The sun., 1908-06-21
WHYF.H. HITCHCOCK DECLINED
WISHED TO SHOW HIS WORK
For H4FT WAS gNSELFISH.
Then Too the Ohio Men We're Alarmed by
His Dominance and Threatened a
Roosevelt Stampede-His Friends DIS
appOinted-He Is Completely Worn Out.

Then Too the Ohio Men We're Alarmed by
His Dominance and Threatened a
Roosevelt Stampede-His Friends DIS
appOlnted-He Is Completely Worn Out.
CHICAGO, June 2o.-Frank II. Hltchoock's
ship of the Republican national committee
was the outcome Of conditions which Mr..
Hitchcock declined to tolerate While MIR.
Hitchcock. who is still here, would not make
any statement, his reasons for throwing
aside the opportunity of managing the oam-
paign Of the man whose nomination was
due mainly to his efforts are we'll under
stood by his friends.
They declare that outside Of every other
consideration Mr.. Hitchcock withdrew from
the contest to show that his ante-conv nvention
work in Mr. Taft's behalf had been entirely
unselfsh and that having accomplished
Mr.. Taft's nomination he looked for no
reward and was willing to show it by leav-
ing Mr. Taft free to choose some other cam
paign manager
The real fight against Mr.. Hitchcock was
begun shortly after he came here to attend
the convention Arthur I. Vorys, Mr.. Taft's
Ohio manager, was not party to this op-
position to Mr. Hitchcock. II is declared.
Walter Brown, chairman Of the Ohio Repub-
lican State committee, and Walter d. Gull
bert Auditor of the State OF Ohio. are said
to have been mainly instrumental in max
ing the fight to get Mr. Hitchcock's scalp.
According to what is told here by poll
tcians who know the story there was much
alarm among Mr.. Taft's friends in Ohio
when it became evident that Mr.. Hitch
cock was the dominating factor in the Taft
campaign for the nomination and that the
Chic con ntingsut would have TO play second
fddle, or perhaps not be permitted to play
at all, with Mr.. Hitchcock in charge Of tho
Presidential campaign.
Two or three days ago Messrs. Brown
and Ctuilbert, 1t is being told. went to Charles
p Taft here in Chicago and informed him
that there was great dissa abstraction over
the prospect that Mr.. Hitchcock would be
made national chairman.
Just prior to that Charles P Taft's news
paper had printed rather definite state
meat that Mr.. Hitchcock would manage
William II. Taft's campaign. and it was
made known to Charles P. Taft that If the
statement was not withdrawn there would
be trouble in the Ohio delegation. In fact
Mr.. Z aft was told that the Ohio delegation
were so opposed to MIR. Hitchoock's selection
as manager that they might stampede to
Roose7 cit if assurance were not given that
MIR. Hitchcock would not get first place.
How much of this story was told by
Churies P. Taft to Mr.. Hitchcock is not dis
closed, but ut any rate on Thursday night
Mr.. Iaft suggested to Mr.. Hitchcock that
il would save considerable embarr assment
If Alr. Hitchcock would become the Repub-
hcan candidates. manager in charge Of
heIdQuarters in New York. Mr.. vorys, it
Was explained, would be asked to become
the Catnpaign manager in Chicago, and this
would ciN Q the way clear TO the selection
of al other man for chairman OF the national
co a.hittee.
A.. Hitchcock declined to accept this
suggestion, although he did not indicate
that he would insist on being national chair
IRAN.
Just before Charles P. Taft started for
Cincinnati last night with the sub,com-
mttee Of the national committee he had n
talk with Mr.. Hitchcock in which he is
credited with having said that Mr. Hitch
cocks refusal to be manager OF the New
York headquarters was very embarrassing
and he hoped Mr.. Hitchcock would recon,
slider Thereupon Mr.. Hitchcock explained
that he was not candidate for the national
Craftsmanship and that he had no selfish
desire to obtain preferment at the hands OF
Mr.. Taft. or words to that effect.
To show that what he said was meant in
good faith Mr.. Hitchcock declined then and
there to be candidate for the national
craftsmanship.
Mr.. Hitchcock 8 friends are saying to-
nj i2ht that all along he has not put himself
in the position Of claiming that the national
plohed the Nomination of Mr. Taft. They
declare that he had no selfish expectation
Of reward. They think he made mistake,
however. in taking himself out OF the con-
test, not only in view of the fact that thirty
or more members constituting majority
Of the national committee. had signed
Request; that he be made national chair
man but that he owed it to those who
worried with him in the ante convention
fight to insist on retaining the manage,
meht of MIR. Taft's political fortunes until
the November election.
II Il understood from these intimatcs
who have talked with Mr.. Hitchcock to-day
that he il feeling very badly over the knowl-
edge that his actions have disa!ppointed
bring about Mr.. Taft's nomination.. They
are asserting that in his desire to eio an ln-
selfish thing that would relieve Mr.. TAFT
of any embarrassment no did not think
that he was disarranging the plans of his
assistants. There is no doubt that he feels
very badly over this phase Of the situation
and might have taken different course IL
the matter had been placed before him in
that light prior to his Withdrawal
II was said by one of Mr.. Hitchcock's
frierds that Mr.. Hitchcock, was played out
physically and mentally when the sugges-
lions, which he regarded as authoritative,
egan to come to him that it would be better
for III concerned if he and Mr.. Vorys would
rccept ice-chairmanshps on the national
committee. Since he came to Chicago three
weeks ego Mr.. Hitchcock has averaged
only two hours sleep in every twenty-four,
He did not go to bed at all on Thursday
night. He is completely worn out and 80
extremely nervous that he cannot sleep
Stree tie news reached here from Ciucin-
natl that he had declined to allow his name
TO be considered many of his friends, in
cluding members Of the national COM
mittec. have gone to him to protest, and his
concern over the disarrangement which his
withdra wal has made in the plans Of some
of these friends has aggravated his physical
and mental condition.
At least four OF the members of the sub
committee Of the national committee who
went from Chicago last nj iIht to meet Will
lam Fl. Taft in Cincinnati seemed to think
thnt Mr. Hitchcock would not be national
chairnr n Their idea was that Ex-Governor
Myron 7. Herrick Of Ohio. Senator W. Muir
rey Crane of Massachusetts or Postmaster
General George Won L. Meyer, who Is from
Massachusetts also, would be chosen. Mr.
Herrick and Mr.. Crane are said not to be
anxious to have charge Of the campaign.
I rnxEDEDc VcAr,T cATTgETEn