The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-09
Hitchcock Promises to Do This
 for South Carolina
PLAN 10 WIN THE SOUTH
Leading Republicans Are In Washing ton to Confer With the President on Southern Affairs and Ap-
 pointments to Office.
By PATTERSON sTEALEY.

By WAT IEHSON Sl EALEr'
 Washington, March s.-(Special.)- Postmaster General Hitchcock had an ex- tended conference with the President to- day over the southern situation. lie fn- troduced Postmaster Harris of Char-es- ton, S. C., who wanted to confer with the President about the Charleston coli lectorshlp which W. D. Crum resigned A decision was reached to appoint a white man to the position though no definite selection has yet been made.
 The South Carolina republicans are not the only ones who want to know how they stand. Old-time republicans from all the southern states are in Washing ton waiting to get in word at the White House. Today President Taft shook hands with Gen. Powell Clayton and H. l.. Remmel of the Arkansas re- publican organization; H. Clay Evans of Tennessee, formerly commissioner Of pensions and others. He will have an- other conference with the Arkansas lead CTS. Tn that state there are two good jobs already waiting disposition. James K Barnes, United States attorney or the Western district of the state, died some time ago and the vacancy must soon be filed In the Eastern district the term of William G. Whpple, United States attorney has expired He nas held the office eight years and there is scramble on for the position.
 Arkansas Machine.
 General Clayton and MT. Remmel are the controlling factors in the old-time re- publican machine of Arkansas. MT. Rem mel Is United States marshal of the East ern district, while Powell Clayton, the son of the veteran leader, is assistant United States attorney and wants to go LID. The Arkansas leaders claim that their patronage distribution is the best in the country Every vacancy is passed upon by the entire republican state comms- tee This committee is to meet this month to take up the vacancies and make rec concentrations but before it does so the leaders want to know how they stand That is what they are here for.
 Taft got 10000 more votes in Arkansas last year than did MT. Mckinley eight years ago and 5000 more than Roosevelt which shows how the organization Is building up," said MT. Remmel today.
 Cecil Lyon's Work.
 Cecil Lyon national committeeman for Texas. was another southern republican who saw the President today. In his efforts to bring the southern states into the republican column President Taft Is to have the active assistance of John Hayes Hammond and Shell Smith, pres ident and secretary respectively of the national league of republican clubs, which has opened permanent headquart- CTS in Washington. During the pres idential campaign last fall the league was active in it's work for Taft. Republcan clubs were organized all over the coun- try and brought in close association wlth excellent results. This had been done in prior presidential campaigns but what was accomplished during the stress and necessity of the campaign was never 1ol- lowed up during the ensuing four years of political quiet and it was always nec- essary to reorganize the league when campaign time came around.
 In order to obviate the loss Of rorce caused by the lapses of the past the orsicers of the league of republican clubs intend to keep it going between cam- naiens hereafter Furthermore MT. liam mond and MT. Smith see that by keep ing the organization intact during the next four years they can assist ma terially in what Mir. Smith calls the political regeneration or the south'
 Mission to Perform.
 'The league" says Secretary smith. who happened to direct the operations or inc league from the Hotel Astor on Long Acre square in New York during the Taft Bryan campaign, mas mlssSn to nerform. For all practical purposes the rent,blican national committee and the various state committees go out of com mission between campaigns. The Ma tional league from it's office in washing ton and through it's representatives In the field intend to do business all the year round, keeping alive between cam paigns interest in political questions and providing an incentive for party workers to be active all the time"
 Mir Hammond, who is thought to be slated for good position in the Taft administration, will take an active part in the work of the league He financed 1t during the recent campaign and is keenly interested in the work 1t has undertaken to accomplish.
 New Tariff Bill.
 The new tariff bill which will be report ed to the House will contain no surprises. Big cuts in the schedules have been in- evitable from the start and really the only question is how far the Senate will go in giving them it's indorsement.
 A cut has been made throughout the iron schedule and steel billets. 1t is un- derstood, have been placed on the free list Duty on leather has been reduced. as has the duty on woolens and wilAlow glass. There will be a material increase in rates In the pottery schedule. espe- cially in regard to the better grades and the bill as drawn, it Is understood. will place lumber on the free list. although it is admitted that there probably will be a compromise whereby a duty of s1 per 1000 feet will be imposed on this arti- cle. Whatever compromise is effected