The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-05-27
THE PRESIDENT ASKED
HIM NOT TO OPPOSE IT.
Receipt Of Roosevelt's Remarkable
Statement From Wall Walla and
Hanna's Sudden Retreat Gre
ate a Political Sensation.
BY wATTERsoN sTEALEY.

BY WATTERSoN sTEALEY.
Washington, May 26-CSpecial.) )-The
sws from Cleveland tonight that Sem
tor Hanna had quit the fight and would
,ot oppose the passage of resolution in
iorsing the candidacy for nomination
of President Roosevelt, pricks the bubble
of anti-RooseYelt talk almost as quickly
as the furry of the past week started 1t.
Hanna controlled the Ohio convention this
year, but there was great doubt about
his being able to defeat the Foraker reso-
luton.
This doubt was about dispelled by the
remarkable personal statement of the
President from Walla Walla last night
in which he asked for the Endorsement OF
the Ohio convention.
Received Request From Roosevelt.
The receipt by Senator Hanna of tele-
gram from the President asking him not
to oppose the resolution seems to con-
fict with that portion of the Presidents
statement to the press in which he says
he has not asked any man for his sup
port, but the two kilograms were suf-
ficient to cause Senator Hanna, in spite
of his former statements, to give up the
fight All republican conventions from
now on are expected to follow in their
Endorsement of President Roosevelt.
Senator Hannas friends here are very
much put out over the Roosevelt state
ment of last night In it the President
sought to make 1t appear that his ad-
ministration and his candidacy were one
and the same thing, whereas Senator
Hanna stated positively that he favored
the Endorsement of the administration
but believed it unfair to men who might
become candidates to indorse any candi-
date for President. 1t is evident that the
President wanted to create the impress
sion that a failure to inoorse Roosevelt
would be a slap at the administration,
something Senator Hanna had made per-
foctly clear that he never intended.
There is a belief among a number OF
Senator Hanna's friends here that the
whole affair of indorsing Roosevelt at
the Ohio convention was fully gone over
by the President and Senator Foraker
some time ago.
Grew Independent.
Early in the administration the Presi-
dent consulted Senator Hanna freely and
often. AS the friend of the late President
and the big man in the party, the Pres
ident depended upon him. With the lapse
of time came a feeling of independence
to Mr.. Roosevelt. The enormous power of
his position in the way of building up
vast political machine, combined with
great self-eonhdence, made him believe
he could defy the Mckinley leaders. The
be prevented by the politicians II they
so desired, was not only very dsagreeable
to the President but made him eager for
a chance to test his strength.
State after state instructed for him
until fourteen had so declared. 1t was
known that probably big majority Of the
politicians in every state east of the Mis-
sissIppi river opposed him. but none of
them possessed the nerve to come out and
say so with the exception of few lily
whites in the south who were sacrificed
by the Roosevelt machine In pursuance
of the plan to catch the negro vote and
split up the democrats by the appoint
ment of some of its members to office.
This was the situation when the President
left for the west. In the meantime over
in Ohio slate for state offices had prac-
tlcally been agreed upon.
This ls Hanna Year.
1t met with little Foraker objection.
Tor this is known as Hanna year In
Ohio-that is, Senator Hanna is up for
reelection and his running mates must
be men agreeable to him. Then a report
was circulated that the Ohio convention
would not pass upon the question of
Roosevelt's candidacy This was fol-
lowed by interviews with several Ohio
republicans, who confirmed it. The friends
of the President, Senator Foraker among
them, laid low. Foraker knew all the
time that the President was spelling for
the fight, which he. said in his Walla
Walla statement was bound to arise"
The President wanted to get the matter
done with soon as possible. Hanna's
statement in opposition to the Foraker
resolution gave Foraker the opportunity
he was seeking. He Immediately an
swered 1t and said he would force his
resolution upon the convention.
GAUGE of Defiance.
The President being fully acquainted
with the circumstances In the case since
1t first came up and all the time work.
ing hand In glove with Foraker, last night
gave to the press his gauge of defiance, not
only to Hanna in Ohio but to every other
politician supposed to be against him. in
cluding those in Well street. for the Pres
ident and his friends are working the
Wall street bugaboo on the voters for all
it is worth. Senator Hanna also received
a personal message from the President in
order to smooth things over IL possible
The senior Ohio senator was fairly
caught He might defeat the Roosevelt
resolution but it was very doubtful One
thing was certain, there would be very
bad split in Ohio republican ranks which
might extend throughout the country In
addition he might endanger his own seat
in the senate. For the first time in his
political life Senator Hanna has taken
water, unless 1t be that he has some
good thing in store for the future.