Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1909-08-19
POOR BILL TAFT
Tho Wicked Hitchcock Said to
be Plotting to
UNDO ALL HIS PLANS

Il II
Exchange for Their Support of the
Taft Program.
President Taft's well-directed ef-
forts in fixing his policy towards the
South are threatened with rupture
If not destruction as the result of
the political games being played in
connection with the appointment Of
census supervisors. says P. H. Meg,
the Washington correspondent of
The News and Courier.
He says up to few days ago 1t
looked as though the appointments
to these places would be made by
Director Durand. Of the census bu-
reau, with the Presidents approval.
Now, however. 1t has been learned
that the real power behind the
throne is none other than Frank
II. Hitchcock, aided by the Republi-
can referees from the various Dem
ocratic States.
1t has been known in Washington
for several days that SO far as South
Carolina was concerned no appoint
ment as supervisors would be made
without the approval OF John G..
Capers and Leumas Blalock, and
that In Virginia. another rock-rib-
bed Democratic State, Congressman
Slemp and Alvah Martin would be
consulted before anything definite
would be announced as to the an
pointments.
In addition to this 1t was learn
ed that Cecil Lyon, the head of the
republican machine in Texas, has
been here for several DAYS holding
conferences with Mr.. Hitchcock and
that everything is now cut and dri-
ed for naming at least ten Repub-
lican supervisors in the Lone Star
State, which sends to Congress a
delegation of sixteen Democrats.
That at least ten of the sixteen su-
pervisors will be Republicans is
practically settled, and 1t is possible
that even greater division may be
made.
10 iSoi hcu, lOO lnaL Judge
Spencer Adams, the recognized
boss" of North Carolina Republ,-
can politics, has also been talking
over matters with Mr.. Hitchcock.
When seen and asked what would be
done in a general way regarding
these appointments, Judge Adams
knew nothing about them except
what he had heard or read in the
newspapers. and hardly knew that
there was such man as Frank
Hitchcock. But, being on to him.
1t did not take Washington corre-
spondents who haunt the postoffice
department long to figure out Just
| what his business might be here.
North Carolina has three Repub-
lican members of Congress and sew
en- Democrats. and as President Taft
has already indicated that he would
appoint more supervisors OF the lat
ter party In States like North Caro-
lima, Virginia. West Virginia and
Missouri, where there Is a maraked
| Republican tendency. it Is probable
that In the division North Carolina
| VIII get about six or seven Repub-
licans and three or four Democrats
Though Georgia has no Republi-
cans In Congress, 1t is understood
that six Republicans will be appoint
ed there, leaving room for FIVE Dem
ocrats. In Florida. Alabama and
other Southern States, where the
delegations are solidly Democratic
and there is to be a supervisor for
the Congressional district, the divi-
sion will be made equally between
the Democrats and Republicans ex-
cept that where there is an odd num-
ber OF Representatives the odd man
will be from the Republican ranks.
1t is known that nothing can be
gained by the appointment of a few
republican supervisors in any of
the Southern States, and in those
sections overwhelmingly Democratic
1T would probably be Mr.. Taft's de-
sire to give the places to the Demo-
Gratis, but for the pressure coming
from the Hitchcock machine for a
division to be made strictly along
party lines with most of the pie on
the Republican side and what may
be split to go to hungry Democrats.
These appointments are small
things within themselves, and 1t is
known that Mr.. Taft would gladly
let the Southern people have them.
but for the reasons Just given, and
just here the iniquitous work of the
ever-ready machine begins to be ap-
parent. The appointment of Repub-
lican supervisors naturally means
the appointment of at least a limit
cd number of negroes, according to
Director Durand. as enumerators,
and that is just where many South
ern people may part company with
Mr.. Taft. The appointment OF ne
: groes to Office anywhere and under
the conditions-especially in the
South-savors strongly OF carpet
bag tactics.