The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-02-18

Reports received in Washington by West
EN- Senators and Representatives. show
that there has been a decided trend of
sentiment toward the nomination OF
President Roosevelt for a third term
since the publication of the Presidents
special message on January 81. in which
he came back at those who had criticised
his radical tendencies.
Apparently. many Western Repubh-
cans have construed the message as q
notice from the President that he is not
90 be counted out Of the race, and with
out regard TO the reflection upon Mr.
Roosevelt which this idea embodies, are
working with might ana main to have
delegates from their States 10 the Re
publican national convention instructed
for the occupant OF the White House.
On last Saturday the Republican Con
gressmen from Nebraska received a de-
cided shock when they read in the news
papers that the Republican convention
of Lancaster County. in their State, had
declared for the denomination OF the
President, and had sent a Roosevelt
delegation to the staee convention.
Lancaster Index County.
Lancaster is known as the index
county" Of Nebraska. because IL has usu-
ally Indicated general Republican senti-
meut in the state, and for that reason
the action OF the county convention was
regarded as particularly significant
Since they heard the news from Lam
easter. the Nebraska Congressman have
been anxious 10 find out what fl meant
They had supposed. and were declaring.
that The Republicans Of Nebraska were
a unit FOR Tafts nomination, and tbey
couldn't understand why there had been
a change-about To the President, after
he had repeated his third-term renuueia-
ton
Senator Burkett. of Nebraska. got news
from home yesterday which cleared UP
the mystery It was in substance. that
since the Presidents special message
was transmitted 10 Congress the Roose-
welt sentiment had Deen revived and could
not be controlled
Again REPEATS Statement.
Senator Burkett took TO the White
House letter containing this informa-
ton. He showed it 10 President Roose-
Welt, but. according 90 the story told o.
what happened in the Presidents Office.
M Roosevelt would have none Of IL. lie
said quickly and emphaucally that his
statement was final, that Dc
would not permit his name To go before
the convention. and that he was for Taft
and wanted his friends 10 vote for Taft's
And now Mr.. Burkett and
the other Nebraska statesmen do NOT
know where they are at"
Michigan. too. has been Influenced by
the special message OF January 81 Con
greSsmen of that state have advices from
home that on the surface the Taft move
ment is strong and there is strong I'M
dercurrent- Of Cannon sentiment The
Presidents dcnunCiation by his critics
has been accepted by many Republicans
as necessitatiuE his remuneration. This
and similar reports are giving great conf
cern 20 the Taft supporters. who realize
that every gain Cor Roosevelt is a CORE
spending loss for Taft.
Hitchcock ArtfuI Dodger.
Frank H. Hitchcock. of Massachusetts.
who has retired from the position Of (
FIRST Assistant Postmaster General 20 as /
sugle the direction of the Taft political /
was seen 10 enter the Execu- |
tive offices Of President Roosevelt shortly |
after noon yesterday.
Many waited for him to come out but |
they waited in vain. Mr.. Hitchcock left I
the White House. This is known for a 1
certainty. because Mr.. Hitchcock was
seen on the streets later in the day, and 1
last night he dined, as usual at an up /
town club. in company with several /
friends.
II developed on inquiry that 0Ir Hitch |
cock took his departure from the White /
House either by a subteTranean passage
or through one OF the rear exits. He is /
an athletic young man. and there is one /
report that he vaulted through "A window \
in the Executive Office, landing on the 4
tennis court, scaling iron fences and thick |
masses Of shrubbery on his way to the /
street
some Say Through WoOdshed.
Another report is to the effect that he /
found egress through the back door OF
Mr.. RooseveIts Office. thence through the
laundry. and thence through an clubhouse
which on ordinary premises would be
classified as a woodshed,
Three facts have been definitely estab-
shed in this connection One is that Mr.
hitchcock called at the White House: the
second is that he left it IN due season: the
lard is that he got out without being
observed.
1t is mere assumption that he took his
departure by way OF the back door. He
may have assembled 10 one OF the upper
stories of the White House and there
taken passage on one Of the dirigible
balloons that are now being tested by
The government for use in time of war. |
But he got out
Fireworks Fail 10 MateriaIize.
Mr.. Hitchcock called at the White
House to talk politics with the President
incidentally. he handed in his resiena-
ion of the Office Of First Assistant Post
master General It was assumed thai
upon the severance Of his
connection with the public service Mr.
hitchcock would walk right out Of the
White House and set Off bunch Of YER
pal fireworks signaling his formal entry
nto the political field. But he did NOT
He disappeared
When the disappearance became known
% the waiting thrOng. an inquiry fol-