New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-16
THE CONVENTION CALL.
Hanna,s Friends Erpress Indigna-
ton at Rumors of Treachery.
IFRoN THE TRIBUNE BUREAU.I

Washington. Jan. 15.-Friends Of senator
Hanna in Washington. including Senator Scott.
OF West Virginia. profess Indignation that the
rumor of underhand dealing on the part of the
syi,ss et.7alttst u s1A selcral essr-rrsitsee
outlined IN these dispatches last nigst should
have been made public. They assert that Sena-
tor Hanna is too hIghminded a politician and too
fair a fighter 10 permit OF his doing anything
underhanded. and declare that there is no
studied attempt to withhold the call for the
national convention" They also add numerous
excuses for the delay in calling the convention
reciting Mr.. Hanna's i'll health and Mr. Heath's
press OF business matters
Those leaders whose devotion to the President
is unquestioned are disposed 10 accept the ex-
cuses in good part and express qualification
that the postponement of the call is not the re-
suit OF any studied attempt. frankly admitting
that they disappointed that the national
chairman did not find il convenient TO come to
Washington and issue the call as soon as his
reelection to the Senate had taken place. in
stead OF returning TO Cleveland but they feel
certain that. now the attention of the Senator
from Ohio has been called TO the Importance of
prompt action. he will permit no further delay.
With regard to the publication of the report.
which was in general circulation at the Capitol
yesterday. it is believed that it's effect cannot
but prove beneficial 1t is but of several
runOrs. similar in their import. which have been
in circulation in the last two weeks. and its
publication has afforded the friends of Senator
Hanna an opportunity to explain the delay and
deny any purpose of mountaineering the friends
Of the President. 1t has further served to make
plain the desire Of those Republicans who have
the best interests of the administration at heart
10 hold early conventions
Senator Hanna Is expected In Washington at
a, aarlxr data pOSSihlyr tO-rOrrocr I,,;u
is believed. Immediately issue the call for the
national convention. II is regarded as des:ra-
BILE that all doubt as to the unity OF the party in
its support of the President be promptly dis
PEELED. and the calling of the State conventions
and the selection of delegates to the national
meeting will do much 70 dispel any lurking
doubt which may exist. As a matter OF fact
Senator Penrose has felt il desirable to issue the
call for the Pennsylvania convention without
waiting for the national call. and has to-day
sent out the notices which were prepared yester-
day and held up only because of the rumor pub
lished in The Tribune this morning. Mr.. Pen
rose is still in Philadelphia. presumably con-
ferring with Senator Quay but he telegraphed
to Colonel Andrews to-day to issue the State call.
thorough search of the history of the Re-
publican conventions has proved that the ex-
ecutive committee could find no Justification for
attempting TO enforce the unit rule" by the
framing of its CALL In the national convention
of 1880 a resolution. offered by Mr.. Boutwell, of
Massachusetts. and amended by Mr.. Butter
worth, of Ohio was adopted. providing in part
that such methods rules shall include or
secure TO the several Congress districts in
the United States the right TO elect their own
delegates to the national convention" This the
amendment of Mr. Butterworth, was adopted
only after fierce contest It's adoption re-
suited i'm the defeat of the third term candidacy
Of President Grant. Since that time there has |
been no action which could possibly be con-
sEued as relieving the party from the obligation
Of that rule.
IL is further pointed out that at the last
meeting of the Republican National Committee
a resolution was adopted instructing that the
form OF the call Of 1900 be used In calling the
convention Of this year. and that in itself
would prevent any attempt materially to change
IT. These facts have been called 10 the atten-
ton of the doubters. and they express their |
willingness to abandon their former belief as
to the occasion OF the delay in the issue of the
CALL but IL is evident that they will |
feel relieved when the call is actually issued
Quite apart from the reasons which have thus
far delayed the issue of the call are these adj |
Continued second page.