The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-04-25
SOUTH NOT Baking
Hitchcock Finds Roosevelt
Sentiment "Yery Strong"
TAFT STOCK NOT so HIGH
Assistant Postmaster General Re-
turns 10 Washington After Inspect
ing the Administration Fences in
south Carolina. GeorEia, and Flor
ida-Ts Optimistic as 20 Attitude.

The Republicans Of the South are all
for Roosevelt"
This is the message which Frank II.
Hitchcock. First Assistant Postmaster
General bore back to the White House
yesterday after his visit through the
South Atlantic States Although he re-
fused positively TO commit himself as 70
details of his trip In behalf Of the admin
istration's programme, a peep between the
rounds of the ladder would seem 70 iudi-
cate that no very cheering information
for the success OF the Taft boom was
CLEANED.
Ten days ago Dir. Hitchcock was sent
South The President was worried az re-
ports which had been coming to Wash
ington to the effect that Southern Repub-
leans were disgruntled and organizing
against the administration.
These reports We're disquieting. espe-
cially TO the Taft supporters. There were
Indications that Foraker. by his Browns
vile fight. had gained strength Mr..
Hitchcock was selected TO 90 to Dixie to
straighten out the weak places in the Re
publican organization. He was chosen
because. as assistant secretary Of the Re
publican National Committee. he is IA
miliar with the workings of the machine.
Also as Assistant Postmaster General he
has been coming into contact for yeart
with Republican postmasters. national
committeeman, and referees throughout
the South
Last night at his Office after his return.
he made no denial of the fact that he had
been sent South on a political mission.
He was loath To talk. Possibly he felt
that silence would appear % indicate sit
uatiOa there unfavOrable 10 the admins
tration- He therefore made only a brief,
guarded statement, but "a significant one.
Administration Is strong.
The administration is very. very strong
in the Southern States. he said. I
visited the big post-offices in South Caro-
lima, Georgia. and Florida. OF course.
talked with the Republican leaders. The
sentiment I found is ali for Roosevelt
The opinion is unanimous. There is moth
ing but administration talk.
I saw absolutely no evidence TO Justify
the stories which have been coming from
that section concerning splits in the Re
opposing movements. There are few
diseredited. disgruntled men in every
State, who. baked in obtaining office.
organize against the administration
found a few instances OF this. In some
cases two or three men have organized
opposition leagues. and made it appear
they represented a large following.
The Republicans / talked with seem
in hearty accorI with President Roose-
velt They are administration men, out
and cut 1 cannot express this too
strongly"
Does that mean that these Southern
Republicans favor third term for Presi-
dent RooseveIt2" he was asked.
Mr.. Hitchcock looked embarrassed. He
did not care to answer. They are all
for Roosevelt" he finally said, and would
not talk third term" again They are
administration men.
Silent as TO Taft.
How about the sentiment for seere-
tary Taft?" he was asked.
Mr. Hitchcock plainly did not want to
talk about the Taft boom in the South.
He would not discuss this phase of the
situation Whether the news he brings
back viii be regarded as discouraging to
the Taft men or not is a matter OF specu-
lation. This will develop later
1t was TumOred in Washington yester-
day that Assistant. Secretary of the Treas
ury James 3. Reynolds. who is now in
Boston, has gone into Massachusetts on
the same sort of a mission which carried
Mr.. Hitchcock South According 60 the