The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-18
HANNA SMILES.
Asked If He Would Accept
Presidential Nomination
The Senator Makes No Reply in
Words.
TO SMOKE HIM OUT.
The President Is Much Dis
pleased With the Situation
And Will Endeayor to Obtain an
Open Declaration.
o SMOKE HIM OUT.

OIiCdSO, JAN. lc.-1n ne ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
prints the following from Walter Well
man, its Washington correspondent:
President Roosevelt wants Senator
Hanna to make public declaration that
he is not a candidate for the presiden-
tial nomination, and Senator Hanna
is not willing to do so The presidents
wishes and the reasons for them were
made known to Senator Hanna by a
member of the presidents cabinet. who
called at Mr.. Hanna's hotel and had a
prolonged talk with the senator. This
member of the cabinet is noted for his
political skill and discretion, and he is,
besides, a warm friend of the Ohio
senator. Within a day or two there is
to be a conference between President
Roosevelt and Senator Hanna, and as
result OF that conversation there may
be clearing of the political skies.
1t is not too much to say-and in
delicate situation like this it is very
easy for the careful correspondent to
say too much-that at the present mo-
ment the attitude of Senator Hanna
in regard to the presidential nomination
is not satisfactory to President Roose-
welt and his immediate friends, and
they are trying to reach an understand
ing that will give the minimum of an
noyance to all concerned.
President Roosevelt thinks it a mat
ter Ol ldlEnSSS mol Only 10 IllL1 OuI ~
the party that he and the country be
informed if there is to be opposition to
his nomination at the Chicago conven-
tion next June. The president recog-
nizes the right of any Republican to
compete for the nomination, but he
thinks the effort should be made open
ly, so that everyone may know what
is to be reckoned with. He does not
believe it fair for anyone interested in
the success of the party to continue a.
| tea1.ir1I OF 1xyh breed
discomfort, and is sure to give rise to
hurtful rumors and speculation.
The belief of the president that the
time has come when Mr.. Hanna, out OF
consideration for the party, should
either declare himself a candidate or
announce that. he is not an aspirant
and that he supports the president, was
presented to the Ohio senator most
tactfully. 1t was explained that the
president has not wished to set in mo-
ton party activities looking to his
nomination. He has preferred to keep
his hands off and to permit matters to
take their natural course. He Will
continue this policy if the conditions
warrant it, but if he is to be menaced
by a mystery; if there is to be con-
tinuance of speculation as to whether
or not Mr.. Hanna is to enter the neio;
If there is to be more and more talk OF
"stampeding the convention for Ham
ma or another man at the last moment,
the president will be compelled to take
measures to protect himself. In other
words the president is compelled to
fight in the open. He is under criticism.
He is drawing the entire fire of the op-
position party. If there is to be anoth-
er Republican candidate or other Re
publican candidates the president
thinks they, too, should come out into
the Open The longer the present con-
dition of affairs continues the more
harm will be done the party, because 1t
produces uncertainty and unrest ana
in sense gives Republican sanction to
the criticism of the opposition party.
A member of the cabinet summed up
the case in these words:
ssIf there is to be an effort to set the
president aside at the Chicago conVen-
tion IT should make itself known AS
long as it remains in the background,
concealed and furtive, this other poSs1-
ble aspirant or these other possible
laspirants profit by the fire aimed at the
president by Democratic politicians and
press These secret candidates profit
nv that which hurts the PRESIDENT ana
that is fair neither to him nor the
party
member who placed the views of the
| nresident before him was that he did
| not feel called upon to make any pup
| lie announcement of his attitude. ne
said he was not candidate and nao
repeatedly said he was not candidate,
md this should be sufficient. He could
see no reason why he should declare
| himself further. And as for coming out
and announcing that ne was IN IaVor %
/ the nomination of President Roosevelt,
| Mr. Hanna said that as chairman OF
the national committee he had no right
! to favor any candidate. He must re-
main neutral .
| was quite true in cases where there
are rival candidates it is the duty o.
the national chairman to maintain neu-
trality, but this year, so far, there Is
arn 70
no other candidates, who can complain
| IL Mr. Hanna announces himself for the
presidents nomination If there are
| to be other candidates, why do not they
show themselves? If Mr.. Hanna him
self wishes to come into the field, well
| and good-it is a free country. But
ought he not to make his position
known beyond all possibility of misun-
| derstanding, whatever that position
may be? 1t is not a question now oi
| candidates. it was added, but of party
harmony and success, and surely Mr
Hanna was as much interested therein
as anyone else.
I am informed that Mr. Hanna saw
the force and reasonableness of this
argument, and took the matter under
consideration. 1t has been arrangec
that the president and he should taIE
the matter over at an early hour. ano
some announcement of Mr. Hanna's at
titude may be expected in a short time
Mr.. Hanna was besought by many
Il newspaper men, and to several of then
who made bold to ask if he was a can
didate for the nomination the senator
replied with an expression of annoyance
on his face.
, Il have said so many times that I an
: not a candidate that 1 am getting tiret
of it."
one newspaper man ventured to asl
the senator if he would decline thl
presidential nomination if the nationa
convention were to offer it to him. ant
Mr. Hanna only smiled, but did not re