The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-05-24

| NfMttun VI iIt~luVHt ANuuNHttit hNA
better knowledge Of Republican affair
1 in the Southern states than Frank II
Hitchcock Of Massachusetts,, First As
slstant Postmaster General. Hitch
cock has had a somewhat remarkahl
career IN the government service. 4
comparatively few years ago he gradu
ated at Harvard, and came 10 Washing
ton looking for job.
After cruising around for awhile h
finally took position as biologist Il
the Department cf Agriculture, u,
hard work and pcrseyering energy h'
got promotion after promotion until h
became Chief Of the Section os Foreigr
Markets. Soon after the Department
Of Commerce and labor was organized
he was offered and accepted the oillcs
of chief clerk there.
But better things were in store foi
Hitchcock. When Mr.. cortelyou as
sumed the duties Of the chairmanshil
Of the Republican National Committee
Hitchcock became assistant secretary
OF the organization. He had about made
up his mind not to re.enter the gov
ernment service when he was rendered
the important post Of First Assistant
Postmaster General.
In the reorganization of that depart,
ment, the appointment OF postmasters
now numbering nearly seventy thous.
and, was assigned 10 him. Mr.. cortei.
you, himself q product 0 the so-called
merit principle, made up his mind that
good and efficient postmasters should
be retained, and that changes in such
Offices should not be made just because
a member of Congress wanted change
He therefore adopted an efficiency ra-
ting. II the record Of the postmaster
was rated excellent or good. his ser.
vices would be retained; n II was rated
as fair, change could be made, and II
poor, the congressman could have his
way about the appointment, The
adoption Of the rule raised great
howl and its enforcement nearly pre-.
cipitatcd riot. But Mr.. Cortelyou
won out. First Assistant Postmaster
Hitchcock was the man upon whose
shoulders fell the burden OF the work In
introducing the merit rule policy In the
appointment Of postmasters. He was
the man who met angry senators AMI
representatives, and paci6ed them; In
many cases he had to tame them. But
the rule came, It worked, and It 10 here
to stay.
Az the official Of the Postofiice De-
partmant having to do with appoint
ments Mr.. Hitchcock was naturally
brought into contact with politicians.
Conditions at the North gave him little
trouble after the first plunge, but in
the Sonth they were different. Hitch
cock became, and Il now practically the
referee in all postolIice fights arising in
the Southern states. His recommends
tions are usually followed by the Post
master General and the President, The
First Assistant has taken d deep inter
est in Southern political affairs, lie
knows everybody in the souih who Is
anybody in politics. There is good rea-
son to believe that despite the fact that
Mr.. Cortelyou wants Mr. Hitchcock to
become one Of bis assistants at the
Treasury, that the latter win remain
in his present office until the close Of
the next campaign.
As things now size up, the two wings
Of the Republican party, one represent
Ing the President and his policies, and
the other comprised Of the "so.called
Rooseveltism, win indulge in merry war.
fare TO control the next national con
vention. The administration Is in a
fighting mood, as was made clear in the
stories that came from the
White House concerning the "conspira-
ry' and five million dollar war fund
that had been collected to further its
aims. For that reason Mr.. Hitchcock,
who is intensely loyal to the President,
will be q handy man in the place he
now holds. The intimate acquaintance
with public men in the South and his
that section, make him Invaluable. Hel
ran put his acquaintance with men and
Of conditions to better utility
as irst Assistant Postmaster General
than he could possibly as mn Assistant
to Mr.. Cortelyou in the Treasury De-
parment