Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-07
END ALABAMA ROW
Republican Leaders Agree to
Hold State Convention.
TAFT CONSENTS TO PLAN
Whichever Faction Wins Will Get
Official Recognition.
HITCHCOCK HOLDING ALOOF
Postmaster General Has No Wish to
Mix in Political Squabbles
in Any State.
HITCHCOCK HOLDING AL00F

i
| and relieve the administration of the ne
cessity of recognizing either OF the con
tending elements.
Under written agreement reached al
the White House today. a convention of
| the republican party of the state is TO be
called August y. at which one faction or
the other will win and the organization
| then brought about will be recognized
by the administration. J. Q. Thompson
is to resign as republican state chairman
and Maj =. ID. Barker is to resign as
national comitteeman.
The state convention will elect the sue
cessors of each and name a new state
committee Which j. TO control matters
until tho state convention next year to
| elect delegates to the republican national
convention Tie present republican state
committee IS to meet within q week and
make all arrangements FOR the special
state convention August 81.
Meet at White House.
The Alabama leaders and their seconds
assembled at the White House early this
morning. but tie President could not see
hem until after II O'Clock j. o. Tnomp-
son and ". J.. Hutchins represented the
Thomr son faction. Mr.. Thompson being
the present state chairman Mai Barker
and Oliver street represented the Barker
Long faction. Mai Barker being the
(
NJ Long the candidate against Mr..
thompson for state cilarn,&..
President Taft had suggested yestcr-
day that the patronage 81 the state he
divided equally under written agreement
and the matter Of state chairman de-
ferred until next year. But both factions
We're game. They wanted the question
! OF recognition and strength in the state
settled without further delay. They were
both willing to submit their differences to
| the party and Let the losers stand aside
i IN the future. This plan, they said.
would clear the atmosphere as to
| leave no fractional night next Year when
| the election Of Taft delegates comes up
/ tho President was willing that the big
| fight should he pulled of now, if neces-
| sary. and that was the agreement
reached. If Mr.. Thompson wins he will
i continue state chairman and Mai
Barker will he put ont Of the job as ma
tional committeeman. If Thompson
| loses Barker VIII continue as national
committeeman and +. NJ. Long will be
state chairman
The fght-it-out- convention plan
was accepta BILE to President Taft being
| in line with the method adopted by the
| North Carolina republicans last fall in
| settling their fractional differences. There
! were two factions in that state and Pres
| dent Taft would not recognize either.
| He suggested that state convention be
| held. at which recognized leaders should
| be elected. This was dom and there
1
! i'll North Carolina.
Hitchcock Not in Politics.
| Postmaster General Hitchcock has let
his friends know that he regrets the talk
| of any differences be, ween himself and
Mr. Hiles as to political engagement
! for the administration, saying that 1t IS
| impossible for him to fall out with any
| body or over anybody in view of his pur-
pose, announced more than d year ago,
and adhered 10 far possible, to
retire from political activity. 1t is abso-
| lutely impossible for him TO cut loose
| from all political connections in a mo-
| ment, Mr.. Hitchcock has said, but as
| fast as possible he is cutting the wires
behind him. his aim being to give
business administration to the postal af
fairs Of the country, ard TO disassaciate
his name and the business of his depart
ment from the idea of politics.
Mr.. Hitchcock has let it be known, with
emphasis, that he never intends to man
age another campaign and that his great
est wish is to be let alone political
questions. While it is true that he is
compelled to name postmasters in south
ern states, he has been try ing to do so
from a business point of view. as far as
possible. and wishes to get away from
republican factions. Under no crcum-
| stances. Mr.. Hitchcock has stated, will he
take part in these fractional fights or
recognize one faction at the expense of
another.
For Taft's denomination.
1t is known that Mr.. Hitchcock would
make public announcement of his retire
ment from politics but for the fact that it
might be misinterpreted and construed
to the injury of the President for whom
Mr.. Hitchcock has the highest personal
esteem. Mr. Hitchcock has thousands Of