The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1904-02-16
HANNA'S LIFE
AND CAREER
Was a Man Prominent In
Business and Politics.

presidents, sponsor Of the Panama ca
nal, organizer of the National Civic
Federation, and creator Of wealth-pro-
ducing industries, Senator Marcus AL
oczo Hanna has left many enduring
monuments to his memory.
Few more remarkable men have lived
In any age, or In any country.
II has fallen to the lot of few to rise
from the humble position Of a grocer's
clerk to be the central figure on the
national stage
Not many men have passed through
such storm Of vituperative criticism
as attacked Mr.. Hanna less than ten
years ago, and have lived to see the
nentiment Of a continent changed In
his favor.
Seldom has plain business man de-
veloped In so short time into force
fui, convincing political orator.
And rare, indeed, are the millionaires
who have been elected to the senate of
the United States and have there, by
hard work and sheer ability attained
the prominence and power which was
% iiSciy a'Soiucu W tue studtOT ITOlu
Ohio.
Eight years ago he was cartooned as
typifying the soulless corporation, and
held up to obliquy, by those who
knew him not, as an uncompromising
labor crusher. He dies as the recog-
mZed champion Of those who labor
with their head and hands. enjoying
their confidence and esteem. and the
recipient of their gratitude for strikes
and lockouts averted.
The dollar sign man was q fire.
quent figure in recent compaigns and
indeed Mr.. Harna was a man of
wealth. But not dollar of his mil
lions ever came from speculation. It
was all derived from the well earned
profits Of the varied industries started
by his creative genius.
Through his energy and business sag
acity, labor bad its opportunity, and
1t was his pride that never was there
q strike among the employees in his
iron and coal mines; his steamships,
street railways and docks; his ship
yards and furnaces. because of disa-
greement between himself and his men.
His varied interests also included a
national bank, land even an opera
hCuse) and while holding the esteem
or his workmen, he also had the con-
fdence of his fellow capitalists. II
was this fact, that he was trusted by
both sides, that enabled him to bring
about settlement of the big anthra-
cite coal strike of 1900. In the fol-
lowing year he organized the National
Civic Federation. the purpose of which
Is to better the condition of labor, to
bring 1t in closer contact with capital
and, If possible, by effort and educa-
tion, to make it impossible to have
strikes. Many a strike which would
have involved distress and suffering
has been averted by this organization.
and many more, of which the world has
no knowledge, through personal arbi-
tration of Mr.. Hanna himself has been
avoided
Rare common sense, stability of
Character, and persistence, formed the
basis of Mr.. Hanna's success, whether
as a business man, in politics, or in
the consideration of affairs of state.
For $4,000, in 1897, Mr. Hanna
bought three old wornOut horse car
lines in Cleveland. From this un-
promising beginning he developed a
magnificent transportation plant which
reached the vaue of $4,000, 600. Bus
mess sagacity, prudence, foresight and
energy, were required TO bring about
this result. This is but a sample,
though the one in which he took the
most pride, of is successful manage
meut Of affairs.
These same qualities he brought to
bear in 1894 when he first undertook
&c make William Mckinley president
OF the United States
10 was characteristic of him that he
should begin two years in advance OF
the nominating convention at st. Louis
to lay the foundation for that under
taking. He had made previous short
essays into local and state politics, but
this was his first entry into the nn-
tional field.
Bringing into politics the same prin-
clples thSt had been SO successful in
building up his own private business,
and a keen knowledge of men, ne SO
managed that compaign that when the
convention assembled there WAS but
one candidate mentioned, and that one
was his friend. Mckinley.
1t was at that same convention that
Mr.. Hanna delivered his first public
speech. 1t was very brief, speech
of thanks. scarcely hundred words In
length and delivered in a halting, en-
barrassed manner. II was to the point.
however, and had the true ring. and it
bade hit.
Since then Mr.. Hanna has developed
into one Of the best speakers op the
stump and one Of the most convincing
orators in the senate. This is again
the result Of his business training and
experience
Without putting on any of the