The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-12-21

tered upon a wholesale policy of ap-
pointing Democrats to Office had 1t
not been for the more astute pohtl-
cal head Of his postmaster general
and chief political adviser. There is
a difference only, of judgment be-
tween Mr.. Taft and Mr.. Hitchcock.
The object Of each is to break the
solid South. Mr.. Taft thinks he can
do it by coddling a few Democrats
with Republican leanings, and while
Mn Hitchcock does not wholly dis
agree with this idea he wants to be
quite sure of the leanings. Mr.. Taft
seems willing to take greater chances
on this score. The regular aforetime
"referees" have not been formally
abolished OF superseded SO much as
they have been just sort o. defunc-
tionized, as it were, perhaps tempo
rary and experimentally in order
that the beaming and persuasive per-
sonality Of the big hearted Bill Taft
might beam direct.
Began During Campaign.
This personality has been beaming
upon the Charleston editor ever since
that famous Gander and Hen incl
dent, when The News and Courier
conducted rattle for the Bryan cam
paign fund. This tickled the Re-
publican candidate very much and
his attention was riveted upon the
bitter attacks upon Mr.. Bryan which
The News and Courier had made be-
fore the Denver convention and the
scarcely yelled partiality of its edi-
tor for the Republican candidate dur
ing the campaign. While Mr.. Taft
knew Major HemphiH before that,
having been entertained In Charles
ton in that most hospitable and
charming manner for which Charl s.
ton is famous, in which entertain
ment the editor Of The News and
Courier was naturally CONSPICUOUS,
owing not so much to his position as
to his own pleasing and cordial per-
sonality. But his Gander and Hen
incident seemed to have been an es-
pecial bond Of union. Twice since
he was elected president, Mr., Taft
has visited Charlesto and Major
Hemphill has visited the president
here, their friendship being at each
meeting intensified.
The Gander and Hen incident, you
understand, Was a joke. Mr.. Taft
likes a joke and he likes a man who
gets off a good one. But the presi-
dent is not-all joke. That campaign
last fall wasn't any joke. He meant
business, and at one time Mr.. Bryan
was pushing him so close and the
Middle West as well as New York
showed such signs Of Republican dis
integration that he got all vexifed,
as it were. It has always been an
idea with him ever since he entered
politics, which was when he became
candidate for president, you under
stand, that he was the Man Of Des-
tiny to break up the Solid South.
And he wanted to go into the South
during that campaign, to convert tho
stiffnecked people, and would have
done so but for this dangerous threat
Of the Middle West and New York
But all the time he was looking about
in the South, watching it very close
". He had certain ieutenants, pulse
feelers, to report to him what men
in the South could be Of assistance
to him in furnishing information
about conditions. Among these was
J. C. Hemphill in South Carolina. It
is not believed that he called ON these
men for assistance, but it is positive
" known that he had his eye on them
and considered them as not so hos