The Washington herald., 1908-01-19
HITCHCOCK At HELM
Understood to Have Accepted
Secretary Taft's Offer.
WILL HE RESIGN HIS PLACER
Speculation as to whether He VIII
Hold Federal Oniee While Manag-
tary's Brother and Senator For
aker Believed 10 BE on Same Train.

| 1t is understood, It Is said, in admins
.ration circles that Frank Hitchcock. the
First Assistant Postmaster General, has
at last informed Secretary Taft that he
VIII comply with the Secretary's request
to take charge Of the latter's political
interests in the South and East.
Mr. Hitchcocks decision was made
known TO Secretary TAFT last week.
Now that he has cast in his lot with
I the Taft campaign, Mr.. Hitchcock
course with reference to the public Office
which he holds viii be watched with
/ interest. Information that tended to
prove that Mr. Hitchcock would retain
the assistant postmaster generalship while
working to bring about Mr. Taft's nom-
/ inatlon for the Presidency Is az variance
with later information obtaissd from
/ friends OF Mr.. Hitchcock
It was declared by these friends that
/ If Mr.. Hitchcock entered the service Of
Mr. Taft he would retire Immediately
from the Post-ofhce Department. and
President Roosevelt is given as authority
for the statement that Mr.. Hitchcock
would not be permitted 10 perform the
duties of a Federal official ar at the
same time devote his energies t. political
campaign work.
May Retain His Position.
Whether Mr Hitchcock will resign bis
commission as First Assistant Postmas-
| ter General is not disclosed, but it IS
limited that he is anxious to remain in
that Office some weeks longer. in order 10
clear UP important matters pending in the
department.
The selection Of Mr.. Hitchcock as a
Taft manager is regarded as "A great
stroke Of policy by the Taft adherents
| They contend that it means a removal OF
the principal prop Of George 3. Cortel-
yous chances Of obtaining the Presiden-
tial nomination. Mr.. Hitchcock came into
the political l!melight as a friend Of Mr.
/ Cortelyou
They had been associated In an official
way ever since Mir Cortelyou became a
/ Cabinet officer, and before that they had
been on terms Of personal friendship
When Mr. Cortelyou was appointed Sec
fetary Of Commerce and Labor he took
Mr.. Hitchcock from the Agricultural De
/ partment and made him chief clerk Of the
new department Then, when Mr. Cor
telyou became chairman OF the Repub-
+ lican National Committee. he took Mr.
+ Hitchcock to New York and placed him
/ in charge Of important work under the
committee The return Of sir CortelyOu
. 10 official life as Postmaster General was
! coinCident with the appointment OF Mr.
/ Hitchcock as First Assistant Postmaster
I General.
Helped Force Presidents Hand.
The more excltable Taft boomers have
/ charged Mr. Hitchcock with being head
devn in the so-called "Cortelyou con
/ spirscy" to defeat Taft. They poured
+ their tale Of woe into President Roose-
velts ears, and what they said was re-
/ sponsible IN part for the Presidents de-
cision 70 repeat his third-term renuncis-
tion. Later. however. the President and
other Taft managers realized that many
OF the things said about Mr.. Hitchcock
were not true But they believed that
Mr. Hitchcock knew the situation among
+ Southern Republicans better than any
other man did and the outcome OF this
realization was the offer from Mr. Taft
to Mr. Hitchcock to take charge Of the
Taft campaign ia tine Southern and East
ern States.
Senator Foraker left Washington for
/ Ohio yesterday afternoon. 90 remain until
after the date set for the Ohio Republi-
can primaries He has gone home to
! fight Charles T. Taft. of Cincinnati, left
( Washington at the same hour as Mr.
Foraker. and it Is believed that they
are on the same train
/ Ever since 1t became known what 0c-
/ CURED at the dinner given 10y Ohio Re
publican Congressman in honor Of Sec
retary Taft at which some Of the Con-
/ gressmen expressed fear that the State
would so Democratic il the Taft-Foraker
/ fight was continued there has been
/ hopeful feeling among those who be
lteved that the best interests Of the party
/ demand compromise in Ohio.
Not Move for Peaces
At the Ohio dinner Mr.. Taft said some
| complimentary things of Mr. Foraker, and
! this increased the hopefuIness Of the
would-be peacemakers. That Senator For
aker would meet Mr.. Taft half way in
J pedceiilah3Il8 Is one interpretation placed
/ on the statements made by Mr.. Foraker.
/ but others take an entirely contrary view
/ Of what Mr.. Foraker has said
Nothing that was said in quarters close
! to Secretary Taft yesterday gave ground
for any prospect Of compromise. Mr.. Taft
I is represented as adhering to his attitude
/ that the Presidency and the Senatorship
are not related, and that an arrangement
/ by which he could receive Ohio's indorse-
ment for President and MIR. Foraker be
! indorsed for reelection 10 the Senate
would not be sanctioned by him.
In the face Of this, however. there are
some Ohio Republicans here who believe
! that a foundation for peace may be had
t if Charles P. Taft and Senator Foraker