Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-10
ANNOUNCED BY Mr.. TAFT
No More to Be Made Known Until
March 4.
MIR. KNOX RETURNS TO CITY
Declines to Discuss Conferences at
Augusta-Mr. Taft Attends
Old-Time Barbecue.

AUGUSTA Ga January 9.-Frank H.
Hitchcock is going to be Postmaster Cen
eral in Mr.. Tafts cabinet. but he is to
give up the craftsmanship of the republic
an national committee All rumors and
reports about the possibility Of Mr.
Hitchcock entering upon business career
and retaining the Craftsmanship were put
TO rest by Mr.. Taft tonight, when he an
nounced that Mr.. Hitchcock had accepted
the post office portfolio. Mr.. Taft also is
authority for the statement that Mr..
Hitchcock will not continue as head of
the national committee
Beyond the announcement that Philan-
der c. Knox will be Secretary of State
and Frank H. Hitchcock Postmaster Cen
eIal i'm his cabinet President-elect Taft
has determined that no other cabinet ap-
peintments shall be made known until
March t. To make this determination eff
fectve he will deny all cabinet rumors,
predictions announcements from any
source or quarter whatsoever.
In the statement of this policy atten-
tion was directed to the announcement
of the Knox appointment, made on the
day Mr.. Taft arrived in Augusta and to
the authoritative announcement by the
Associated Press from Hot Springs, Va,
of the selection of Mr.. Hitchcock as Post
master General, both of which are pro-
nounced correct by MIR. Taft
1t is predicted that Mr.. Hitchcock will
retire as chairman of the republican ma
uonal committee at some convenient time
To be determined upon after he has as
sumed the duties of his official positions
In this event. he will designate a vice
chairman from among the members of
the committee. who will head the COM
mittee until its meeting in December pre-
ceding the next national election, at
which time the formal election of chair
man;wiil be In order. 1t is stated that no
controversy has existed over this matter;
that 1t never has been and is not now
an issue in any quarter.
Mr. Hitchcock. who is here. declined TO
discuss any plans he may have in this
connection, and would make no predic-
ton as TO what member of the commit
tee he will designate as vice chairman.
Secretary Wilson's Record.
The ambition of James Wilson. Secre-
tary of Agriculture, to serve longer as a
cabinet minister, than has any occupant of
like position in this country, has devel-
oped an interesting discussion as to
whether Mr.. Wilson does not at the
present time hold the record of the long
est cabinet service. His tenure of office
on the 4th of March next will be
twelve years and three months, according
To information here. His competitors in
this line are said to be William Writ, who
was Attorney 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 mem
ber of ,he cabinet. The position of Post
master General then was not a cabinet
place. Should 1t develop authoritatiyely
that Wilson will have achieved his ambi-
tion on the 4th of March, it is regarded
as highly probable here that he will wish
rnIi rfct, HI ESo;a1
case Mr.. Taft will have the additional
task before him of selecting a Secretary
of Agriculture for his cabinet. Otherwise
MIR. Wilson will doubtless be a member of
months.
Aside from this place it is regarded as
fair assertion that Mr.. Taft has fixed
IN his mind, and has had approved by
Messrs. Knox and Hitchcock the men
wnom he is to invite to seats around his
council board. This is believed to be the
extent of his progress at the present time,
as II is understood that no offers of places
besides the two determined upon have
been made to any one. That the proffer
of places is the next step in order is a
matter of course.
Mr.. Taft Attends Barbecue.
Like trip into the good old days Of
The past was the novel experience of Mr.
Taft today in being the guest of the Beech
Island Farmers Club of South Carolina
al d repetition of barbecue the club has
held once a month, without missing
month, for nearly seventy years. The old
darky, John Hayes. made the "'cue"
Just exactly the same as he has been do
ing every month since long befo' de
war" The plain board clubhouse with
Its holes in the roof and walls. has been
the meeting place for the discussion of
all questions, well as for the feaSts
served III N ifS
than fifty years
Ii stands alone in a beech forest about
seven miles from Augusta. and in and
around il today were gathered half a
hundred farmers with sprinklng of city
folks, invited from Augusta for the occa-
sion. These included Senator Bourne of
Oregon. John Hays Hammond. Frank III.
Hitchcock, all of whom made speeches;
Judge J. c. Lamar. Judge Harry c. Ham
mond. President PhiniZy of the Georgia
Railroad Bank and others.
Maj. Henry Hammond, veteran of
more than seventy years. welcomed Mr..
laft for the farmers. and expressed the
hope that the Lama of Thibet is re-
sarded as the incarnation of Buddha. Mr..
Taft might be the incarnation of George
Washington and have the realization of
his expressed desire, peace among all
nations and the restoration of harmony
equality and fraternity between the solid
south and the solid north"
MIR. Taft replied TO this with feeling
ton and discussing generally the desr-
able qualities of the ancient club. After
the barbecue had been served Mr. Taft
departed in his automobile. while the
ancient negro cook calculated, with tears
of joy on his face: II sho' done shook
hands with President. If / never shake
hands agin done it today
Knox Returns to City.
Senator Knox. who is to be the premier
of the next cabinet, returned to Washing
ton yesterday afternoon from Augusta
after several conferences at that place
with President-elect Taft regarding the
composition of the new cabinet. The
senator's attitude toward publication at
this time of the results of these confer
ences was similar to that assumed by him
at Augusta. He emphatically stated that
he would not be party to any announce
mcnts touching the cabinet before the
4th of March next. When 1t was sug-
gesied that some of the friends of the
persons to whom tenders of cabinets arc
made might disclose that fact the senator
slsnihcaiiy remarked:
II such persons suffer modification
and embarrassment as result Gf dis
closure nv them confidential N