The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-12-17
TEDDY AGAINST CORTELYOU.
Hitchcock and Capers May Lose
Their Jobs-Won't Work
For Bill Taft.
A special from Washington to tn

A special from Washington to the
Columbia State says:
The deep laid "conspiraey' Of
Frank H Hitchcock, first assistant
postmaster general, and Jonn G.
Capers, commissioner Of internal re-
venue, who have formed the South
ern Republican muckamucks into a
coalition for the nomination, not Of
Roosevelt, but of Cortelyou, is the
most interesting aftermath Of the
presidents great second renuncia-
ton. And Washington awaits with
both ears trained and one foot sus-
pended to hear the axe fail upon the
benightea heads of the three con-
spirators. For the Great Silent
Man himself, who is said to have
laid the foundations Of the deep
plot, if indeed he -1as not directed
every move, is involved now with his
two ardent admirers, Hitchcock and
Capers. Capers will not today dis
cuss the report that his resignation,
by request, is now pending, pendant
indeed, between the pen and the
sword.
It is said here, though, on the best
authority that Capers, when sent
for by the president some time ago,
told the big chief in so many plain
English words with few others
thrown in that if he was expected in
the Office Of commissioner Of inter-
nal revenue to organize the federal
Office holders in his division for Taft
then he would resign his Office. If
this was a bluff the president did
not call it; he preferred to play the
game another way. Mr.. Capers
makes no denial that with Roose-
welt now out of the race he is for
Cortelyou, though he declares that
so far as his part in forming the
coalition is concerned, it was foT the
president nomination. This is now
seriously doubted hereabouts, be
cause Of the smoking out Of Mr.. Cor
telyou's candidacy with : various
smoke producing circumstances and
substances, and for the additional
reason that it is known so well what
obligations Mr.. .Capers is under to
the ambitious secretary Of the treas
ury, if for nothing else than for'his
present job. It is also remember
ed that Mr.. Capers was once reiev-
ed of a goodly position as district
attorney Of South Carolina by this
same Mr.. Roosevelt. Mr.. Hitchcock,
too, owes MS all to Cortelyou, and
mighty little to Roosevelt.
Neither Of them owes anything to
Taft. As for paying anything or Civ
ing anything in the form Of influ-
ence, promotion or manipulation to
any leader high or low without ow-
ing it or expecting pay for it after
wards these two are not celebrated
for that kind of politics.
So the conspiracy is thoroughly
believed in by many. in Washington.
It might be called 5,000,0OO-vote
conspiracy as sort of, counterpart
Of the $5,O00,00O conspiracy, though
in truth it seems to have more foun-
dation. Drastic measures are con-
templated, it is said, but lots Of
things have been said hereabouts IN
recent days and enterprises Of great
pith and moment are sicklied DER
with the pale cast of the possibility
Of making matters worse.
And matters would certainly be
made worse should three heads like
these fall in a bunch. They would be
shorn of their trength which lies in
the main in their dominance over the
federal office holders under them,
especially those in the south, which
have already been organized with
the magic name Of Roosevelt as the
charm. But, on the other hand,
there would be the effects Of so great
a row, and the necessity, if the pres
ident would make things any better
for his proteee, Mr.. Taft, Of his ap-
pointing men to these offices who
would. with the presidential author
ity, organize the federal office hold
ers for Taft. Conla the president
Of the United States afford to'sdo
that?