Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-01-10
KNOX AND HITCHCOCK CONFIRMED
New Postmaster General to RelIn'
auIsh National chalrmanship and
Name His Sueeessor-Wiison Wants
10 Break Tenure Record.
(By ASS. ciated Pre5s).

.. stmaster general In his cabinet
President-elect TAFT has deteg mined
Il that NO other cabinet appointing nts
1 shall be made known until March
4th.
4 To make this determination effec
tive he will deny all cabinet rumors,
prediction or announcements from
any source or quarter whatsoever.
In the statement Of this policy a,
tentlon was directed to the announce.
ment OF the Knox appointment made
on the day Mr. Taft arrived in Au
gusta and to the authoritative an
norncement by the Associated Press
from Hot Springs. Va, Of the selec
ticn OF Mr.. Hitchcock as postmaster
general, both Of which are pronounc-
ed confirmed by Mr.. Taft.
| To Retire as Chairman.
1t is predicted that Mr.. Hitchcock
will retire as chairman of the Re
t publican national committee at some
convenient time to be determined
uron after he has assumed the
duties of his Official position.
In this event, he will designate a
vice chairman from among the mem
! bers of the committee who will
head the committee until Its meeting
in December preceding the next ma
: tional election, at which time the for
NAL election Of a chairman will be
, In order.
1t is stated that no controversy
has occurred over this matter; that
It never has been and Is not now an
| issue in politics.
Mr.. Hitchcock, who Is here declin
ed to discuss any plans he may have
in this connection and would make no
prediction as to which member Of the
! committee he will designate as vice.
! chairman.
| Secretary Wilson's Ambition.
The ambition of James Wilson. sec
rotary of agriculture to serve longer
as a cabinet minister than has any
occupant Of a like position in this
country, has developed an interest
ing discussion as to whether Mr.. VIII
son does not at the present time hold
the record of the longest cabinet
service.
His tenure Of once on the fourth
Of March next will be twelve years
and three months, according TO In
formation here.
/ His competitors in this line are
said to be William Writ, who was st.
' torney general for eleven years and
six or eight months and Postmaster
General Granger, who was at the
head Of the postal service for thirteen
! years, but during none OF that time
was he a member Of the cabinet.
The position Of postmaster general
, then was not a cabinet place.
Should 1t develop authoritatively
that Wilson holds the record. it Is
regarded as highly probable here
that he will wish to relinquish his
oficial duties. In which case Mr.. Taft
will have the additional task before
him Of selecting a secretary OF aSrf
culture for his cabinet. Otherwise.
Mr.. Wilson will doubtless be . mem.
Der Of the Taft oficial family at least
for a few months.
Other Men Al Selected.
Aside frcm this place. II is regard
ed as q fair assertion that Mr.. Taft
has fixed In his mind. and the choices
have been approved by Messrs. Knox
and Hitchcock, the men whom he IS
to invite to seats around his coun-
ell board.
i This is believed to be the extent
Of his progress at the present time.
a 1t is understood that no offers OF
places besides those determined upon
have been made to any one.
II That the prefer Of places Is the
next step in order. Is Q matter o!
course.
Like q trip into the good old days
OF the past vas the novel experience
OF the Presidentelect today. in being
the cues: Of the Beech Island Far
mers Club. Of South Carolina, al a
repetition Of . barbecue the club has
held once . month. without missing
month. for neatly seventy years
| Ssme Old "Nie9er."
The old darkey. John Hayes. made
the cue" tust exactly the same as
he has been doing every month since
long befo' de war"
The plain board club house. with
It's holes In the roof and walls. has
been the meeting place for discus
sions OF all question a. well a. for
the feasts served in one q its two
rooms. for more than fifty years.
II stands alone In q beech fores;
about seven miles from Augusta. and
IN and around II today were gathered
hsh hundred farmers. with .
sprinkiins Of city folks. invited from
Augusta. for the occasion.
These included Senator Bourne. Of