Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-12
INTEREST AT CAPITOL
EVERYONE ANXIOUS AS TO MR..
HANNA's CONDITION.
Senators and Representatives Eagerly
Scan the Bulletins and Hope
for tho Best

How is the senatorT
This was the question heard on every
side at the Capitol today and repeated
hundreds of times. It was not even How
Is Senator HANNAH or How is Mr.. Han
n?' but just How is the senator?"
For in the minds Of the people who made
the query there was only one senator-the
man who in that darkened room at the
Arlington Hotel is fighting for a life that
is held by thousands of people in this ooun-
try to be precious to the republic.
At the Capitol the interest in Mr.. Hanna's
condition overshadowed all other questions,
and bulletins from his sick room took precs-
dence of all other news. The interest was
manifested in many ways and was con-
fined to no particular grouping of men.
either by political parties or political fac
ton. Considerations Of politics were
merged into the broader consideration Of
human sympathy for distinguished citi-
zen Of the republic and of downright affec-
ton for big. warm-hearted man and
friend. The interest was centered not upon
Hanna the senator, nor Hanna the reDub-
lcan, but upon Hanna the man, whose
qualities of mind loyalty of heart and
charm of disposition have won alike the
respect and esteem of men.
Bulletins Eagerly Scanned.
the sick room were received by the press
associations and displayed on the desks Of
the reporters at the rostrum. In the House
there was constant throng OF members
about the bulletins, new arrivals in the
chamber going down the aisle upon enter
ing the hall, to learn the latest news. In
the Speakers room, in the ways and means
committee room and in the appropriations
committee room, which are gathering
places for leading representa- tives, nothing
was talked about but the condition of the
distinguished invalid
The early morning news was decidedly
gloomy. Not only did the bulletins sound
a distinct note of apprehension, but the
arrival of several congressman shortly be-
fore noon, who had called at the Arlington
and came away discouraged served to
deepen the general atmosphere of gloom
Men talked with each other with that pa
thet1c tone of hope in which it is the wish
that is farther to the thought and vet be-
hlnd which is the echo of fear
Speaker Cannon was deeply concerned
over the news from the sick room and dur
Ing the early part of the day the main
burden of conversation between men,hars
who called at the Speakers conference
room was Senator Hanna's condition. The
bulletins were brought to the Speaker all
day and were read and discussed by all who
came to the Speakers desk.
Anxiety of Senators.
Among senators no other tonic assumed
In any way the Importance of, the question
of Senator Hanna's condition. Senator
Scott and others, who had heeiat the Ar
hngton in the forenoon, 'wers saseought by
senators and eagerly questione, to their
information upon his real condffIbn. Everv
one seemed to fear that the bulletins were
not telling the whole story or II Some way
the impression had crepts sarouizd in the in
tangible way that rumors of bad news seem
10 speed that the senator was in even a
more desperate condition than the physj-
clans publicly acknowledged
Bulletins were taken to the room of the
president pro teinpore, Senator Frye and
senators passed in and out of the room all
afternoon. In addition to tff5t Assistant
over the telephone with the Arlington Hotel
and answered the constantly-repeated
queries of senators.
Not only was interest confined to officials,
however There was an unusual number of
visitors at the Capitol today, persons who
pass through Washington at this season of
the year, and who throng the galleries and
corridors in tow of the official guides.
Among these well-dressed throngs of typical
American citizens the condition of Senator
Hanna seemed to be of para mount interest
They came from many sections Of the coun-
try and represented all classes but they all
knew the senator and were concerned over
his Illness
Along about half-past 1 O'Clock more
favorable bulletin came over the wires to
the Capitol. Within less than five minutes
after its arrival its contents were known
throughout the Capitol building and people
were joyfully spreading the favorable infor-
nation which the bulletin contained To be
sure, the bulletin. only showed relative
improvement, but SO high was the tension
among every one that the slightest change
for the better noted in the bulletins found
immediate response among: the sympa-
thZerS.
A Saline Solutien.
When it was learned that a saline solu-
tion injection had been given Senator
Hanna the gravest fears were felt among
his friends at the Senate. The opinion pre-
vailed quite generally that this treatment
indicated that the senator was probably
beyond hope. as there was popular feel
ing that such treatment is only given in
such cases. A prominent surgeon who Wis
tied the Capitol this afternoon was talked
to by several senators on this subject, and
he assured them that while he regarded
Senator Hannas case as a very grave one,
the injection of saline solution was not to
be considered as a last resort.
He stated that in former years that was
the case, the injection seldom being given
except when the patient was sinking almost
beyond recovery. But during the last few
years. he stated, the practice has been to
give this injection more freely. and that 1t
had very frequently resulted In so stimu-
lating the patient as to hasten recovery
A case at hand was cited In that of the
son of DR.. G. L. Magruder. who is one of
the attending physicians ON Senator Han
ma DR.. Magruder's son. then cadet at
West Point, was very seriously i'll with
typhoid fever, and through the means of
the injection of the saline solution his re-
covery was greatly assisted and he is well
today.