Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-02-16
Marcus AIonzo Hanna.

while he has battied with the terrible
disease. typhoid fever. At first. in
spite Of the age of the patient-65 years
his physicians held out hope, trusting
power Of the invalid, but for several
days i, his been evident that the odds
were too strong for him, and that re-
coverv was beyond human probability.
Nevertheless the shock given by the
announcement of the end IS none the
Ic.s real, and the consciousness that a
great national Joss has been sustained
is none the less acute.
Senator Hanna was one of the great
est and strongest and best man OF our
country. \ few years ago, when he
first entered public life. he was perhaps
the most abused man in America. the
worst caricatured. the most bitterly
mlligned, and the one about whom WAS
the most deliberate and malicious mis-
representation, but he soon lived down
were not won over into friendship,
were shamcd into silence. and the
masses of the American people. came to
know him as broadminded, big
hearted. clcar-headed business man in
politics, wonderfully loyal in his
friendships, clean and honest in every
-
posed.
Because he was Il rich man, his
enemics used to assert that he was 4
dangerous man. and Il menace to TIE
cause of labor. but it was soon shown
that no ilan in the country treated his
employees better or WAS more beloved
by them than he, and labor has learned
that It had no better friend in all the
I',nted States than Senator Hanna. As
president Of the Civic Federation, he
has done much within the past few
years to bring capital and labor to an
anlicIblc understanding. No man has
done more. Unmindful of the attacks
which were INCREASINGLY made upon
him. he went about his business. public
aud nritatr. in Washington and in
Ono. rs q good man. n good American,
n patriot ana Il statesman.
1t was inevitable that there should
he Il rcvulsiOn of public feeling in
Senator II,nna's favor. The reaction
began several years ago. and has
st",dily grown in strength. until before
his death the tongue of calumny was
silcnced. and people everywhere whose
good OF inion is worth having, regard
less Of rarty affiliations. felt only re-
sp"ct for him. and frankly and freely
expressed their full confidence and high
regard. Nobody could know the man
without recognizing quickly his excel
lent qualities OF mind and heart. ami
realizing the executive ability AMI
force OF character which gave him such
mastery control over men and affairs
country was much like that in which
he increased in strength and popularity
in his home state. which recently cleo
ted him to the Senate for another term
OF six yeas by an overw hciming ma
jority, although at the time OF his first
election. he Won only after a long AMI
strenuous contest.
senator Hanna WAS a native OF Ohio
where he was born in 1897. and wa, a
descendant of immigrants who came
from the North of Ireland in the mil
die OF the 18th century. He received Il
public school and college education.
and was a clerk in his fathers store in
Cleveland when the war broke cut.
lie served in an Ohio regiment. and has
always been 4 loyal member of the
Grand Army. After IN" war he wen1
into the coal and iron business. and in
his mines. factories. railroads and
shipping interests. he has employed an
average OF 5000 men. He devoted HIM
self 50 closely To business for over 81
years that he had little time for
politics. although he was n close per-
sonal friend Of President Garfield and
of William Mckinley. and was 4 dele.
gate to the national conventions OF
1884, 1855 and 1896. Mr. Mckinley, wht
knew his abilities as an organizer ana
worker. urged him for the chairman,
ship Of the Republican national COM
mittee. and the successful campaign o
1896 vindiCated his selection. In Marcel
1897. he was appointed United State
senator to succeed John Sherman " h,
became a member of the cabinet. an,
little later. he was elected as his owl
successor for the term expiring Marc
4. 1895: and. as stated above. had jus
been elected by unanimous vote q
the Republican majority in the Obi
Legislature for still another term c
six years.
His course in Washington has bee
on 4 lefty plane of statesmanshil
making him trusted by the coun,r,