The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-01-24
TAFT BOOM GAINING
lcontinuea from &c 80

over the appointrnent of minor post
masters and who. by virtue Of having
held that Office for some seven years,
has become toIerabIy familiar with
Southern conditions and has gained
valuable personal acquaintance among
Southern Republicans, was invited 70
Secretary Taft's residence one evening.
The way had been paved for the con-
ference by Representative T. z. Bur
ton. Of Ohio. lately defeated for mayor
of Cleveland Mr.. Burton told Mr..
Hitchcock that the Secretary was dis
posed TO offer him a place as one OF
the managers Of his campaign and
asked him 10 call and talk II over with
the Secretary at his residence the fol-
lowing evening.
Mr.. Hitchcock had been feeling very
sore at the way the Taft people had
treated him. He credited Manager
vorys and other Taft Heutenants with
having put untrue political statements
into circulation for the purpose OF en-
barrassing him and likewise Secre-
tary CorteIyou. He also felt somewhat
elate1 because the Presidents reiter-
alton of his determination not 10 have
another term had failed TO uproot the
Cortelyou sentiment in the South. He
also felt some satisfaction because the
Taft people should think II necessary
to come over TO him
And so the negotiations were begun
and have not yet reached an issue.
Some preliminary matters have been
disposed of. Mr.. Hitchcock insisted
that he must first have opportunity
to consult with some of his Southern
friends and determine what their at
titude toward him would be. He has
already heard from number of them
and is thus far satisfied that they viii
not be greatly shocked by his trans
fer of allegiance and viii still be ready
to do business with him as an agent
of the Taft boom. The Secretary
wants Mr.. Hitchcock chiefly for what
he could do with these recalcitrant
Southern Republicans, but, to disarm
criticism to degree, it has been sug-
gested that he should have the man
agement of the boom in the East,
South and Atlantic Coast States.
Those things have all been decided at
the present time, and also that, If Mr..
Hitchcock takes the job. there shall
be no one in authority between him
and Secretary Taft in that region.
A RIFT IN THE uUTE.
However. there has come a hitch
Postmaster General Meyer, while an
ardent Taft man and while working
for the advance of the Taft boom in
every way he can, thinks Mr.. Hitch
cock should not take a place as active
manager without resigning his place
ASS
He does not think Mr.. Hitchcock can
discharge the duties Of both positions
and that he should take the one or
the other. Secretary Taft, on the other
hand, wants Mr.. Hitchcock to take
the management and retain his pres
ent position The predicament has
moved a local wit. who is in the Sc
cret. to observe that Mr.. Taft wants
Mr.. Hitchcock to come in with him.
If Mr.. Hitchcock comes in, Mr.. Meyer
wants him to get out of his present
Office. If Mr.. Hitchcock don't come in.
he must also get out
That expresses the situa ton tartly.
but is probably more or less true The
Taft boom is simply Tightening its
coils around one of the foremost of
the Cortelyou workers Postmaster
General Meyer is undoubtedly sincere
in holding that his first assist
ant should resign If he is going ac-
lively into political management At
the same time. he is possibly avail
ing himself of an opportunity for help
ing out ~pf the postal service a man
who was unjustly heraIded a few
months ago as necessary to the ad-
of the department When
Mr.. Cortelyou left the Postoffice De-
partment to become Secretary Of the
Treasury, 1t was widely reported that
he continued to run the Postof9ce De-
partment, as of yore, with the assist
ance of Mr.. Hitchcock. All these
things were so generally expressed
that they could only have nurtured IN
feelings between Secretary
Cortelyou and Postmaster General
Meyer. and between Mr.. Meyer and his
chief official subordinate Mr.. Meyer
has proved himself q very efficient
Postmaster General. and, while he may
regard First Assistant Hitchcock high
", 1t is only natural that he might
have some other sentiments than un-
mixed regret if Mr.. Hitchcock left the
service
CORTELYOU IS ANGRY.
All the time that Mr.. Hitchcock has
been in conference with Secretary
Taft. the Postmaster General has been
there also and has talked with the
Secretary both when Mr. Hitchcock
WAS present and when he was absent /
The situation is also known TO the
President. What the upshot of It will
be no one can tell just yet Secretary
Cortelyou may take hand and there |
may be an outbreak in the cabinet /
He has been Ill with the grip for two
or three weeks and, has not been to his |
office. He has been deeply resentfuI OF |
the administration activity and this /
has been Of such a cEarac- |
ter that Mr.. Cortelyou has contem- !
plated the possibility Of his resigning /
from the cabinet
He is assured Of $4,000 Job in New
York city any tinAe that he is ready |
to resign. That offer has been stand /
ng for some time and undoubtedly af- |