on Perry s.
Heath. and His Action in Ohio Hurt
Him In President Nooseyeit's Eyes.

Him In President NOOseNelt's Eyes.
WASHINGTON. June 23.--There is some
thing more than summer gossip in the
rcpcrt that Senator Henry Cabot Lodge of
Massachusetts, will succeed Senator Marcus
Alcnlo Hanna as chairman Of the Repubh-
can National Committee before the opening
4 tho campaign Of 1904.
Republicans who profess to know the
rans Of President Roosevelt and his close
friends and political advisers express the
belief that the next Republican National
Cons ntion will be dominated and controlled
tv senator Lodge. Senator Foraker and
other pronounced Roosevelt men, while
Hanna and his particular friends will have
Laci; scat.
1t is positively known to many Republi-
cans in Washington that there has been
~ agreement reached to continue Mr..
Hanna al the head of the Republican COM
niitco, and the opinion is becoming general
that there will be no such agreement
Senator llannas connection with the
movement to prevent Roose velt's indorse-
ment by the Ohio convention has left its
scars and it is predicted that Mr. Roosevelt
will never be convinced of Hannas de-
voton and loyalty to him. Without such
faith senator Hanna could not act as chair
man in campaign where the Presidents
political future is at stake, and therefore
it is expected that at the proper time he
will announce that the state of his health
compcls him to give up the craftsmanship.
There is said to be another and quite as
potent reason why Senator Hanna cannot
continue as the Republican fgurehead.
This is the fact that in order to do it he will
have to part company with one of his most
trusted lieutenants, Perry s. Heath, secre-
tarv Of the committee, and publicly ex-
press his lack of confidence in him.
Heath must resign the secretaryshp in
view Of the disclosures of the Post Office
Department investigation, whether inno-
cent or guilty. That goes without saying
If Senator Hanna should allow him to he
sacrificed as a concession to public opinion,
the Senator would be charged with coward
ice and ingratitude. and these are charac-
teristics that he has never been accused
of possessing.
Hanna is famous for always sticking to
his friends, and it is. therefore, more than
probable that he and Heath will travel the
same road. as President Roosevelt will not
care to take the responsibility Of allowing
the campaign to be tainted with the most
remote association with tho Post Once
Department scandal or those responsible
for It.
A. to Senator Lodge for chairmsn In
place OF Senator Hanna. that is a matter that
has not yet been determined and probably
will not be for some time to come. not until
Mr.. Lodge returns from Europe in the fall.
He leaves this country about July is in
preparation for his work as a mem Der of
tho Alaskan Boundary Tribunal.
Senator Lodge is President Roosevelt's
most trusted personal and political friend
and as he has been tried as a practical
politician in many serious battle. it is
quite natural that the President should
want him at the helm when he goes in. next
year, for election to the Presidency
Mr. Lodge is not a member Of the Repub-
lican National Committee from Massa-
chusetts. but George Won L. Meyer. Am
bassador to Italy, is, and it would be an
easy matter to have the Senator's name
substituted on the committee list for that
Of the Ambassador.
Senator Lodges power as a political
manager was first fully demonstrated
In 1888, when, as chairman of the State
Committee Of Massachusetts, he conducted
the campaign that resulted in the over
throw of Ben Butler and the election of
George D. Robinson as Governor Of the
Bay State.
The Senator has been in harness as a
political worker ever since and would not
have to be the subject of much coaching
II called on to manage Presidential cam
ragn.