New-York tribune., 1908-01-29
HITCHCOCK FOR TAFT.
ACTIVE WORK PLANNED
Would Leaue p. o. Department to
Help Manage Boom.
rFron The Tribune Bureau

washington Jan 2s.-Secretary Taft left
Washington this evening for Cleveland where
he will attend the annual Mckinley dinner Of
the Tippecanoe Club and make address. He
will also meet his campaign manager. Arthur
l. vorys and will lay before him the PROPOSE
ton of Frank IL Hitchcock. First Assistant
Postmaster General who desires TO resign from
the Postoffice Department To take charge OF
Judge Taft's political interests in the South and
East II the proposition meets with the entire
approval of Mr.. Vorys. Mr.. Hitchcock viii re-
sign from his present post. practically tn1rr,e-
diately, and will open Taft headquarters in
Washington
A great deal of unfounded gossip and mis-
information regarding the negotiations between
Secretary Taft and Mr. Hitchcock have found
their way into print but II is now possible 20
state the facts authoritatively and in detail Mr.
Hitchcock called on Secretary Taft soon after
his return from abroad and assured the Sec
retary that. despite the various newspapers re-
ports representing him disoyal TO the Secrs
tary's interests he was an ardent Taft supporter
and prepared to do everything he properly could
to further the Secretary's political fortunes.
Nothing was said at that time with regard to
his associating himself with Judge Tafts poll
tical fortunes
Some time later however. Representative Bur-
ton called on Secretary Taft and informed him
that Mr. Hitchcock would like to become his
Eastern and Southern campaign manager Judge
Taft replied that he could not consider such a
proposition unless Mr. Hitchcock were prepared
to sever his connection with the Postoffce De-
partment. Later on the Secretary was Informed
that Mr.. Hitchcock would be loath to leave his
post until certain important features OF his work
were completed and after that the POST
master General told Mr. Taft that he would be
most reluctant to part with the services of the
First Assistant until certain work being per-
formed by Mr.. Hitchcock in connection with the
Postoffce appropriations was completed. The
Secretary replied that the entire matter had
better be allowed to stand in allegiance until Mr.
Hitchcock could foresee the end of his work and
set a date on which he would be ready TO leave
the department
Secretary Taft was recently informed that Mr.
Hitchcock would have far completed his work
as to enable him to leave the department
February /, and he then expressed himself
favorable the proposition. but stipulated that
a final answer could not be given until he had
consulted Mr.. Vorys, who will continue TO be
recognized as the chief of the Taft forces 1t is
fully expected that Mr. Vorys will cordially
sent to the suggestion of Secretary Taft that Mr..
Hitchcock be retained. and il is regarded as en-
treIy probable that word to that effect will come
from Cleveland tomorrow.
Postmaster General Meyer Representative
Burton and other friends of Secretary Taft be-
lieve that the retention of Mr. Hitchcock will d.,
much to make for the successful mana cement 0f
the Taft campaign. The necessity of headquaT-
ters in Washington becomes daily more ap
parent. especially the Secretary is himself too
much occupied with the duties of his Office To
give proper attention to his political interests,
while the President is quite unwilling that AIr.
Taft should at this time, leave the Cabinet to
devote himself to his political affairs Mr. Hitch
cock, although young man. has shown great
executive ability in the important posts he has
filled under the government. and he has. more
over, demonstrated exceptional faculty for
political management. His resignation from Inc
POstoffiCe Department will leave vacant the most
important post in that department under the
Postmaster General