The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-12-18
The Fight On
For the South
Mr.. HITCHCOCK sHoRa OF Ap.
POINTING PowER-cANNoN's
FRIENDS ARE BUSY.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1S.-The frst
movement in the political fight for tbs
control of the South has been made By
the administration in the removal
from the care and direction OF First
Assistant Postmaster General Hitch.
cock Of the appointment or selection
for appointment Of all postmasters in
the South. 1t Is stated that few days
ago an order was given that all APP
pointments OF Southern postmasters
into which politics entered the selec-
tion Of a new man should pass through
the hands OF Postmaster General Mey-
er himself. and not through the Office
of the First Assistant Postmaster Gen.
eral. The appointment of the post
master at Admission, which was made
by the Postmaster General on the APP
proval and recommendation OF new
party leader. Is said to have been the
first OF these cases. When Mr.. Cor.
telyou was postmaster general h.
turned over to his first assistant, NJ.
Hitchcock, the appointments of all
Southern pastmasters. and that ON.
eial has had the selection Of the South.
ern men in his hands ever since. In
this way Mr., Hitchcock has formed
and built up Cortelyou following OF
much strength in the South. and the
Southern delegates who were TO be
elected to the national convention ap.
parently for the President for third
term We're really friendly to Mr.. Cor.
telyou, and not to Secretary Taft, as
their second choice.
1t is said that rumors had come to
the administration to the effect that
Secretary Cortelyou. was securing a
strong following in the South. while
The President thought Secretary Taft
was to be the choice. At first all ru.
mors were not believed by the admin.
istration forces. hut gradually the
facts were brought to the attention oil
the administration, showing that the
South was being turned over to Sec.
rotary Cortelyon, and the statement of
the President that he is not n candi.
date and would not accept the nomina.
ton for third term was issued.
Hitehcoek's Possible Retirement
Now comes the report that the Post.
master General will take personal
charge Of the appointment OF South.
ern postmasters, and the papers In
such cases Will not pass through the
First Assistant Postmaster Generals
office.
The order, 1t is said. does not take
from the First Assistant Postmaste:
Generals office all the Southern an.
polntments. and that he will continue
10 appoint flrst-clnss Postmasters In
Offices not affected by politics. This
move does not mean the retirement of
Mr.. Hitchcock from his present posi-.
ton. although 1t is known that the
President is much dFspieased with his
work In the South. and It Is not
thought that Mr.. Hitchcock himself
will retire at this stage, but the friends
of Mr.. Hitchcock who remember that
he was the chief lieutenant or Mr..
Cortelyou in the management of the
national campaign of 1904 md thor
ouGhly informed OF all the details Of
that campaign are convinced that his
resignation. II 1t ever comes, will be
entirely voluntary.
csnaoa's Friends Busy.
While Speaker Cannon continues to
"shoo" away all persons who talk 10
him about his presidential boom. his
friends are leaving no stone unturncd.
They have been so active in Illinois
that the Speaker is now in absolute
control Of the State organization, and
10 man, from lamplighter to United
States senator can afford to ignore the
speaker. Hence Mr.. Cannon and his
friends are absolutely certain OF the
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