The Washington herald., 1907-12-29

Not many miles from Washington, in
the little Maryland town OF Landover,
lives man who once refused TO become
a United States Senator, although il was
the dearest wish OF his heart 10 enter
the country's highest legislative body.
And in refusing TO pluck the coveted Do
litical apple when it was within his reach
he probably changed, in some degree, the
history of his country.
Martin Dodge. formerly senator from
Cleveland in the Ohio legislature. is that
man. He reminds one of the old-fashion-
ed Southern gentleman in appearance and
demeanor, and resembles Gov. Warfield,
OF Maryland. not little
After Marcus A. Hanna had, through
his remarkable ability as a campaign
organizer, elected William Mckinley
President of the United States. he de-
cided that he would like TO become a
United States Senator. But he had enc
mics as well as friends in the State SEN
ate. and on joint ballot it was found
that there were Y votes against the king
maker" TO % for him. a deadlock ana
hard fight resulted, and for some DAYS
the anti-Hanna men succeeded in putting
Off the final vote. while they made every
effort to turn the tide against him.
Has Prize i'm His Grasp.
In their extremity, finding that they
could not stave off the final ballot much
longer, they went to Martin Dodge. who
was voting for Hanna. although il was
known that he was by no means a warm
advocate Of his candidacy, and told him
that II he would vote for himself they
would throw 10 his support the neces-
sary votes TO swing the tide in his favor
and elect him Senator.
Dodge was ambitious for Just the pr.
that was offered him, and he knew that
his tempters could do what they promised.
But stronger than his ambition was his
idea Of honor and his loyalty 10 his party.
and behind him were his constituents
who, he knew. believed that the place
was due 10 Hanna for the part ne had
played in the national campaign. He de-
clined the offer. turned his back on the
proffered Senatorship, and voted for
Hanna on the final ballot, which elected
McKinley's friend 70 the coveted place.
No man can tell what differences would
have been made in the history OF the
United States during the last decade "
Hanna had not come To the Senate. there
by cementing the power which had made
him supreme in Republican councils. and
had made him the most talked-of. the
most written about. and. IN many sec
tons the most bitterly reviled man IN
Ia
probably would have been changed was
the selection Of the route for the inter
oceanic canal which is now being dug on
the isthmus of Panama Dodge has al
ways believed in the merits OF the Near
aguan route. and sentiment in Congress
at the time was very strong for that
route in preference 20 the Panama route.
1t was largely the work OF Mark Hanna
that decided the selection OF the Panama
route. after the House had voted almost
unanimously for the one farther south.
Meant Much TO World.
Not only the United States. but the en-
tire mercantile world. was affected bv
the decision. for whatever may be the
relative merits or the two routes. Mica
ragua is many hours sailing farther from
the principal ports on both seaboards.
and much farther also from the power
Of the United States. Many future
events may hinge upon the relative
proximity Of the new marine passage
between the oceans, so that the result
Of Martin Dodge's decision. in the face
Of greater temptation than comes to
many men. will be far-reaching. al
though its extent can never be known
Mr.. Dodge has built himself a hand
some home out at Landover. and intends
10 identify himself with the life Of the
Capital II is probable that. as he
watches the course Of events and re-
members that it was within his own
power TO have had a share in shaping
them, he will regret that his ambition to
enter the Senate has not been realized.
but will feel more than compensated for
his self-abnegation by the comfortable
remembrance that he did not sell his
honor and his party for his own advance
ment.