Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-06-21
Situation Discussed and Another
Meeting Will Be Held
REFUSES POSITION
He Asks to Be Excused on Account of
Need of Rest.
OFFICIAL STATEMENT ISSUED
Committee Decided that IL would De
Better TO Canvass The situation
Further Before Final
Action.

CINCINNATI, June 2O-Secretary Tafts
visit to rs home city, far as concerned
the selection of a republican national chair
man, was fruitless mission.
Frank H Hitchcock, who managed the
preliminary campaign Of the war secre-
tary at Washington, might have had the
chairmanship but at the last moment he .
declined to permit the use of his name
because OF the condition Of his health.
A telegram was received by Secretary .
Taft from Mr.. Hitchcock requesting that |
he be not considered in connection with |
the charmanship He said that his phys !
teal condition was such as to render IL |
substantially impossible for him to under |
take the onerous duties OF campaign man
ager a the present time. 1t Is significant !
that after a conference lasting two hours
Secretary Taft, Representative Sherman
and the members of the subcommittee of
the national committee decided to postpone
action on the chairmanshlp and treasurer
ship of the national committee until July
! !. on that date a meeting of the candi-
dates and members fthe subcommittee
will be held in Washington finally to de-
| termine the matters which could not be
solved today.
OmcIRI Statement of Committee.
The announcement Of the inaction Of the
subcommittee was made in the following
statement issued by direction Of Secretary
! Taft shortly before o'clock today:
Yesterday the national committee in
session at Chicago delegated to sub
committee consisting Of eight members the
power to act in the matter of the selection
of chairman and treasurer OF the national
committee and directed its subcommittee
to confer with the nominees for president
and vice president before action. All the
49,
at the conference today with the nominee
except Mr.. W. l.. Ward of New York who
was represented by Mr.. Hart OF Iowa
The conference of the committee showed
harmonious views as to the qualifications
| necessary for the chairman but disclosed
an indispostion on the part OF several who
were suggested as available to accept the
place. including Mr.. Hitchcock. who de.
cllned 10 be considered on account OF his
health. After full conference the COM
mttee decided that he matter was of
such Importance and required such con-
sultation with various persons suggested
as available for the place that an adjourn
ment was taken until July /, when the COM
mttee will reconvene In Washington. The
committee delegated Hon Myron T. Her
rick to make public this statement. The
proceedings OF the committee with this
exception were speculative"
The events leading up TO the issuance OF
this statement were interesting and in
degree significant The members Of the
subcommittee OF the national committee
were requested to assemble at the resi-
dence of Mr. Charles p Tart at II o'clock
this morning. It was expected that the
conference would consume not more than
an hour and a half. That at least was
the idea of the committeeman when they
left their hotel.
Several Preliminary Conferences.
AS matter of fact the real conference
did not begin until 1880, The delay was
caused hy some interviews which Secretary
Taft had with members OF the Ohio state
central committee and with some fAiends
from other states who had come to Cincin-
natl to see him These interviews. it is
understood, had more or less direct bear
ing on the selection of a national chairman.
, The war secretary was put in possession
of information concerning the matter which
! II thought he ought to have before
reaching conclusion In so weishty a ques-
tion.
At these preliminary conferences the
! whole Ohio situation was discussed care.
fully Its bearing upon the approaching
national contests was considered and the
: secretary was urged not to be hasty in
announcing his choice OF a campaign man
ager.
Finally. when Secretary Taft, Mr.. Sher-
man and the members OF the committee
! came together they were in position 10
discuss the case in the light OF information
from all sources Those present at the
meeting in addition TO the republican ma
tional candidates were General Powell Clay
ton of Arkansas, Frank B. Kellogg of
Minnesota, Charles Nagel OF Missouri, F.
z. Hart of Iowa, Senator w. F. Borah OF
Idaho, z. c. Duncan of North Carolina
Frank o. Lowden OF Illinois end Myron T,
Herrick of Ohio. w. L. Ward Of New
York was named member Of the sub
committee but as he y as obliged TO return
: home to meet pressing business engage
' ments his place was taken by Mr.. Hart.
J, The conference was entirely executive
! Despite however, the agreemen reached
+ that / should not be discussed by thos,
; parties to IT, 1t is known that a consd
n erable difference of opinion arose as tc
n the choice of national chairman,
i statement by MIR. TAFT.
u Secretary Taft, II can be said. felt tina
n in all the circumstances II would be TIT
. part OF wisdom TO postpone definite actor
e on both the chsirmsnship and the treas
urership FOR a time.
N Later In the afternoon he said to a rep
" resentatiye OF the Associated Press;
1t was deemed wise to defer action 70
- the present, both as TO a chairman and
treasurr Of the committee IL was not
question that absolutely had TO be decide,
today. On the decision finally reached mo
= mentous issues may depend, and we fel
+" that It might be well for the smoke OF IN
D battle a Chicago TO clear away before de
'e termining the matters before us. We hav
D plenty OF time and he subcommittee, whic
n has fun power to act, may be gotten 10
4 gether az almost any time The time
II July land the plaoe-Washington-we
&c quite satisfactory TO all parties TO the con
p" ference. When We convene there we sha
> be able TO reach a conclusion that will b
m satisfactory 10 all
he Mr. Hitchcock. Secretary Taft added wa