The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-05-26
MARK HANNA
Ohio Senator Opposed to
Endorsing President
Roosevelt
HIS REASONS
Mr. Hanna Says He Will Not be a
Presidential Aspirant Himself. But
He Does Not Think the Coming Re-
publican Convention in Ohio
welt or Any Body EIse-Thcre May
be Other Aspirants for the Nomi-
nation.

Cleveland, May Ex-senator Hanna,
IN an interview this afternoon concern
ing widely circulated reports as to his
position in connection with a proposed
resolution % be introduced at the COM
ing republican convention endorsing
President Roosevelt for q second term
made the following statement to the
representative of the Associated Press
4 nave seen the reported interview
with Senator Foraker with reference to
the proposed endorsement of the nomi-
nation OF President Roosevelt by the
next OHIO republican state convention.
AT the outset l want to deny that Mr.
Dover, my private secretary, or so far
as | know any of my friends, had any
thing to do with raising this question.
The first l knew of it was when
saw in the newspaper a previous inter-
view with Senator Foraker, which I
construed as an expression of his own
personal views. This was followed by
an interview with General Grosvenor
along the same line. These made it ap-
parent that there was a disposition on
the part OF some people to suggest such
action by the convention.
Il certainly have no criticism to make
of any individual as to his rights to
entertain or to express such views, but
L certainly do criticlse the propriety of
action along that line by the delegates
to the state convention, which are
CHOSEN for the purpose of nominating
state ticket. IT does not anDear to
me to be entirely proper for this con-
venrIon to assume the prerogative of
the one to be chosen in 1904 and upon
ci h itI-
of representing and expressing the sem
tlment in our state for any condition.
1T would seem unnecessary for me
to say that these conclusions are in no
way influenced by any personal desires
or ambitions of my own. 1 have often
stated both privately and publicly that
l am not and will not be a candidate for
presidential nomination.
"On account of my position as chair
man Of the republican national COM
mittee and the further fact that this
year l am supposed to have a vital in
terest in the results in Ohio as bearing
upon my reelection to the United
States, il would be presumed that I
might have some influence as to the
policy or action Of the state convention
this year in national affairs.
In that connection it would seem ap-
parent that if such a resolution were
adopted, that whatever that influence
might be, mad been eXerted in a dlrec-
ton which would cause Just criticism
on the, part of any other person who
might aspire to be a candidate for the
republican nomination for president in
1904. For these reasons 1 am opposed to
the adoption of such a resolution
STARK COUNTY LEADS OFF.
Canton. O.. May 23.-The Start coun-
ty republican convention today adopted
strong resolutions endorsing the ad-
~ PraSi6anf PnnSovp1t
The resolutions instruct the delegates
to the state convention to support any
resolution that may come before that
body looking to this endorsement