The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1911-07-04
TAT I MAKES H|LLES
SPECIAL ENVOY TO
CHECK INSURGENTS
Secretary Goes to Doubtful
States to Do Missionary
-. Work.
PRESIDENT WORRIED
OVER THE SITUATION
Fears Democrats and Progressives
Are Making Head
way.
By ]. FRED ESSARY.

Charles D. Hilles, the Presidents secre.
tary, has become the political mission.
airy Of the Taft Administration. He
had developed already into the CON-
promise artist of the Republican party.
Within the past week, it has just be-
come known, he has executed three i'm,
portant political missions. And this fol-
lows less than a month behind the New
England trip. when Mr.. Hilles was sent
into that once loyal territory to see If
there were not some way of bringing
that section back into line.
When the President left Washington
on Friday Mr.. Hilles went along. In
stead of continuing with the family to
Beverly, however, he quietly dropped on
the train at Wilmington. Del.
Delaware is one of those States that
has remained Republican consistently,
and was the only one in the East that
did not show a loss in votes at the
last election. Yet Delaware has begun
9 to show evidences of insurgency since
the election fraud prosecutions were
begun. These frauds seemed to involve
every Republican leader in the State,
and now threaten to deliver the d.
minutive commonwealth into the hands
of the enemy.
Goes to Jersey.
From Delaware Mr.. Hilles went to
New Jersey. OF all the Eastern States
that need retaining, or perhaps regen-
GRAFTON, from the Taft standpoint, New
Jersey stands foremost. Not only have
the Democrats taken the whole State
out of the Republican column, but that
same State is now putting forward the
one candidate for the Democratic Presi-
Dental nomination who causes the Taft
leaders to tremble.
Just what the Secretary was expect
ed to do in Jersey, has not been made
clear, but II is known that he called
conference of some of the Republican
leaders, and together they canvassed
the situation with special attention to
fits 1912 phases.
After leaving New Jersey, Mr.. Hilles,
It is known, went direct to Albany. New
York is his old stamping ground. He
lived in the State for years and came
into the Taft Administration from
there. His widest acquaintance among
politicians is in New York. At Albany,
therefore, he was at home, and at Al
bany he dio more canvassing and more
reviewing. And or Sunday night he was
again picked up by his chief as the
Presidents train passed through en-
route to Indianapolis.
This missionary work recalls the trip
made to Dublin, N. H., few weeks ago
by the Secretary. He was supposed at
that time to go to Beverly and arrange
for the removal of the Executive offices
ter of fact, he went on to Secretary
MacVeaghs summer home, where he
assembled around hima number of lead
ing politicians in New England.
Alarmed by Insurgency.
At that time the possibilities for bring
ing Massachusetts, Connecticut, and |
Maine back into the Taft fold were |
talked over, and the hope of retaining |
New Hampshire itself from insurgency |
Out Of six New England States three |
of them are now Democratic, and the |
alton which alarms the Taft people |
and the situation whffh needed Admin
istration attention.
II is known to those who observe |
White House affairs that the President |
La turning over more and more Of the
compromise work of they Administration
to his new Secretary. The Indiana pa
tronage fight was one which Mr.. Hilles
tried to untanEle, but not even that dip
person was able to satisfy ev-
erybody concerned In this mix-up.
Secretary Hilles undou btedIy has q
winning personality and this is what the
President hopes TO capitalize politically
That is why he Is sending HIS confiden-
tial man out to get a first hand look
At obviously adverse situations in the
hope of finding a course that WILL put
the party in better position for 1912.
On all his recent trips around the
country, 1.-The President has taken Mr.
Hilles While the Executive is making
the big speeches and defending the Ad-
policies. the secretary is
extending his acquaintance and getting
q grasp on local State politics.
Nobody now seems to regard Hilles
as the next national Republican chair
man, but they all understand that he
chairman, whoever may assume that
leadership.