The Washington herald., 1908-07-09
Possesses a True Genius for
Hard Work.
ROSE RAPIDLY FROM OBsCURITY
Career Has Been on an Ascending
Scale-Few Years Ago He Was
Chief of the Section of Foreign
Markets in Agriculture DEPART
ment-COrteIyOu Discovered Him.

new chairman OF the Republican National
Committee. is well equipped for the task
Iof plotting William Howard Taft. the Re-
publican nominee, to the Presidential
chair.
Although little more than forty years
Of age--ahd, therefore, a mere STRIPPING in
the minds Of some of the old political
war horses-Hitchcock. as the steam
roller man." is one of the most talked Of
personages in the United States.
And this is all the more remarkable
when II is recalled that only a short time
ago he occupied a comparatively obscure
position In the Federal service.
Hitchcock's career has been on an
ascending scale. He has gone upward
with great rapidity. Four years ago. when
George Bruce Cortelyou was chairman OF
the Republican National Committee.
Hitchcock was an assistant secretary at
the campaign headquarters In New York.
Had No Popularity.
He wasn't particularly popular with
anybody. He was too secretive-kept his
own counsel. and sawed wood. People
laround headquarters didn't know what
lhe was doing. and TO the outsider Il
seemed as II his duties were limited 70
signing the pay roll, reporting for work
every morning. and closing Up the build
ing late at night.
But Chairman Cortelyou knew better.
Hitchcock was one OF the most useful. as
he was the most Industrious, OF all those
who assisted in the conduct Of the cam
paign of 1904 Hitchcock had initiative,
was chock-fun Of ideas. and was. in fact.
ICortelyou's chief lieutenant When Cor
telyou became Postmaster General Hitch
cock was named as his first assistant.
Hitchcock had been on Uncle Sans
pay roll just nine years when he re-
signed the Office OF chief clerk Of the De-
partment of Commerce and Labor 10
take a subordinate position with the
national committee. To-day he Is the
head Of the party organization. An un-
known four years ago. he now occupies
the place formerly filed by such men
as Marcus 4. Hanna, OF Ohio. and Henry
&c. Payne. Of Wisconsin. leaders who will
be remembered as long as the Repub-
lican party endures.
Politics has a fascination for the new
chairman Of the Republican National
Committee. He dallied with the game at
Harvard from which institution he was
graduated IN 1891 Then he came 20 this
voteless community, and for several
years dealt with dry figures as the chief
Of the section OF foreign markets in the
Department OF Agriculture.
II was HIS business then 70 tell an
expectant public just how many bushels
OF wheat or corn had been SHIPPED 10
} foreign marts. how many hogs had died
J in transit. and incorporate in statistical
r reports a lot Of other Information. yalu-
able TO persons IN trade, but extremely
/ tiresome 70 the average reader. Hitch
cock seemed destined for a career as
I government statlstlcian.
/ Himself a product Of the civil service
COrtelyou. after he was selected for the
Cabinet, wanted bright young men
around him. He looked the departments
over and about the first appointment
he made after he became Secretary Of
Commerce and Labor, was that Of Hitch
cock to be chief clerk. Corteylou apd
Hitchcock organized the new depart
ment but they were not permitted TO
remain in that branch OF the public serv-
ice very long
Gnins n Reputation.
It is from the reputation he gained
as a government statstician. and his
work in reorganizlng the various bureaus
with which he was connected that Hitch
cock has been sneeringly referred TO as
the ''card-index man" Many OF those
who formerly sneered now applaud.
Hitchcock won his spurs in the govern
ment service through merit. His original
appointment was made upon examination.
Promotion came to him quickly. His ad-
vancement to first place in the Republi-
can national organization was the re-
ward Of having made good"
When Hitchcock was placed In charge
Of the prcconvention campaign of Mr..
Taft for the Presidential nomination he
was we'll known among public men. For
more than three years he had dispensed
patronage i'm the Post-ofice Department.
and his duties brought him in personal
contact with Republican leaders from all
over the United States. He was an ar
dent third-term advocate. He was firmly
Of the opinion that President Roosevelt.
whatever his personal inclinauons. would
be forced to lead the fight in 1905 Hitch
cock got firm hold on the party in the
South through the force of his own per-
sOnallty and the power he welded with
the patronage placed I'm his control by the
Postmaster General He perfected an or
ganization In that section in the belief
that Roosevelt would be renominated. 1t
was, and Is, a finely adjusted piece Of po-
ltical machinery.
After he had finished the lob in the
South, Hitchcock turned toward the
West. Then he dipped into New England.
Hitchcock was getting fine training for
the role which he was later called to fill.
There came time when President Roose-
welt. fearing the third-term movement
would get beyond his control. came out
! with the announcement that turned the
tide to Taft. Shortly thereafter Hitch
cock was selected to be the dlrector-in-
chief Of the Taft forces.
1t is significant that many OF the leaders
who opposed the Taft candidacy for the
nomination were easily brought into line
for Hitchcock as chairman They knew
his worth, When they realized that the
selection of one of their own number was
not on the cards. they readily consented
to the naming Of Hitchcock. The allies
tried to pierce the South, first for Fair
banks, then for Cannon, ard later for
Knox. but wherever they jolTneyed they
found that Hitchcock had preceded them
and had tied up the delegates for Taft.
In one Of the border States. claimed with
4 great confidence for the allies, Hitchcock
stepped in and captured the delegates for
the Ohio candidate. In the West, where
his efforts were supplemented by Arthur
/. Vorys. in charge Of the Taft Columbus
headquarters Hitchcock achieved sue
cession OF notable victories.
Predictions Correct.
It was upon figures furnished him by
Hitchcock that President Roosevelt made
the prediction. many weeks before the
Chicago convention was called to order,