Omaha daily bee., 1908-07-13
HITCHCOCK'S RAPID RISE
His Appointment a Triumph for
Young Man in Politics.
HAS GENIUS FOR THE BIG GAME
New National Chairman's Ability Was
Discovered by George II. COrteI-
you in Roosevelt Campaign
Four Years Ago.
(From a staff Correspondent

(From a staff Correspondent)
WASHINGTON, July 12.-(specisl)-The
selection Of Frank Harris Hitchcock as
chairman of the national republican com
/ mittee gives most general satisfaction at
| the national capital. His selection, un-
! douhtedly made upon the suggestion of
! the republican nominee for the presi-
dency, William Howard Taft is a triumph
! for the young man in politics. Like the
| republican national convention, which was
| largely made up of men who, but a score
| of years ago, were casting their first votes,
the campaign of 1905 will largely center
around comparatively young men of whom
| Frank Hitchcock is one OF the best ex-
amples. Hitchcock, although just turned
forty, has accomplished much since he
arrived at legal age. Born in Ohio in
1857. his early education was obtained in
Boston where he fitted himself to enter
Harvard, from which he graduated in
| 1891. He graduated from the Columbian
University law school in 1894, the institu-
tion which has since changed its name
to George Washington University. He was
admitted to the bar in the District of
Columbia the year Of his graduation and
three years later was admitted to prac-
States.
Hitchcock came to this voteless COM
munity Immediately after his graduation
from Harvard. taking a position in the
Agricultural department, where 1t was his
business to tell an expectant public Just
how many bushels of wheat or corn had
been shipped TO foreign marts, how many
hogs had died in transit and incorporate
| In statistical reports lot of other in
formation valuable to persons in trade,
but extremely tiresome to the average read
er. Destiny. however, had picked out for
Hitchcock a different career from that of
a government statistician. which seemed TO
be his calibre when In Wilson's Farm de-
| partment.
As COrteIyou's Assistant.
-Four years ago when mis- distinguished
predecessor, George Bruce Cortelyou.
wanted a man for assistant secretary at
the New York headquarters Hitchcock was
selected and the current Of his life was
changed. The new national chairman
early developed a genius for politics having
been a good deal Of politician in his early
days at Harvard. While with Cortelyou he
showed ability of the first order He was
a hard worker. full of initiative, chock full
OF Ideas, an unremitting toiler; he had a
| gift for organization, was splenddly
equipped for administration; a card-index
man. In sense, but his index stands for
system, thoroughness and perservering in
dustry absolutely essential factors for the
great game he is to play for his chief dur
ing the next four months
Frank Hitchcock was comparatively un-
known four years ago. Today he is at the
head Of the party organization occupying
the place formerly filled by such masters
OF political sagacity as Matthew S. Quay.
Mark Hanna and Henry c. Payne leaders
who Will be remembered as long as the re-
publican party endures.
Frank Hitchcock represents in the best
sense OF the term addition, division and
silence" He adds and he divides but al
ways keeping a silent tongue and the prac-
| tically unknown OF four years ago is now
called the Steam Roller Man" of Chicago.
There is no country outside the United
States in the world in which a man could
attain TO such heights in as short a time
and with his comparative youth as has
Frank Hitchcock. In appearance Frank
Frank Hitchcock has the manner Of a
student. He is youngish-loolSing with light
hair inclined to redness, steely blue eyes, a
well set up figure showing power in repose
! and before he went to work for Uncle Sam
"N" ANAiu VI opOIts, enjoying at Harvard
the distinction of being the champion
heavyweight boxer Of that institution. His
selection as chairman of the national COM
mittee, it is confidently believed. will show
Judge Taft's far-sighted wisdom.
Vacation for Horses.
The horses which draw the mail wagons
OF Washington over the hot asphalt streets
OF the capital are to be given each a thirty
days leave OF absence Just the same as
the clerks of the departments. This is a
new departure and the first certificate
granting leave of absence" for a horse
was signed up yesterday by Chief Clerk
Conrad OF the Postoffice department This
leave was drawn up upon the usual blank
form used by clerk when applying for
his leave The horse didn't write Il out.
but he will know the effect of It in a few
days. This horse, the first TO be granted a
regulation leave of absence for vacation
purposes, Is d big bay gelding a pet OF the
stablemen, and his name is Charlie" As
Charlie could not write his name 10 his
application for leave the stable boss put
the application under his right forefoot in
such manner that a mark Of portion of
the horses shoe was impressed on the paper
and then he signed his name attesting that
| to be Charles mark. Charlie will take his
vacation on a large farm over in old
Virginia" and for thirty days will have
nothing to do but eat and froic I'm the
extensive fields. He will not even have to
worry about his board BILL as his Uncle
Sam will attend to that portion OF tho
outing. Other horses OF the department;
will be similarly furloushed for rest and
recreation during the summer as rapidly
as they can be spared. and that will be at
pretty rapid pace as the summer dullness
which is now upon Washington includes
man and beast.
Democratic Purity.
Political purity, which is to be the battle
cry OF the democrats in the coming cam
paign, will have a decided jolt when the
records are pulled upon that party. Polti-
cal purity, so far as democracy is con-
cerned, has its limitations, as will be shown
in the next four months by tables pre-
pared by the republican national committee
In point Of fact the democrats have the