The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-10
REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP IN 1904

The attempt to start a presidential boom
for Senator Hanna since the Ohio election
seems to have "died a-bornin', % though its
sudden death was partly due to the prompt
refusal of the Ohio senator to give it any
encouragement. In view of his previous
declarations on the subject and his rela-
lions with President Roosevelt the recent
movement could hardly be regarded as COM
plimentary to him, since 1t imputed to
him characteristics which he has shown he
does not possess. He is not a dissembler.
and he is prominently true TO his
friends. The movement was probably
intended to represent the slight hostility
that exists in some quarters to the nomina-
ton OF President Roosevelt next year. This
hostility originated in certain financial and
trust circles, and did not represent any
healthy public sentiment The attempt to
concentrate it on Senator Hanna was illog
zeal. Although Ohio gave an exceptionally
large majority in the recent election in
which he was prominent issue and factor,
it was due as much to President Roosevelts
popularity it was to that of Senator
Hanna. The latter used his best efforts to
make national issues prominent, and he
succeeded so well that Republicans felt it
was largely a question of indorsing the
rational administration, and they did it by
an overwhelming majority. If the admins
tration had been unpopular the result might
have been very different. The enormous
Republican majority was as much an in
dorsement of Roosevelt as it was of Hanna,
though the Democratic revolt against Tom
L. Johnson represented a still different
factor.
The persons who attempted to launch
this premature boom evidently forgot that
the Republicans Of nearly twenty States
have already indorsed President Roosevelt
through their State conventions for renom-
| nation next year. Not to mention all OF
them, the New York State convention of
1902 said 1--WE give TO President Roosevelt
and his administration our heartiest ap-
prevail and most cordial support. and we
| look forward with confidence TO his election
to the presidency in 1904" The Pennsylvania
convention indorsed the administration and
plcuScQ the pdity III that Otdtc W NIL
Roosevelt's nomination in 1904. The Iowa
! convention declared that his election in 1904
was demanded by the popular will The
Kansas platform, after unqualifedly in
| dorsing the administration OF President
| Roosevelt, named him for denomination in
1904. The Minnesota convention expressed
its cordial Endorsement of President Roose-
velt's administration and its desire that he
| ton called for the nomination OF President
| Roosevelt in 1904. Several other State con-
| ventions took the same ground until il was
| common talk last year that never before
had the Republicans OF many States
! committed themselves in favor of any can.
! didate so far in advance of an election. Ad-
hitting that their Endorsements and virtual
instructions are not binding on delegates ts
re elected next year, they constitute ar
honorable obligation which could not be re.
pudiated without good cause. The fact tina,
Senator Hanna or any other prominent Re
publican achieves great personal triumph
In his own State. due in part to the popu.
iarity of the administration. is no reason
why nearly a score OF States alread,
pledged to the support Of President Roose