The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1920-10-21
THE SIZE OF HANNA

- advancement in public life upon dcnunctntion O Other men ne
has had a noisy career which had furnished little evidence for or
against his ability or moral courage that was available TO the public
up 10 six weeks ago. When Mr.. Seigmau took him up ms part of the
framework for the most successful Selienan fusion deal, and secured
his election TO the state supreme court, Mr.. Hanna was a young lawyer
in Santa Fe with a local reputation as II kicker. lie had earned it,
But the public had been given nothing by which to take his measure
His seven years upon the state supreme bench clothed him with a dig
nifty he may or may not have meritcd. As a member of the court he
was not in direct contact with the public. lie managed TO keep him
self more or less prominently before the public, but that was his right.
As a candidate for reelection in 1918 he made a campaign in his own
behalf. although his opponent rcfrained from doing so. That was also
Mr. Ilanna's right. So far as the public knows his campaign, al
though. unsuccessful, was digni6ed. AS a member of the court he
was shielded from both attack and critical analysis. The public still
lacked anything by which to take his measure.
In his present campaign as u candidate for governor Mr.. Hanna
has been dealing irissues that directly concern all the people. lie
has been directly before the people. lie has been expected to state
his policies and declare his positions upon a dozen questions Of gen
eral interest and great importance. For the first time the public has
had an opportunity to take his measure as an asprant for leader
ship and has had his own utterances by which to judge him. Stripped
of the shielding robes of the state highest court INTO winch nc step
ped by accident, Mr.. Hanna is before the people as he really is The
result is disappointing 10 a great many people. Mr.. Hanna has lost
in his effort for election TO the governorship very largely through his
own personal campaign and the standards for measuring him that II
has furnished to the people.
Mr.. Hanna began his campaign with violent, miustifcd and nm
Just attacks upon his opponent He did this indirectly but none the
less vencmously ~. Ills practice was to describe the ''rottenness' OF
practically every man holding a position of leadership in the rcpub
by the statement that Judge Mechem would be controlled by thes'
men. He proved no enargei he avoided speeihe assertion except II
the few instances where he has been caught in the ntterance OF false
hoods.
meeting with popular favor he recently abandoned it to the tender
merpics of his campaign manager, who has made it stronger than ever
Hanna dared TO do. He tells his audiences thai his opponent is
nice man. and his " friend" while countcraneing attacks upor
Judge Mechem that he knows are untrue, unjust and lbelous anc
thai he. Of course. knows to be made as part of The effort to elect him
If this is the Hanna idea % Justice and fair play, ii IS a standard Will
which to measure him.
In one instance Nj. Hanna uttered a false charge against a fel
low lawyer of highest reputation and integrity. Even his publicity
managers, repeating his statement, saw fit TO retract it when the false
hood was proven. Mr. Hanna passed the buck to a hired advertising
writer side stepped and let the employee of his state committee taxi
the blame. and remained silent as to his own part in il. Ii has fur
nished a standard with which to measure him.
AT various times during his campaign Mr.. Hanna, directly and by
jnnuendo. has questioned the intcgsly of the courts of the state
This has been done as a part Of his effort to dicredft his opponent
who is more recently a member Of the Judiciary than himself. ASKED