The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-03-07
HOW HANNA WORKED.
Ralph EasIey Throws Light OH
Ways of His Chief.

New York March 7.-1ntereSting light
on the working of the Civic Federation
while the late Senator Hanna was the
ruling spirit is shed in an article con-
tributed to the Independent by Ralph
NJ .Easley, the chairman of the execu-
tive council of the federation.
I'm his Methods says Mr. Easley,
Senator Hanna was always direct and
to the point. His wide and influential
acquaintance was of especial value,
and he knew Just the wires to reach
the seat of controversy.
For instance, Mr.. w. D. Mahon,
president of the Amalgamated Associa-
ton of Street Railway Employees, called
at our national headquarters about the
first of November, while Senator
Hanna was out on his Ohio campaign,
and stated that he had exhausted
every means within his reach to secure
conference with the president of a
certain street railway company, and
that unless such a conference could be
secured within As hours he could not
prevent complete tie-up of the road
A telegram to Senator Hanna explain
ing the situation caught him at Toledo.
H at once wired to a brother senator
who was interested in that particular
road, asking him to grant Mr.. Mahon
and his committee the conference they
desired. The request was complied with
More recently, says Mr.. Easley, did
he show the same resource.
When a strike on the New York, New
Haven & Hartford railroad was about
to take place last spring, on account of
the president refusing to meet the ma
tional officers of the brotherhoods, SEN
ator Hanna was called up in Washing
ton and asked if he could secure a con-
ference for Mr., E. A. Clark, grand chief
conductor of the Order of Railway Con-
ductors, with Mr.. ]. Pierpont Morgan
one of the directors of that road.
Are the men right in what they are
asking for?" was his first question, and
when he was told yes he irnmediat ely
hunted up Mr.. Clark. who was in Wash
ington, telephoned Mr.. Morgan. and the
next day the threatened strike was
averted.
When the Civic federation brought the
! operators and mine workers together iT
the anthracite coal controversy of 100.
] the conference failed and Mr.. Mitchell
had word telephoned to Senator Hanna
| at Washington, telling him of the fail
ure The senator was dumbfounded.
The senator" SAYS Mr.. Easlay
said: There is no use calling a com
mittee together to hear such a report
/ as that. We must change that report
1 He went back to the presidents of the
roads and undertook to bring pressure
tee of them together in one of the large
banks and talking With them over the
telephone for two hours. He cabled tc
interests in Europe. In fact every
force that could be brought into play
was appealed to. On the labor side
of the matter he urged Mr. Mitchell tC
give the lowest possible figure he would
| recommend his men to accept, which
was a five per cent increase (they
! were asking for 20), and this informa-
tion Mr.. Charles A. Munroe and Mr.
! Frank P. Sargent conveyed to the pres
ldents of the roads, but they spurn at
the suggestion, so certain were they
that the men would not vote to strike
Senator Hanna, when informed of the
results of this visit, said disgustedly
| Well, they will not only strike, bu
they will get ten per cent increase be
fore they settle They We're finall,
| warded ten per cent, and in addition
given a sliding scale which amounts II
| some instances to seventeen per cent.
AT one time, when some of the oper
| ations had been criticising the Civi,
Federation, Senator Hanna sent thi!
word: You tell them that if l hea
any more of that kind of talk 1 will gt
to New York and hire Carnegie hall am
give them something to talk about A
| another time, when he was Informed
| that certain opera tors had said that h
was simply working in the matter il
the interest of a supposed presidential
boom, he replied: You go and tell tn
operators that if they will arbitrat
their differences with the miners, l vii
make an affidavit that l will not onl.
refuse to accept the nomination for tn
presidency, if rendered to me, but,
elected, will refuse to qualify.