The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-03-09

| the other was to cut Cortelyou "off at
| the pockets" Upon Longs advice the
| president issued such statement,
which offended Cortelyou. It removed
the cloak under which he had been op-
Grating.
In due time the president called in
what are known as the cuckoo" cor
| respondents, and gave them an intima-
tion that Cortelyou would perhaps re-
sign as secretary of the treasury Cor
telyou had no notion of resigning and
the president knew it, But the expect
ed happened. Cortelyou issued a card
announcing that he was not going to
resign, and that he was not a candi-
gate Tor president. Since then nothing
has been said about him severing his
connection with the treasury.
IL was Senator Long who. conceived
the scheme for Taft to pull out of New
York and let Hughes have the delega-
ton without a fight. Long realized that
II the fight went to the finish Hughes
would get the delegation; bad blood
would be stirred up against Taft, and
New york would be lost for good and
all. On the other hand, If Taft pulled
out some of his friends there might he
able to slip On the delegation and after
Hughes was out of it they could go to
raft and probably drag lot more dele
gates over with them. The scheme ap-
pealed to Taft. He summoned his New
VI n iudHdSeTS TO a conference wit n
himself and Long. The whole matter
was threshed out and the brief note
of the secretary gracefully withdrawing
from the New York contest was the re-
suit.
In only one case has Taft run counter
70 longs advice. That was in Ohio
Early in the game Long wanted Taft
to patch up with Foraker, and get Ohio
early without contest. He pointed out
now mckinley and Hanna did 1t in '96.
They conceded Foraker the state ticket.
the party organization, and Foraker
the senatorship, in fact everything in
return for solid Mckinley delegation
to the st. Louis convention.
Long Wanted Foraker Appeased
Long wanted Taft to do the same
thing, or rather to go into deal where
he would get the delegation without a
nght ana FORAKER would be returned to
the senate. But the president and For
aker were such bitter political enemies
that Taft said it wouldn't do. Although
Taft has secured the Ohio deIeration-
Or the most of it. he now wishes he had
i, taken Longs advice.
Frank Hitchcock's employn,ent as as
slstant manager in charge of the wash
lngton headquarters of Taft was sug-
sesteo oy senator Long. Having elm
inaLeo Cortelyou as a presidential pos
sunny, the Kansas senator said it
would be good politics to hook on to
11tcncock, not because of his influence.
but on account of his wide acquaintance
among southern Republican leaders.
Long understands that Hitchcock's pull
In the south was really the pull of the
president, through the patronage cues
ton When Hitchcock left the post
ONCE department his influence in the
south was transferred to his successor.
VINO d1spenses the postoffices. Still.
that patronage will be dispensed in the
interests OF Taft, and Taft will also
nave the benefit of the extended ae-
quaintance of Hitchcock.
What Is Long to get out of it? In
the nrst place he is likely to be the
Taft candidate for temporary chairman
or the Chicago convention Secondly,
ne is to receive all the quiet support
Taft can give him for reelection to
the senate; and lastly. if the fates are
against him in the senatorial contest
and ne loses out, he will get cabinet
position under the Taft administration,
y Inere Is Taft administrations
Charles H. Sessions, formerly of Tone
ka, in the Kansas City Journal.