Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-02-08
Resignation as First Assistant to G,
in Soon.
DECLINES TO DISCUSS PLl
Mr.. vOrys Will Retain Direction O
Work in Ohio.
DIR. GRANDFIELD SUCCEEDS HIN
He Has Been Connected with Depart.
meht for Twenty Years and IL
widely known Personally
and dmciaIIy.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7.-Announcement
was made today of the approaching retire
ment Of Frank II. Hitchcock. first assist
ant postmaster general Mr. Hitchcock
will assume the management of the active
campaign OF Secretary TAFT for the re-
publican nomination TO the presidency.
The exact date Of the retirement has not
been determined definitely, but It prob
ably will be about February IS.
Mr.. Hitchcock viii be succeeded as first
assistant postmaster general by DIR. Charles
p. Grandfield, who for little more than
two years has been chief Of the bureau
over which Mr.. Hitchcock presides. DIR.
0rsndfield has been actively identified
with the postal service for about twenty
years and is widely known and highly
esteemed, personally and officially.
Several weeks ago Mr.. Hitchcock was
requested by Secretary Taft to undertake
the management Of his campaign. The
secretary desired to enlist his services, not
only because he is widely knawn through
out the country and has had experience
Of valuable kind in campaign work. but
because he felt the necessity of having
q man in charge Of the infinite variety of
details Of the campaign to whom he could
refer questions that were arising constantly
and to which he was unable to devote the
time they seemed to demand. Il is no
secret that secretary Taft. in order to
dispose OF the great amount OF work in
cident to the direction Of his department,
has been obliged for several weeks prac-
tically to exclude himself from visitors
a part of the time. The work has been
exceedingly trying. he is under a severe
mental and physical strain for from sixteen
to twenty hours every day.
HitchcOek Asks Delay.
When Secretary Taft made the proffer
Of the management OF his campaign to Mr..
Hitchcock he desired that he undertake
the work Immediately. AS that, in the
view of Mr., Hitchcock would have neces-
STATED his retirement at once from the
office Of first assistant postmaster gen
eral because he could not with propriety
conduct a political campaign from the
Postoffice Department. he told Secretary
Taft that he could not assume the duties
of campaign manager on tie spur os the
moment. He asked for time to consider
the subject and 20 confer with friends
To this the secretary entered no objection,
but expressed desire that a decision be
reached as soon as practicable.
In considering the matter with friends
Mr.. Hitchcock found himself considerably
embarrassed, because he had instituted on
behalf OF the postal service certain lines
OF action which he felt he ought to follow
to their conclusion This would render Il
necessary for him to appear in his official
capacity before committees of congress
He finally informed Secretary Taft that II
he could be given time TO meet his obilga-
tions and duties TO the postal service he
would accept his proffer
Practically. Mr.. Hitchcock now has con-
cluded the work on which he was engaged
aud in a few days he will tender his resig-
nation and leave the PostoffIce department
Mr., Roosevelt Joined with Secretary Taft
in requesting Mr.. Hitchcock to undertake
the campaign work.
Declines TO Discuss Plans.
Mr.. Hitchcock consistently has declined
to discuss the reports that he was to be-
come Secretary Taft's campaign manager,
and today, when requested to make a state
ment regarding the matter, insisted that
IL was a subject which he was not in a
position at this time to discuss.
IL Is not known, therefore, what plans
Mr. Hitchcock may have prepared for his
new duties II is not known even whether
he will establish headquarters in this city
but it Is assumed he Will.
II is expected that Mr.. Hitchcock will
devote his attention to the campaign of
Secretary Taft in all parts OF the country
except probably Ohio. which is being
looked after by Arthur l. Vorys