The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-05
HANNA'S EXCELLENT WAY.


Detroit Free Press CDem).
Mr.. Hanna never showed himself more
worthy of the confidence and respect or
the Republicans of the country than he did
when he withdrew his opposition 10 the
formal Endorsement of President Roosevelt
by the Ohio State convention. When Mr.
Roosevelt succeeded to the presidency, he
informed Mr.. Hanna THAI he would be
candidate for the nomination in 1904. and
asked for the support OF the chairman OF
the national committee Mr.. Hanna pledged
him that support under certain conditions.
and there was a further agreement by
which the Ohio senator was TO give the
President due notice in case he decided TO
oppose his nomination.
The contract between Mr.. Hanna and
Mr.. Roosevelt has unquestionably been
kept to the strict letter. Mr.. Hanna has
been urged repeatedly TO become a candi-
date for the presidency. He has beeI
assured that the financial interests OF the
East would support him, and contribute
money in unlimited quantities TO bring
about his nomination. But during all that
time he has steadily resisted the tempter.
openly at least. What his secret thoughts
were nobody knows. Perhaps he believed
that the administration might so blunder
before 1904 that the nomination of Mr..
Roosevelt would be undesirable, and he
could then become the 9artys standard
bearer. Perhaps he looked with secret
favor upon the efforts that were made to
initiate a Hanna boom, but outwardly at
least, his relation with the President have
been beyond reproach
III is fair TO presume that personal rea-
sons had much TO do with his opposition
TO an Endorsement OF Mr.. Roosevelt IN the
Ohio convention. That Endorsement closes
which might be open TO Mr.. Hanna. NO
man is wholly free from presidential ambi-
ton, and Mr.. Grosvenor claims that DIR.
Hanna has been a candidate for year and
a half. But in any event when the test
came the chairman of the national commit
tee refused 10 imperil party harmony by
dorsement from Ohio. So long as 1t seemed
to be Foraker-Ha fight he opposed IL
frankly and openly and forcefullg. When,
however, President Roosevelt asked per-
sonally for this Endorsement. Mr.. Hanna
instantly withdrew his opposition.
This was excellent politics from every
point OF view. but narrower man OF Mr..
Hanna's temperament would not have per-
ceiyed IL. Having set his face against the
Endorsement, he would have persisted TO the
end. Mr, Hanna, on the contrary. said IL
the President wished the Endorsement. the
President should have IL, and this clinches
the nomination OF Mr.. Roosevelt in 1914. Mr..
Hanna is the only man that could have
defeated Mr.. Roosevelt in the convention.
He is the only man whose name has been
prominently mentioned as an opponent OF
the President; for the Fairbanks candidacy
has never been taken seriously even in In
diana,
IL is easy to say that Mr.. Hanna was
defeated, and was compelled TO surrender.
Perhaps he was, but he was pot compelled
to surrender gracefully. He was not COM
PEELED TO yield in such a manner that the
party would be strengthened rather than
weakened. When one recalls the treachery
of Mr.. Blaines friends towards President
Harrison on the eve of the convention OF
1892, he can perceive something of the quail
ity of manhood and party loyalty that
Mark Hanna shows In this case.