New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-07
FIGHT OVER PATRONAGE
Hitchcock and HiIles Said To Be
Interested in Alabama Affairs.
PRESIDENT TAFT TO DECIDE
Secretary Accused Of Acting as
Head of Political News Bureau
Which Suppresses Facts.

Washington. July 6--Most Of the promi-
nent federal oficeholders of the State Of
Alabama invaded the White House to-day
| and laid before President Taft such tale
/ Of Republican factional woe that politicians
in the pitsl promptly affected 70 see the
beginning II lively fight between Post
master General Frank II. Hitchcock and
| G D Hilles. the Presidents secretary, the
two leading political advisers of the ad-
n1nistration
According to the Alabamians Mr.. Hitch
! cock Is behind the candidacy Of ?. NJ.
Long for Republican State Chairman.
Long has the hacking also OF =. n Barker,
Republican national committeeman and
postmaster at Mobile. acknowledged
/ friend Of the Postmaster General Mr..
Hilles is said 10 be supporting the candi-
dacv Of J. O Thompson. Collector Of In
ternal Revenue for Alabama and for
many years Republican state chairman
President Taft told the delegation that
he expected TO settle the question to-mor-
row. II is understood that for purposes
Of distributing patronage the state VIII be
divided into two sections, one 10 be con
troled by each faction
Both Mr. Hitchcock and Mr. Hilles to-
dsv denied that there had been any trouble
/ between them over the Alabama situation.
Mr. Hitchcock reiterated the statement
that he Is out OF politics for good. and
Mr. Hnles declared he had had no fight
With any one about appointments in that
! state.
Politicians here are interested, however
as 70 how the state craftsmanship Will be
settled. The President may take no hand
in the fight over the chairmanship, but II
lis acknowledged that Republicans In the
state are entitled 10 know who is who
! In Washington when it comes to conducting
the next Presidential campaign. Mr.. Hilles
has taken a strong interest in political
affairs ever since he assumed office. last
April. and to-day's developments were not
unexpected. An open clash between the
! Cabinet member and the Presidents sec
rotary is not regarded as imminent
Charges that Secretary Hilles IS acting
as the head Of a political news bureau"
which "suppresses truth and issues "un-
grounded and false" reports as TO senti-
ment concerning Presidential candidates.
we're made to-day in a letter by Repre-
sentative Norris, Of Nebraska, insurgent
leader IN the House. addressed 10 the Ne
braska Progressive Republican League.
Representative Norris charged that the
Suppressed" facts relate TO sentiment IA
voring the candidacy OF Senator La Fol
lette for the Presidency.
His letter was in answer n kilograms
from the Nebraska progressives declaring
their reputation OF Frank A. ShotWeH'
who they said, had represented himself as
an agent Of the league and as such hao
given out several statements faVoring the
| denomination OF President Taft Mr.. NOT
ris charged that the progressives had Deeh
wronged by a conspiracy Of great news
papers" in suppressing news relating 10
the progressive movement After ieIeIIi ms
"a q series Of articles printed MI Noi''S
letter closed as follows:
These various articles have ear tnd n n
maj strongly indicate they originates .h 1
| the White House. ] do not thbh , dMto,atad
! president himself wrote them Oh IA a 80
| tbem and / do not know that Ile III mn
| knowledge OF them, but II is seneIaa from
! derstood that the Information am nDyitbout
| MS priyate secretary, and Amos CON
| eYcention these Objectionable aiucie ssa rilv
| tain items Of information that nc closely
! r1ust have come from some on
| connected with the White fouhe' .ha+ In.
| I arr reluctantly led 10 bene.G hesd nj
| oresident's private secretary il ti.u aLing a
! - noiitical news bureau that is iIia ennti.
| deiermined effort 10 suppress o. Senator
| mont i'm favor Of the candidacy "a tic am
Ia Toilette and to do TINS pyy;oation Of
| prfssion Of truth and the
ungrounded and false reports