The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1904-02-16

tOAfB dhO m ltO1. ANO uuhuNcN JcaND
ago, which is ns far back as Mr. Han
nh had traced his genealogy, his an
cestors were in England, from which
country they went to Scotland and
then to the north Of Ireland. Hanna's
grandfather was horn In Virginia. In
course Of time he went ont to Ohio,
where Humans father was born, and
then the latter, in 1852. left the old
homestead to go to Cleveland, which
city the senator had always made his
home.
When Hanna really began life after
some common school education and a
term in the Western Reserve college,
he became grocer's clerk. His father
kept the grocery store.
AS his fathers health gradually fail
ed, young Hanna became more and
more identified with the business, and
when, in 1862, the father died the
young man was able to take up his
parents place in the firm.
Ask the average man when Hanna
first entered politics, and you will be
told that he made his debut when in
the early part of 1896 an organized eff
ton of William Mckinley for the Of
fee of president of the United States.
1t Is safe to say that not one man in
thousand can recall having heard the
name of Hanna before that time.
The first ore for which Hanna was
candidate was membership in the
board of education in Cleveland. This
was as long ago as 1917. 1t is needless
to say that he was elected.
The national election Of 1896 was
preceded by period of financial and
industrial depression. In this eXtrem-
ity Hanna felt that the hour and the
man had come He would make VIII.
liam Mckinley, the apostle of the pro
tective tariff the president of the Unit
ed States.
1t is a curious fact that when Hanna
first met Mckinley the men were on
opposite sides. Hanna, coal mine
owner. had had some trouble with
some miners Some of the strikers
Overstepped the bounds Of law and
were arrested. Mckinley, then young
lawyer, defended them with marked
success. Hanna was attracted to the
man who could oppose him and carry
off the flag of victory. He sought him
out. became convinced of his worth
and ability and won him over. The
men first liked then loved each other.
Tho lfrgftan.s. ,,,,t In, TNlar.nluVNH watched
the man in politics in Canton, saw him
steadily rise in public life, kept always
in touch with him, encouraged and up
held him. The two men complemented
each other. Hanna was aggressive,
Mckinley was conservative Hanna
could not utter word in public. Me
Klnley was graceful, persuasive.
forceful orator, Hanna kept close to
the hard, practical world, Mckinley
occasionally dwet among the clouds.
There were some points, too, where
the men touched each other. and at
these points their friendship was &C.
mented by mutual feeling.
Mckinley was also confident that his
bIHbA ANlliAN AttN NhAAlNs 4 WIZ hNlblt
he had seen the honor Of nomination
drifting toward him. but each time he
had stepped aside. In 1894 the field
seemed clear and the elements pro-
pitious Hanna, knowing how McKin-
ley had steadily risen in public esteem,
suggested his candidacy for the pres
idency. The Republican leaders, for
some reason, were aveSe TO the sug-
geston. Hanna thereupOn determined
10 take the matter in his own hands.
Mckinley was summoned to the IA
nous conference at Townsville, Ga,
Hanna's winter home, and went deter
mined to meet the tide of fortune at
its flood.
Long before TIE convention assem-
bled ut st. Louis the result was fore
gone conclusion. From almost every
state came delegates pledged to Nc
Kinley Their duty was perfunctory.
They had merely to answer when their
names were called. When they ar
rived at St Louis they went to little
room in the Southern hotel to meet the
man who had marshaled them under
one flag. That little room, with Hanna
coatless and persplring, was the focus
Of the convention The man who had
been a mere delegate in the ranks who
had then risen to be the chairman of
his state delegation. was now the cen
trail figure Of great convention, the
general Of a mighty army.
The convention over and Hanna's
purpose being accomplished. he pro-
posed to again return to his desk AS
he was packing up his papers in his
room at the hotel Henry c. Payne,
now postmaster general, entered and
invited him TO meet some gentlemen
upstairs. Hanna complied He found
about fifty men assembled.
"Mr Hanna" said one OF them
abruptly, I'VE have elected you chair
man Of the Republican national com