The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-06-23
HITCHCOCK
] De DECLINES les
TAT MANAGER THINKS Ill
HEALTH WILL PREVENT
MANAGING CAMPAIGN.
CONFERENCE HELD

Sub ommlttss Of National Commit
tee, Candidates TAFT and Sherman
Charles p. TAFT and Republican
Leaders Meet III cinelnnatl-Ad
lourn 70 Meet Ia Washington July |
Cincinnati. June 20. - Secretary
Taft's visit to his home, 80 far as con
cerned the selection Of q republican
national chairman was a fruitless mis-
sion.
Frank II. Hitchcock, who managed
the preliminary campaign Of the war
secretary at Washington. might have
had the chairmahship but at the last
moment he declined to permit the
use Of his name because OF the condi.
ton Of his health. a telegram vas re.
ceived BY MI. Taft from Mi. Hitch.
cock today requesting that he be not
considered in connection with the
craftsmanship. He said that his physi-
cal condition was such as to render 1t
substantially impossible for him to I'M
dertake the onerous duties Of cam
paign manager at this time.
It is significant that after a confer
ence lasting two hours Secretary Taft,
Representative Sherman and the
members Of the subcommittee Of the
national committee decided to post
pone action on the craftsmanship and
treasurership OF the national commit
tee until July 1. On that date a
meeting Of the candidates and the
members Of the subcommittee will be
held ID Washington finally to de-
termine the matters which could not
be solved today. The announcement
Of the committee was made as follow
ing official statement issued by d.
rection OF Secretary Taft shortly be.
fore 2 o'clock this afternoon:
Yesterday the national committee in
session at Chicago delegated to a sub
committee consisting OF eight mem
bers, the power to act in the matter
OF the selection OF a chairman and
treasurer Of the national committee
and directed Its subcommittee to con
fer with the nominees for president
and vice president before action. All
the members of the subcommittee
were present at the conference today
with the nominees except w. L. Ward
OF New York, who was represented
BY Hart Of Iowa.
The conference Of the committee
showed harmonious views as to the
qualifications necessary for a chair.
man, but disclosed indisposition upon
the part Of several, who were suggest
ed as available to accept the place in
Guiding Mr.. Hitchcock, who declined
to be considered on account Of his
health.
after full conference the commit
tee decided that the matter was Of
such importance and required such
consultation with the various persons
suggested as available for the place
that an adjournment was taken until
July l when the committee will re
convene in Washington. The commit
tee delegated the Hon. Myron T. Her
rick to make public this statement.
n THE proceedings OF the committee
with this exception yer harmonious
Met in Charles Taft's Home.
Events leading UP to the issuance
OF this statement were interesting and
IN 9 degree significant. The members
OF the subcommittee Of the national
committee requested to assemble
at the residence Of Charles P. Taft at
IL O'clock this morning. It was not
expected that the conference would
consume more than an hour and a
halt. That at least was the idea of
the committeeman when they left
their hotel. AS a matter of fact the
real conference did not begin until
1890.
The war secretary was put in pos
session of information concerning
matters which It was thought he ought
to know before reaching a conclusion
in so weighty a question. At a pre-.
hminary conference the Ohio situa.
ton was discussed carefully. It's
bearing on the national contests was
considered and the secretary was
urged not to be hasty in his choice.
Finally when Taft, M. Sherman and
the members Of the subcommittee
came together they were IN position
to consider the matter Of the light Of
Information from all sources. Those
present at the meeting. in addition to
the republican national candidates
were: General Powell Clayton, Ar
kansas: Frank 3. Kellogg. Minnesota;
Charles Nagel. Missouri; 3. e. Hart,
Iowa; Senator w. 3. Borah. idaho; q.
g. Duncan, North Carolina: Frank o.
Lowden. Illinois. and Myron T. Her
4 Ohio.