The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-07-01
VERY CLOSE TO TAFT.
south CarolInian Il Confidential Sec
rctary.

Washington, June 24.-A South
Carolina man may become a figure in
the next administration. should Secre-
tary Taft be elected president. He is
James T. Williams. Jr.. of Greenville,
son Of James T. Williams, former
mayor Of that city. Young Williams Is
IS years old and has been In the news
paper business here and In Columbia,
where he began, for FIVE years. For a
year or more he was Washington cor
respondent Of the Boston Transcript.
but he was such an ardent admirer
OF Secretary Taft. with whom he had
often come In contact In his newspa-
per duties at the war department,
that he resigned his position with
that paper to aid In bringing about
the nomination Of Mr.. Taft at Chica-
80. He was assigned to duty at the
headquarters Of Frank H. Hitchcock.
the man who managed one branch of
the campaign. Mr. Hitchcock got
credit for nearly all the fine work for
Taft. but Mr.. Williams should have
been credited with goodly share OF
II. His work was greatly appreciated
by Mr.. Taft and his supporters. When
Mr.. Taft left here few days ago for
Cincinnati to confer with his relatives
and leaders as to selecting chair
man Of the national committee to
conduct the campaign he took Mr.,
Williams along with him. the only
man be did take. In the capacity Of
confidential secretary to Mr.. Taft
Jimmy" williams will probably re-
main throughout the campaign. He
will be with the Republican nominee
wherever ne goes and vii! look after
important matters.
In tho event Mr.. Taft IL elected
there are possibilities for Mr.. Will
Hams that will please his friends. He
liams that viii please his friends. He
10 already talked Of for private Sec
retary to the Republican president. II
there u one. The once Of secretary
to the president would be q stepping
stone to the cabinet or to other high
places. Secretary Cortelyou. Of the
treasury. went from secretary to
Roosevelt to head Of the department
Of commerce and labor. Daniel La
mant. who was with Grover Cleve-
land. became q big figure In the rail-
road world. Henry Thurber also went
up In the world. There are tremen-
dous possibilities In the secretaryship
William Loeb. Jr., has made good in
the position and will be a member of
the Taft cabinet. II ne desires the
plsce. He could have gone into the
Roosevelt cabinet had ne desired. but
he has long talked Of entering the
business world and may d, 90 when
he winds mp the term Of Roosevelt.
Mr.. Williams II said TO have diplo-
matte aspirations. and II his chief
should preside over the destinies OF
the. country Mr.. williams will most
assurediy Set fine place In the Dip
lomatic service II he likes.
John Capers. another South Caro-
lima man. will no doubt be honored
under the next administration. an he
has been under this. He has done
great political work for Secretary
Taft. work superior to that of Hitch
cock In many respects. for which he
has received encouraging words,
There is little doubt that Mr.. Capers
will be retained an commissioner OF
internal revenue under the next ad-
ministration should the Republicans
be continued In power.-Charlesto
Post.