The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-01-04
HITCHCOCK REPLY
AWAITED BY TAT 7
Assistant Postmaster Gen
eral May Conduct South
ern Campaign.
President Said to Be in His
Favor as War Score
tary'S Leader.

Secretary TAFT and his political friends
are awaiting a reply from First Assist
ant Postmaster General Frank II.
Hitchcock to g. personal invitation 10
join the Taft ranks and climb on the
Secretary OF Wars band wagon.
1t IS expected Mr.. Hitchcock will &C
cept the invitation. He has asked a
little time TO confer with friends before
making his reply. 1t is presumed that
one Of these friends will be Secretary
Cortelyou.
Mr.. Hitchcock has been asked to take
charge Of the Taft campaign In the
South and East. This invitation Is I'M
derstoOd 20 ave been rendered TO him
informally some days ago. But Il was
put squarely up TO Mr.. Hitchcock by
AT TAFT himself at his own home
lhuTsday night Previous TO that time
Mr.. Hitchcock had been approached BY
third parties
Conference at Taft House.
At the conference at the Taft home
Thursday night aside from Messrs.
Taft and Hitchcock, was Representative
Theodore Burton OF Ohio. Mr.. Burton,
who was lately badly beaten for mayor
OF C16y Gland by Tom L Johnson. has
all along been one Of Mr.. Tafrs close
political advisers and one OF his chief
aides in the movement 10 wipe out For
akcr in Ohio
Mr. Burton believes In Mr.. Hitch
cocks ability as an organizer. and.
along with Mr.. Taft. ne solicited the
FIRST Assistant Postmaster General 10
cnlls! his services.
II IS not the intention to Dust Arthur
Norys.. who has been engaged in mis-
managing the Taft campaign FOR some
months Mr.. NOrys will be in charge
H.E Ea
some attention 20 Mr.. Taft's campaign
Ia the West
Never Real Friction.
The friends OF Secretary CorteIyou and
Of Mr.. Hitchcock are now diligently en-
gagged in pointing out that IN the light
OF the invitation Of Secretary Taft to
Mr.. Hitchcock 20 unite with him. Il can
not be believed there was ever any real
friction between the Taft and the Cor
telyou bOoms. That there was acute
friction cannot be successfully denied,
and this is a reason for the hesitation
Of MI Hitchcock 20 unite now with the
TAFT forces Al the same time Secre-
lsFy IaIt mas set out on a campaign
OF pacincatlOn. and II is in pursuit OF
this idea that he is trying to line up
for himself the lien who We're formerly
Tor tortelyou. now that the latter has
ltat llAiisrClA bll or the running.
II Is the understa ndiug that President
Roosevelt Is anxious 10 have Mr.. Hitch
cock unite with Taft He likes hlr
Hitchcock ana Is convinced he would be
valuable asset for the Secretary OF
War Postmaster General Meyer. who
Is close 10 the President on political and
other matters, is credited with having
brought about the conference at tbs
Taft home Thursday night
John G.. Capers, Internal Revenue
Commissioner, who was formerly IN the
third-teTm and COTtelyOu movement. has
already linked his fortunes with the
Tart cause. There is no doubt the in
fluenCe Of Messrs. Hitchcock and Ca
pers would be potent in the South Many
politicians believe the Taft movement
has now reached a stage wherein IL IL
can be certain of the Souths support
the nomination Of Ar. Taft on the first
ballot is assured.
Whether Mr.. Hitchcock will leave the
Postcftice Department If he takes over
the Taft management IS not certain.
Many believe he will leave the depart
ment and devote his time entirely to
notifies