Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-16
Shorn of Power of Appoint.
ments in the South.
THE POSTMASTER GENERAL
Will Take Those With Any Politics
Into His Own Hands.
LOSES FORMER PATRONAGE
Tip Given First Assistant to Turn
Over All Southern Appointments
of q Political Character.

From Alexandria to Ell Paso there will
be a sensation among federal Office
holders who have been part of the plans
of Frank H. Hitchcock, first assistant
postmaster general, when they learn. as
they WILL that Mr.. Hitchcock has been
practically deposed by the administration
as post Office dispenser in the south. and
that the work of handling appointments
down there, in which there is any poll
tics. has passed directly into the hands
of Postmaster General Meyer, whose 10y
atty to the President is not questioned.
The Presidents displeasure with Mr..
Hitchcock is now too well known for
anybody to doubt. 1t is political history.
So far no move has been made by the
administration to hint that the resigna-
tion of the assistant postmaster general
is desired. Whether Mr.. Hitchcock will
retire before the hint is given, or whe ther
he will remain in Office, are matters for
the future to determine.
Shorn of His Power.
Shorn. however of the tremendous pres
tige and power he had as sole dispenser
of southern post Office patronage, Mr.
Hitchcock will no longer be the figure in
the south that he was. 1t Is predicted
quickly fall to pieces as the officeholding
rats desert the ship he placed on the po-
litical seas. If that ship had ever gotten
into port 1t would have unloaded the most
curious assortment of politics ever seen.
When George B. Cortelyou became Post
master General he placed Mr.. Hitchcock
In charge of the southern patronage. Mr.
Hitchcock had been thoroughly familiar
with the situation in the south from the
time he resigned as chief clerk of the De-
partment of Commerce and Labor to go
with Mr.. Cortelyou in the management of
the 1904 campaign. It was his duty in
that campaign to learn all about the
southern leaders and their methods of
business. In no, time he found out that
they Will rally around the pie counter
quicker than around a gospel meeting or
good card game. He played them ac
cordingly. In less than three years he
formed them Into an organization that
played bold politics. On the surface the
another term. Under the surface it was
for Secretary C6rtelyou for President
Even in the national committee it worked
with the precision of trained regiment
In opposition to Everything that the Taft
people wanted.
Abe President heard many stories about
theX-eWbine. For a long time he re-
ma Aed in doubt He believed Mr.. Hitch
cockAeo be one of the greatest living
third Nermers. I He couldn't conceive It
posibA that there was any other motivs
bark 4 the work of the assistant post
master general. Every bit Of gossip that
caSrc-1o him he mixed with plenty of
salt. At last he saw that under the third
term guise Secretary Taft's head was.
being cracked at the rate of fifty times
a day ahd The Cortelyou boom was be-
a5omirg power in the land. What fol-
1Owed every intelligent man now knows.
What is to follow may be conjectured.
Patronage No Longer His.
u the only eases that have arisen in
the south in the. last few weeks. Post
master General Meyer has personally
handled them The Admission, Ala, case
onmendation of the men who have been
playing with Mr.. Hitchcock was turned
down and The recommendation of new
power in The state was accepted In two
Georgia appointments. about which thers
Is fight in the Senate. Mr.. Meyer is
personally in charge. These are the Of
fees at Toccoa and Conyers, both of
which have been filed by women. Until
these appointments came up Mr.. Meyer
had not bothered with this work, and did
not desire to do it. From now on he
will handle political appointments exclu-
svely. Mr.. Hitchcock received tip
about ten days ago to turn over southern
appointments of political nature to the
Postmaster General. All other appoint
ments Mr.. Hitchcock will care for.
II is understood that the White House
does not give any credence to story
that an anti Roosevelt combine has been
formed in the Senate to hold together the
Hitchcock coalition by refusing to con-
ffrm appointments that may be made by
the President that are contrary to the
pIans of the coalition.