New-York tribune., 1908-06-21


| Hitchcock to accept the Craftsmanship of the
national committee, which carries with 1t the
management Of the campaign for the election OF
| the Taft and Sherman ticket. When it was
| learned to-day. through a dispatch from Gin
/ cinnati that Mr.. Hitchcock had asked Secre-
| tary Taft not to consider him for the chairman
ship a delegation headed by Senator William
| Warner, Of Missouri Immediately called on Mr.
Hitchcock at his rooms in the Auditorium
| Annex.
rs this true?" asked Senator Warner. ex-
hibiting the dispatch as printed in afternoon
| paper
| 1T is" replied Mr. Hitchcock. After con-
| sidering the subject carefully I decided that
| it would be best not to permit my name to
| come up in connection with the appointment
| The fact is that I physically exhausted and
| need rest My health demands that take rest
| NV friends have been very kind. 1t is only
because Of their zeal in my behalf that regret
the necessity of retiring
The members of the delegation protested that
Mr. Hitchcock was qualified to manage the cam
paign, and when theyalef his rooms they de-
clared they would not consent to his retirement
regardless of his wishes in the matter. Mr.
Hitchcock looks worn and tired. On two nights
in course of the convention he did not go 20 bed
at all On Tuesday night the credentials COM
nittee held a fourteen hour session, throughout
which Mr.. Hitchcock kept in touch with the pro-
ceedings. On Thursday night there was con-
ference on the subject of the Vice-Presidency.
Party leaders were at his rooms until after )
o'clock in the morning beseeching him to ascer-
tain Secretary Taft's choice for running mate.
When the Presidential nominee declined to die
tate the nomination for second place on the
ticket it remained for Mr. Hitchcock to harmon
ize the differences between representatives of
the various candidates. From o'clock until
the convention met at 10 O'Clock, Mr.. Hitchcock
worked to line up the Western delegations be-
hind Mr. Sherman, who had developed the great
est strength of all the candidates. AS result
he has undermined his health.
Several of his warm personal friends argued
with Mr. Hitchcock to-day that he would have
plenty of time to rest before it became neces-
sary to open national headquarters but he gave
them no satisfaction whatever.
That there is considerably number of mem
bers of the national committee opposed to the
selection of Mr. Hitchcock to manage the cam
paign is admitted No doubt this is responsible
in no small degree for his determination to
withdraw from the race. He informed some of
his friends to-day that he had accomplished all
he had undertaken. that the nomination of Mr.
Taft having been made he could retire with good
grace, and the Secretary without embarrass-
ment, could select a manager
A report that Mr.. Hitchcock had been invited
to meet Mr.. Taft on Tuesday could not he con-
frrned but IT is known that he intends to start
for the East on Monday night. He declined to
discuss his plans for the future. beyond saying
that he was going TO have a vacation.
Many names have been mentioned for the
chairmanship since the news OF Mr. Hitchcock
declination was received Among these are
Postmaster General Meyer and former Governor
Myron r. Herrick of Ohio. 1t was stated that
neither of these men wanted to assume the "a.
sponsibility OF managing long campaign. but
nevertheless they seemed TO be the only men
mentioned seriously. 1t was said also that IN.
intimate relations between Postmaster General
Meyer and Mr.. Hitchcock might induce the
latter to take the vice-chairmanship and an
active part in the management of the campaign
If Mr.. Meyer were chosen. Mr.. Hitchcock de-
clared that he would not think of such a thiny