Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-26
A GAGE OF DEFIANCE
Effect of the Presidents
Walla Walla Statement
Is NOW UP TO HANNA
HIS NEXT MOVE is AWAITED
WITH INTEREST.
Friends of Mr. Roosevelt Believe There
is Deep-Seated Plot to Prevent
His Nomination.
Is NOW UP TO HANNA

afternoon gave out the following state
ment:
I'm speaking of the sudden political de-
yelopments in Ohio. the President thls
afternoon said:
.I have not asked any man Tor MS sup
port. I have had nothing whatever TO 90
with raising the issue as to my lndorse-
ment Sooner or later 1t was bound to
arise. and, inasmuch as it has now arisen
of course those who favor my adminlstra-
ton and nomination will indorse them, and
chose who do not will oppose them
"The President also said he was deeply
touched by the action of President Mckin-
ley's home county, in which Canton is Sit
uated in instructing so heartily IN MS
favor Nothing could have pleased him
A Gage of Defiance.
President Roosevelts bold announce
ment of his interest in the situation con-
fronting the Ohio republican convention Is
construed by republican politicians III
Washington as gage of dehance 10 inc
Influences which are said to be WORKING
against Mr.. Roosevelts nomination NO
other Interpretation is placed upon the
statement which the President 1eil cdlieu
upon to make and deep significance is be
lieyed to attach to the fact that he dld
deem 1t necessary and wise TO come OUT III
such an unusual statement at this time.
Naturally the first inquiry aroused py
the Walla Walla telegram was. what is the
condition of affairs in the Presidents can
didacy for reelection which necessitates
making such fat-footed declaration OF de-
fiance? Senator Hanna was not under-
stood 10 be opposing Mr.. Roosevelt. al
though some interests with which Senator
Hanna Is commonly supposed to be in SYM
pathy are known to be opposing him:
A friend of Mr.. Roosevelt stated TO
Star reporter today that the explanation OF
the necessity for the Presidents statement
Is found in the fact that Mr. Roosevelt Is
thoroughly aware of the insidlous eHorts
which. 1t is said are being made to under
mine his candidacy, and that he doubtless
concluded that as the fight had to be made
sooner or later this was good time to
commence it, the occasion being rendered
all the more opportune by the chance to
force Senator Hanna into the open, either
as friend committed henceforth to the
Roosevelt cause or a declared enemy.
Campaign Against Endorsement.
As this friend of the President viewed
the case, Senator Hanna's campaign to
withhold Endorsement, If successful, would
mark the beginning of movement to
gather in the southern states, pick off Ohio
and Indiana, and possibly New York, and
then try to stampede the next national con-
vention for some other candidate than Mr..
Roosevelt, though not necessarily for Sena-
tor Hanna himself.
This friend of the President went on to
say that the President has known of this
contemplated program for some time and
was watching for developments in it. The
Ohio case seemed to bear all the earmarks
of an important development, and, accord
ing to The Stars informant the President
has with characteristic boldness and vigor
started in to take hand in the further
proceedings
1t is pointed out that the leading Eewsrl-
per organ of the interests which are mimi
tha prno liant IN # h rs1r-
sade against the trusts has vehemently
supported Senator Hanna's course In its
editorials for the past week. The Presi-
dents friends have been able to See not h
ing else in Senator Hanna's attitude than
determination to keep back the sponta-
neous Endorsement of one of the greatest
states of the Union. Endorsement that is on
the tip of the tongue just ready to be
spoken. and to subsequently manipulate re-
publican politics in that state under the
leadership of a man alleged to be opposed
to the Presidents policies, to the detriment
of the President.
Some OF the Presidents friends are con-
vinced that the movement against Mr..
Roosevelt's nomination is deep seated and
widespread. although up to this time keep
Ing below the surface. Those who hold that
belief charge Senator Hanna with being
the man to whom the anti-Roosevelt repub-
lcans look for aid and comfort. They say
that II their suspicious are unfounded. it
Will be easy enough for Senator Hanna to
offer proof of his innocence by coming out
for Endorsement of the President In a fran
and open manner.
Now Up to Hanna.
The next move in the game will be await
ed with deep interest. Every one says Sen
stor Hanna is due to make the next move
and all day there was keen speculation of
what II would be. Some OF the Ohio repub-
licans in official life here thought that Sem
ator Hanna would seize the opportunity
Oh lao Drzr
back out of the whole situation with the
excuse that he did not intend to oppose the
President. If Senator Hanna does not do
that. the only course left open will be to
declare war. II is said. and go into the &C n
vention and fight the case through Fer the
latter contingency. the Presidents friends
are thoroughly prepared.
1t Is said that Senator Hanna's candidate
Tor governor, MIR. Herrick, will have to de-
clare himself between now and next We'd
nesday and that before the nominating con-
Vention meets there must be specific lecla-
ration on the part of the aspirant for the
governorship nomination as to whet her he
Is for or against the national administra-
ton.
This Is the intention OF the Presidents
friends. II Is said. and is likely to cause
Senator Hanna further embarra ssment III
Is pointed ont that Senator Hanna was per-
mitted TO name Mr.. Herrick because this
was Hanna year in Ohio politics. but
that the favor thus extended carried with
IL no matter of right. and until the con-
vention acts no man has cast-iron, cop
per-Iiveted ar-tight combination on the
conventions will.
II, Mr.. Herrick aligns himself with the
sntt-indorsement faction, he may not find
II so easy to secure the nomination and II
he squares his course with the Foraker in
dorscment crowd. i; will be another blow
TO Senator Hanna, The entanglement OF
Mr. ilerrick in the situation is believed to
promise further interesting Developments
States Which Endorsed Last Year.
The Presidents friends claim that there
Is nothing unreasonable or unreasonable in
isdorsinS his nomination now and point out
that fourteen republican state conventions
In ip2 did that Very thing. These state
coaveuuora not only ilaorsed his admiu.s-
tration. hut Tent further and specifically
declared In favo- ct his nomination in 100 L
The sta'es in question were Alabama
Arlta nsas. Connecticut Iowa. Kansas Mas
sach"se::s. Missouri. Minnesota, New York,