The Washington herald., 1907-01-08
CORTELYOU GOES OUT
Announces Resignation as
National Chairman.
NEW TO ACT IN HIS PLACE
Effort May Be Made to Call Meeting
and Elect Another Chairman soon,
but General Opinion II That New
VIII BE Retained Until After the
Next National Convention.

George B. Cortelyou to-day announced
his retirement as chairman Of the Re
publican national committee. Hon Harry
S New. vice chairman. will become act
ing chairman of the committee
In this brief statement, handed to rep
resentauves Of the newspapers yesterday
forenoon, Postmaster General Cortelyou
informed the public that he at last had
taken a step concerning which there has
been much speculation for months. The
circumstance that the resignation fol-
lowed by only "A few days the publication
Of the story that Senator Scott, OF West
Virginia is a candidate for the chair
manship, was commented on yesterday,
but there probably is no connection
whatever between the two. The Post
master General decided some time ago
to retire from the Craftsmanship Of the
committee before being inducted into the
Office of Secretary Of the Treasury. ana
his action yesterday was merely in pur-
suance of that plan.
Persons who are I'm a position 10 know
whereof they speak. intimate that there
is little possibility Of the national commit
tee being called together this year for the
purpose of selecting a new chairman.
The regular course VIII be pursued, they
say, IN which event the committee will
not meet until more than a year hence.
when it viii get together to decide on the
time and place for the holding of the
national convention. IL Is In connection
with this matter that objections are made
by some Republicans to Mr.. New. Such
Republicans say that the vice chairman.
whether or not he is definitely committed
10 the candidacy Of Vice President FaiI
banks for the Presidency. would natur-
ally incline 70 favor Mr. Fairbanks, who
IS "a citizen Of the same State as himself.
Limit 10 Chairman's Power.
on the other hand. it could probably be
said OF any man who might be placed iE
the chair that he was partial 10 some can
didate, so honors in that respect would
seem 10 be at least even. Ii is assumed
that Mr. New. as acting chairman of the
committee, might delay or expedite mat
ters by calling the meeting for the seiec-
ton of the time and place OF the cOnyen-
ton late or early, but it seems obvious
that beyond that he would be unable 70
thwart the viii 0f a majority Of the body
in any way. The allegation that the late
Senator Hanna, when chairman, manipu-
lated the convention date 10 his own ad-
vantage. is recalled in this connection.
II is the custom 10 permit the Presiden-
tial nominee OF the party TO Choosc the
chairman OF the national committee. Mr.
CortelyOu, who was not even a member
Of the body. was placed al its head be-
cause Mr.. Roosevelt wished IT,, and many
welI-informed observers say they see no
reason why there should be any deviation
from this rule in the present instance.
Their opinion Is that Mr. New will be re-
tanned until after the convention next
year. It is known that Senator Scott
would like 10 be chairman. and some
talk was heard yesterday TO the effect
that a meeting would be called FOR the
purpose of eIecting him in order 10 get the
control Of the body in conservative
hands Il was said that q meeting had
been called for next month. but neither
this nor assertions that a meeting would
be held at any time prior 20 that at which
the committee viii decide on the date and
place for the convention. could be- con
.drmed.
Favorable Report on COrteIyou.
It is assumed that the nomination Of
Mr.. Cortelyou as Secretary Of the Treas
ury will no longer be delayed, because OF
objections 10 his retention Of the national
committee Craftsmanship, #, indeed, that
feature ever had anything 90 do with the
delay. and the finance committee probably
VIII make a favorable report to-day. Il is
known that there was never any objection
TO Mr.. COrtelyOu on that account from
the Republican members Of the finance
committee, although the Democrats
thought that he should not be permitted
20 take the new Cabinet position while
still AT the head Of the national committee.
Some Democrats are still OF the opinion
that Mr.. Cortelyou is not a fit man for
the Treasury Secretaryship, in view of the
allegations that be used information
gained as Secretary of Commerce and
Labor TO induce corporations to contribute
to the Republican campaign fund. or that.
being in possession of such information,
he induced the corporations to contribute.
There IS no concerted opposition 10 his
confirmation among the Democrats. how
ever. Senator Stone, of Missouri. is one
minority member who Is unalterably op-
posed 10 confirmation
Senator Crane, Of Massachusetts,. was
mentioned as an excellent man for the
committee Craftsmanship, but he quickly
put a quietus to the boom in his favor L
have troubles enough as it is was what
he said, in effect
Senator Hepburn, of Idaho, believes the
committee should be called together in
the near future to elect a new chairman.
He says that the fact that Mr. Cortel-
you was never even a member of the com