The Washington times., 1911-01-23
President Wants Help In
Getting denomination
and Reelection.
HILLES is OFFERED
c. D. NORTON'S PLACE
Friends Say Present Treasury Of
fetal Could Assist In Politi-
cal Moves.

In the new Secretary to the Presi-
dent, the Administration hopes to have
a man who will be we'll qualified to
take a leading part in the movement
to renominate and re-elect Mr.. Taft.
Assistant Secretary of the Treas
ury Charles d. Hilles. to whom the
appointment has been offered, and
who is considering 1t, is well quail
fed to play an important political
part. He has displayed a capacity for
politics and is on good terms with
most of the Republican leaders in
Congress. Should Mr.. Hilles not take
the post. some other capable poll
tician will be secured if possible.
The shift in secretaries in the White
House has served to call attention to
the situation in which the Presiden-
tial campaign preliminaries stand. For
some weeks. there has been much ac-
tivity of one kind and another on the
part OF the friends of Mr.. Taft in the
effort to make his denomination GER
tain.
1t is the general feeling among Re-
publicans in Congress that Mr.. Taft is
sure of denomination. One of the
latest things to contribute to his re-
nomination is the outcome of the con-
test over the State craftsmanship in
New York.
Barnes to Support Taft.
William Barnes. jr. as State chair
man. will support the denomination of
Mr.. Taft and Colonel Roosevelt will
neither be in position to fight against
giving Mr.. Taft the New York delega-
ton nor will he seek to oppose it,
from all the. indications now.
New York; Republican politicians
bring to Washington assurance that
the Republican outlook in the State
has been much improved since cleo
ton by the numerous evidences that
Tammany is going to be completely
in the saddle at Albany.
Developments in recent weeks have all
tended to strengthen the impression
that became strong here about the holi-
days that Mr.. Taft is almost sure to get
the delegations from the East, the
South, and the Rocky Mountain States,
and that with these he will have a
majority IN the next national conven-
ton.
No great stir has been made in the
effort to surround delegates, or assur-
ances that will materialize I'm delegates,
for Mr., Taft But the gossip prevails
about the Capitol that much is being
done under the surface.
- q Hitchcock Busy.
Postmaster General Hitchcock is cred
Nted with much activity in this direc-
ton. If the reports current be true, his
activities are by no means confined to
the South.
Opposition to President Taft's renomi-
nation has proceeded to some extent
from some regulars, who think he will
not be able to lead a united and re-
organized Republican party in 1912, and
thus go down to defeat. To some ex-
tent, it has come from progressives.
Senator La Toilette is generally
looked upon as a candidate, but unless
the plans Of Mr.. Taft's friends should
break down completely, Senator La
Toilette could not get a majority of
the delegates, nor could any other in
surgent.
Much more worry over the election
than over the nomination is manifested
by Administration supporters. They are
hoping the Democrats will nominate
Governor Harmon, of Ohio. for the rea-
son that they believe if this is done the
Republican insurgents will refuse to
support Harmon and will support Mr..
Taft in preference.
Some insurgents who discuss the pO-
litical outlook say frankly that if the
Republicans nominate Mr.. Taft and the
Democrats Governor Harmon, they will
be at a loss where TO turn. They talk
about the possibility of a third party
movement.