The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-11
PRESIDENT EXAMPLES
 OVER THE OPPOSITION
Hanna Was Tempted Strongly In New York, But Knew Which Way the Wind Blew and Didn't Sue
 cumb to Entreaties.

WaSnlnBton, DecemDer iU.-tSpeclal.)- The republican national committee meets here tomorrow to name Chicago as the place of holding the republican national convention and likewise to fix the date of the same. As each committeeman ar rived President Roosevelt's representa- lives were out to meet him and get a de- elaration in favor of the President for second term. The Washington afternoon newspapers are teeming with such decla- rations and it begins to appear that Han na and other conspirators against the man in the White House will fail in their efforts to get any one to announce against him. Indeed, Roosevelt seems to ride rough shod over all opposition.
 Even the editor of the Cincinnati Com mercial Tribune, who is here and whose paper has led the opposition to Roosevelt, says in an interview today that Roose- welt has made a good President, but he believes there are men in the party who would be more sure of election. He doubts whether Roosevelt can carry his own state of New York but if the party wants him he is for him. Indeed, Roosevelt seems to have fought his fight to finish and whipped the OppOSlllOH
 Refused to Dicker.
 The most interesting story of the day Is one evidently inspired from the White House and printed in tl'e Philadelphia Press of today, in which 1t Is charged that the movement to bring Hanna out as candidate was the outcome of a refusal on the part of the President to dicker with certain Wall street men and rail- road presidents, who wanted pledge from him that if reelected he would do nothing to destroy business confidence, "A promise to abstain from action at home or abroad which might have 8 dis astrous effect upon the commercial world"
 The dispatch further says: "The Presi- dent replied that if the proposition meant that he was not to forward the interests of the United States in It's foreign rela- tons as occasion arose. he would not give such pledge; if 1t meant that he should bind himself in the future not to prosecute unlawful combinations, he refuse to be pledged"
 And finally" the President is quoted as saying, "as to pledges not to upset the business prosperity of the country, if any such pledges are necessary as a pre- liminary to my reelection. 1 am not fit to be reelected at all l decline to give any pledges"
 Following the return of the intermeda- ry to New York, according to the Dis patch. the word was passed all along the line to Hit Roosevelt" and there was an immediate response in quarters known to be sympathetic to such suggestion.
 Hanna Was Tempted.
 Senator Hanna, it is claimed, was be- sought while on a visit to New York to announce his candidacy. In the words ot the dispatch, Senator Hanna was taken to the mountain top and promised every thing in sight But he did not yield. He understood the situation better than his tempters.
 The story in the Philadelphia Press closes with this statement;
 "A sample of the Wall street syndicate's plan of campaign against the President is found in the fact that not long ago several hundred letters were sent out through the far western states inauiring if public opinion in that section had not been changed, and if as a result of the change the President had not lost his former popularity. These letters were sent out by E. H. Hartman, head of the Union Pacific and other railway cor porations They were addressed to his agents. They were so worded as 10 ln- dicate unmistakaby the character of re- ply that was wanted, and the agents, knowing their business, gave MT. Har- riman the sort of answer that he wanted.
 Hartman Is Convinced.
 With all these letters in hand Mir liar riman is thoroughly convinced that Presi- dent Roosevelt has lost his popularity in the far west and that this affords another most excellent reason why he should not be made the republican nom inee."
 The above story has undoubtedly had it's effect and Roosevelt will ges the nom ination. Every one else is afraid to enter the contest.
 This division in the republican ranks brings joy to the democrats, and each day the prospects of all around demo- cratic success next year ernus hriehter