Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-06
TOLD OF SEA- HANNA
Watching the Young Man in
Politics.
HIS MANY INTERESTS
BUSINESS SUCCESS AND IN OTHER
FIELDS OF ENERGY.
Two Remarkable Prophecies, One of
Which Came True and the
Other Partly So.
Copyright, 1904, by Il. G. Mcclure,

Copyright, 1904, by T. G. McClure.l
Written for The Evening Star by Isaac G. Thomas.
Senator Hanna's lively interest in the
welfare of the young man i'll politics dates
back to lesson that the young man
brought home to him in the early eighties.
Congressman Amos Townsend of Cleve-
land was up for reelection, and his demo-
cratic opponent was Martin A. Foran, who
hardly expected at first to win more than
empty honors, as the district was republic
can by several thousand majority. But
suddenly the serenity of the republican
household was disrupted by demands on
the part Of the younger element, who
earlier in the campaign had won out at
the caucuses in many Of the wards. The
central committee of the district, of which
Mr.. Hanna was an influential member had
to recognize ''the boys" as they were
called, but it did not and would not supply
them with funds with which to carry on
the campaign in their respective wards.
What do you boys know about running
a campaign" the committee asked,
amusedy. So the money was given to the
former ward leaders, and the young men
were referred to the very men they had de-
feated for comfort, which naturally was
not forthcoming.
That made the new leaders mad all over.
We'll teach 'em a lesson" they said.
We'll show Mark Hanna and the rest that
we're not to be treated like babies
They went quietly to work among the
young men of both parties. I'VE young
men should not look upon the campaign
solely from the political issues involved"
they argued. There is another thing
equally important at stake. 1t is this:
Shall the young men have something to
say or shall they be strangled to death?
The republican central committee is ignor-
ing us completely, because it thinks we are
powerless. We have figured out the stu
hay- Il .
old men a lesson. Let the young men vote
for Foran, and We'll elect him by a large
majority in republican stronghold"
The young men worked early and late
and quietly, but not SO quietly that Mr..
Hanna did not hear about it. But he was
not alarmed. On the contrary, he was quite
amused
Edgar" he said to1one of the young
sters in his employ, Il hear that you a
good republican, are working for Foran.''
Il am was the reply.
WELL" said Hanna, smiling, you're
making mistake Ed toran will be
showed under on election day. You see"
Election day came around, and all over
town the young republicans turned out in
great numbers, voted arst, and then work
ed with the democrats to get out the Fo-
ran vote. The republican leaders were first
amazed at the extent of the revolt then
angry, then thoroughly alarmed. But they
had awakened too late to their danger and
Foran was elected by the comfortable ma
jority of 1900.
Mr.. Hanna did not say anything about
the result for several days: then he pro-
mulgated this bit of political philosophy to
which he has faithfully adhered ever since.
THE election shows that the young blood
in the party must be taken care of. The
old voters are pretty safe all the time.
Power Behind the Throne.
1t is accepted truth in certain quar-
ters that Mr.. Hanna dominated Mr. Nc
Kinley when President-that he was really
the power behind the throne. But those
who knew them both best have always said
that it was exactly the other way-that Nc
Kinley dominated and not Hanna; that the
President looked often to Mr. Hanna for
advice, but failed to accept it quite as fire.
quently as otherwise.
Once close friend of both Mr.. McKn-
ley and Mr.. Hanna, who may be called
John Smith," called on the latter to sug-
gest a change of policy. Hanna listened
gram and the reasons for adopting it. Then
he told his friend that he would hardly like
to breach the subject to the President.
For" added Mr.. Hanna, Il have gone
over the same ground exactly with Nc
Kinley and he's against the proposition"
But have you and has the President
thought of this?' inquired the other, ad-
vancing his strongest point, which had
been withheld for last resort.
Mr.. Hanna admitted that he had not He
then took a card and handed 1t to his Wis
itor after writing upon it follows