The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-21
Neither Hitchcock Nor VOTys Will
 Handle Taft's Battle
LONG OF KANSAS IS CHOICE
Henry Cabot Lodge Might Have Been the Man, But the West Must Be Pacifled, and Kansas City
 Man Has Best Chance.

Cincinnati, June 2O.-(Special )-Secre- tary William Howard Taft, republican nominee for the presidency, returned to his own people this morning and was given a reception hearty enough and warm enough and enthusiastic enough to satisfy the most highly expectant native when he retuis to his native heath burdened with honors. When he stepped from his train at the Grand Central depot he was greeted with the blare of half a dozen brass bands and the cheers of an im- nlense crowd of his fellow townsmen who crowded down to the depot to do him honor.
 A half hour before his arrival Congress- man sherman, his comrade on the ticket members of the national subcommittee and the Charles P. Taft branch of the Taft family had arrived from Chicago and were present to meet the presidential nominee. The meeting between the broth CTS was hearty and Mir Tafts first greet ings to his fellow candidate were most cordial
 From the depot the party was escorted to the home of Charles P. Taft by a throng that crowded about Taft's car- riage and made it almost impossible for the drivers to make their way.
 Conference Held.
 Arriving at the Taft home the party had breakfast and later the candidates and national committeeman entered a conference to consider the chairmanshir and treasurership of the national commit tee It soon became evident that Frank Hitchcock and Arthur vorys. who con- ducted Tafts campaign for the nomina ton, were not to receive the honor, 1t being felt that neither quite measured Up to the mark in maturity of years and positions of commanding influence in gen. CT al public affairs. That neither of these gentlemen will be chairman is fair con- ciusion to draw from the action of the sub-cok tie of the national committee in postponMig a selection until July l at Washington, D. c. It IS also fair to as- sume that the campaign leader when se- lected will be found to be a member of the United States Senate, whose name and standing will be an assurance to the rank and file of the party, that the politics of the present administration are represented in the platform adopted at Chicago will be strongly supported.
 Hope Still Alive.
 The friends of both Hitchcock and Vorys have not given up the hope that one of them will be ultimately chosen, but it IS apparent that this feeling has but a slender attachment. Pleas for both were made today at the session of the sub committee at the residence of Charles P. Taft at which were present both the presidential and vice presidential nom- inees. This conference was a close and earnest one, and many suggestions were offered in the interest of other prospective candidates for this important post.
 Before the committee got together, one of the leaders in attendance made the statement tGat there were momcntous plans in view anu the first development
 would be a surprise. In addition it was predicted that there would be no selec- ton made today. After a session of two hours formal statement was given out by former Cove. OCT Herrick of Ohio
 to the effect that whIle the members of the conference slow Harmonious views IS to the qualifications necessary for 2 chairman, yet it was disclosed that there was an indisposition on the part of sev- eral of the gentlemen suggested includ- ing Frank II. Hitchcock to accept the place. MT. Hitchcock gave as his reason that his health was in such shape as to preclude his taking up the work.
 vorys Out of 1t.
 There Is every reason for making the direct statement that MT. Vorys is also out of the calculations. This being the case it is to be third man who will direct the coming campaign. Two names were prominent in the discussion, those of Senator Henry Cabot Lodge of Mas sachusetts, the chairman of the national convention and Senator Chester I. Long of Kansas, who was one of the foremost leaders in the committee on resolutions on behalf of the platform sent from Washington. It was understood that the feeling is strongest for the man from the west, and that his selection will be the
 most probable between the two. The
 masterful manner in which Senator Lodge handled the turbulent convention twice checking the Roosevelt stampedes and assisting in settling the vice presi- dentiai question, has caused him to be
 highly regarded. On the other hand the campaign is to be fought in the west and in the state of New York. The rri- tation displayed by some of the radical ! republicans from Missouri over the defeat of the original Washington plan to name one of their kidney for vice president must be allayed. No one is calculated 10 give stronger assurance to this section , than Senator Long. whose battle with the
 reactionaries in the resolutions committee is a matter of history. There were other persons suggested. among them former Gov. Myron T. Herrick, who said that 1t would be impossible for him to accept. | The name of Harry S. New of Indiana, l past chairman, was also brought up. The 1 indications are that the chairman will l be really only the titular head of the na- | tional organization. and that way will be found whereby both Vorys and Hitch- l cock will be retained in the active man. | agement.
 | Following the close of the conference | the afternoon was passed in the enjoy
 ment of a general love feast. The ma