The Washington herald., 1908-01-06
TAFT'S HARD LESSON
GameOf Politics Has Brought
Him Trouble.
PRESIDENT IS a HEAVY LOAD
Friends OF Secretary of War Believe
He Must Cut Loose from Roosevelt
il He Would Succeed I'm Landing
the Presidential Nomination - MIR.
Hitchcock as His Manager.

William r. Taft is beginning to find out
that the game of politics is an uncertain
and heart-rending game.
Mr.. Taft became a candidate for the
Republican Presidential nomination with
extreme reluctance and his experiences
since the time he entered the race have
convinced him that he would have been
lar happier and more contented had he
adhered to his original ambition TO be
justice Of the United States Supreme
Court
But having entered the list of Presi-
Dental aspirants, Mr.. Taft is engaged in
the struggle with all his heart and soul,
and has developed to such an extent that
lse IS now working with might and main
TO win the prize which is the object Of
the preconvention contest.
Affairs in Bad Condition.
When Mr.. Taft returned to this country
from his trip around the world he found
his political affairs in a condition far
from satisfactory. His managers, appar-
emily, had obtained the upper hand in
Ohio but in the rest of the country their
efforts had served only 10 develop con
siderable confusion and had failed to
make the Secretary of War the popular
hero, which, with the help of Federal
administration, they had sought to make
him
Having disposed Of some necessary
routine business Mr.. Taft has now taken
of his coat and has plunged into the
struggle with the determination TO make
stirring fight. To all intents and puT-
poses. he viii be his own political man
ager prior to the national convention five
months hence
The arrival of Mr. Taft in this country
was coincident with widespread discus
sion of the sO-called "COrtelyOu con-
spiracy." 1t was claimed by friends of
Mr. Taft. who believed that their view
was shared by President Roosevelt, that
Mr. Cortelyou, Mr. Tafts colleague in the
Cabinet had been engaged, through the
use Of Federal patronage. in building up
a COrtelyoU political machine ia the
Southern States. under cover of the pre-
tenti0n that President Roosevelt would
be probably a candidate for a third term
but if he were not. he would prefer TO
have Mr. Cortelyou nominated TO succeed
ain in the White House.
The Hitchcock AFFAIR.
The charge was made that Frank A.
Hitchcock, First Assistant Postmaster
General. 20 whom official preference had
come mainly through the favor of MI
C0rtelyOu, was Mr.. Cortely0us political
agent in the South President Roosevelt.
it was represented, had been much ia-
pressed with the assertions 20 this effect
made by friends of Mr. Taft and that
he was angry with Mr.. Cortelyou and
Mr.. Hitchcock. Whatever feeling the
President may have had when the Cor
telyou conspiracy was first circulated, IL
is now known that he, like the rest Of
those who have become aware OF the
facts i'm the matter. knows there was 10
Cortelyou conspiracy. and that Mr.. Hitch
cock had no string tied To his persistent
efforts 10 line up Southern Republican
politicians for the third-term movement.
When Mr.. Taft got back 10 Washington
there were predictions that ne would have
nothing 10 do with his colleague, the
Secretary Of the Treasury. But Mr.. Taft
fooled the wise-acres by calling on Mr..
C0rtelyOu while the latter was i'll with
the grip, and he has now emphasized his
disbelief i'm the reports Of dOuble-dealing
on the part of Mr. CortelyOu and Mr
Hitchcock, by requesting Mr. Hitchcock
TO serve as his political manager in the
East and the South.
The tender 10 Mr.. Hitchcock 10 act as
Mr.. Tafts political agent was made last
Thursday night when Mr.. Hitchcock said
he preferred not TO give a definite answer
10 the Secretary of Wars fattering re-
quest until he had consulted with some
of his friends Since then Mr.. Hitchcock
has been busy sounding his political inti-
mates in regard TO the adviSabilty of
going over To the Taft forces. I'D to
last night however. he had not made up
his mind, and from what his friends say
there Is strong reason TO believe he
would welcome the opportunity to re-
main out Of the Taft camp. and continue
to perform his duties as First Assistant
Postmaster General
In Political Circles.
Washington political circles, and this
means national political circles. are buz-
Zing already with gossip that the efforts
Of the Federal administration TO promote
Mr. Taft's candidacy for the Presidential
nomination will become public scandal
There is a decided feeling that if the
distribution of Federal patronage is TO be
employed for the purpose of helping Mr.
Taft get the nomination, a resolution of
inquiry will be introduced in Congress.
and that such an inquiry is bound TO re-
suit i'm irTeparable injury 10 the Repub-
Hcan party in the next national political
campaign.
The reasons for Mr.. HitchcOck's hesi-
fancy in accepting Mr.. Taft's offer have
not been disclosed, but there is a strong
suspicion that he realizes that, even
should his acceptance be followed by his
resignation from the Federal service, the
cry will go up that he would be still the
luan with whom Southern Republican
leaders would have to deal in the mat
ter of patronage.
The whole Taft campaign is complicated
by such embarrassments. and there is a
feeling among the Secretary of Wars
friends that unless he adopts new tactics
such as cutting loose from the admins
tTatiOn and standing for himself in
stead IF appearing To depend upon the
power and influence Of President Roose-
welt to make him the Republican standard
bearer in the next campaign he win find
himself thrown upon sea Of troubles
that will bring him much personal, as
well polfffrat distress