The Washington herald., 1908-01-04

Frank II. Hitchcock. the First AS
| sistant Postmaster General, has been
asked by Mr.. Taft to take charge Of his
political interests In the South and East.
lie has the invitation under advisement.
Mr.. Hitchcock was accused By Taft
boomers and newspapers Of being the
mead and front OF the so-called con
splracy,' which was alleged to have been
organized to bring about George B. Cor
telyou's nomination for the Presidency
under cover Of getting up sentiment IN
favor of a third term for President
Roosevelt. This invitation extended 10
Mr.. Hitchcock by Mr.. Taft puts an end
to ali the conspiracy" talk. and is bound
20 cause cold chills 10 run up and down
the spines OF those indiscreet workers for
the Secretary Of War who complained TO
Mr.. Roosevelt that Secretary Cortelyou
and Mr.. Hitchcock weren't playing fair
There was no Cortelyou conspiracy or
whatever else Il may be termed.
To Bring Order from Chaos.
The action Of Mr.. Taft in selecting Mr.
Hitchcock for his political manager In the
South and East is the first step ia tile
understood intention OF the Ohio candi-
date 70 bring order out OF the chaos into
which his campaign for the Presidential
nomination has been thrown.
Although those who were left in charge
OF Mr. Tafts political interests while he
was abroad were too prone to cry wolf
whenever they encountered difficulties,
there is no doubt that their fears were
JUSTIFIED TO some extent Even among
the ardent admirers Of AIr. Roosevelt and
Mr.. Taft within the Republican party
there was a feeling Of resentment that
the present administration should seek %
perpetuate itself.
There was dissatisfaction also over the
attempt Of the Taft boomers to make il
appear that opposition to Mr.. Taft was
opposition 10 the principles OF the Repub-
lican party. The Taft management saw
things In the dark. and got into a panic
which interfered with effective campaign
work. while the managers Of other Re
publican candidates for the Presidential
nomination went ahead. quietly building
up organizations that would stand the
test Of offensive and defensive tactics.
In these circumstances il was necessary
for Mr. Taft TO strengthen his forces
and as he was not making headway in
the South and East, he decided to place
a special manager in charge of his cam
paign work in those sections.
Has Conference with Him.
Mr. Taft had a conference Thursday
night with Mr. Hitchcock, and with Rep
resentative Theodore 2. Burton, Of the
Twenty-frst Ohio Congressional district,
who ran unsuccessfully as the Federal
administration candidate for mayor Of
Cleveland against Tom L. johnson.
Mr. Burton is the foremost Taft ad-
vocate IN Northern Ohio. He has some
knowledge OF Mr. Hltchcocks ability as
a political organizer and he added his
solicitation 10 that Of Mr. Taft to induce
Mr. Hitchcock to accept Mr.. Taft's ten
der. Nr. Hitchcock. IL is understood, did
not indicate whether he would accept or
decline, but promised s definite answer
as soon as he could consult with some
friends whose advice he valued
Since Mr.. Tafts return it has been indi-
Gated that he would not disturb Arthur
l. Vorys as a manager Of the Taft inter
eslH, bul the iEilutHt IldGt 20 MI. Hitch
cock points to an intention Of Mr.. Taft
to curtau Mr. Vorys' field Of activity.
Mr.. Vorys viii be left probably in charge
Of the Taft campaign in Ohio. and ad-
ditional managers will be entrusted with
the work in other parts Of the country.
Friends Of Mr.. Taft are hopeful that in
several speeches which he will make in
the near future he viii speak his own
views on political subjects without con-
tinuing IS mere defender OF President
Roosevelt ne has accepted several in
vitations 10 make addresses. On Janu-
ary 10 he will speak before the Peoples
Forum in Cooper Institute in New York
on January "a he will address the Ohio
Society Of Philadelphia The TippecanOe
CLUB. OF Cleveland, Ohio. will have a
dinner on McKinley's birthday January
29, at which Mr.. Taft will speak, and on
February y will address the Lincoln
Club ef Grand Rapids. Mich