Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-01-16
HITCHCOCK SEEKING
RELEASE FROM TAFT
TO JOIN ROOSEVELT?
His Early Retirement Expected
Following Recommendation
for Federal Control of TeIe-
graph Lines
~ RAxxK sMrTH.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-THE retire
ment OF Postmaster General Frank u.
Hitchcock from President Tafts cabinet
Is expected to eventuate In the near fu-
ture. as result OF Mr.. Hitchcocl's ac-
tion In recommending to congress the
requirement by the government Of the
telegraph companies. The postmaster
general is believed to have acted indie
pendently OF the president and his action
is regarded as unprecedented. It Is CON
ndently believed that the president
may ask for the resignation OF his post
master general. whose service In the
cabinet has been marked by q demorah-
cation Of the postal department and a
source OF much worry to Mr.. Taft
The relations between President Taft
and Postmaster General Hitchcock have
been strained for some months. and IL
is suggested that perhaps Mr. Hitchcock
himself might have purposely precipl-
tated an open breach that would pave
the way for his withdrawal from the
cabinet. According to the report he il
In close touch with George W. Perkins.
who is directing, the campaign for the
nomination OF Col Theodore Roosevelt
by the Republican convention, and it
may be that Mr.. Hitchcock. IL he quits
the cabinet. VIII associate himself with
his friend in this effort An open break
between President Taft and Mr. Hitch
cock would certainly furnish tina latter
with ample reason Tor allgnina himself
with the Roosevelt movement
The belief that Postmaster General
Hitchcock made his recommendation FOR
F.s4r - -.
panies without consulting or advising
with the president has overslad0wed
completely the revolutionary character Of
the recommendations itself.
Concerning the recommendation. how
ever, 1t appears that Mr.. Hitchcock
rather thinks that he is the Christopher
Columbus both Of the idea and the dis
covery that congress has the right to
acquire the ownership and absolute con-
troll of the wire companies. This idea
has subjected Mr.. Hitchcock to some
ridicule OF cingressmen. Far from being
the originator OF the idea or the dis
coverer OF the law, Mr. Hitchcock Is
years behind IN both respects. as the
Congressional Record indicates. But the
recommendation that the government
ridicule Of congressman. Ear from being
panies has met with small encourages
ment among members OF congrssss.
GETS LITTLE sUPPORF
Mr.. Hitchcock's recommendation has
been characterized as chimericaI and abb
surd by many members OF both houses.
1t Is certain that 1t win receive unfavor-
able consideration at the hands Of con-
gress. II, indeed, any attention Is given
it. It would cost the government be-
tween three hundred and Ave hundred
million dollars to acquire the companies
and their operation by the government
would. II is conceded. give to the con-
trolling party a powerful political ma
chine that would make its position abso-
lutely secure.
Political developments Of national impor-
lance may follow close upon the an
nouncement made by Postmaster Gen
eral Hitchcock that he viii shortly rec
ommend that congress legislate for the
acquisition and ownership Of all telegraph
lines. He would have them Operated by
the postofhce department Thot the post
master general should have chosen this
to publish his views on this important
subject before communicating them eth
eer to congress or the president officially
is a matter Of general surprise.
TAFT NOT CONSULTED.
Senators and representatives, when
they first learned today of the ostrnaster
generals new policy. inquired If Presi-
dent aft has embarked on a policy OF
I
secretary to the president was called up
last night and declared It was the first
he had heard OF any such proposal. Later
he asked for details as 10 how the state
ment was given out. Tt was evident the
White House had not been advised with
for, with few exceptions. the postmaster
generals plan is condemned by senators
and representatives. Some Of them insist
II was not proposed In good faith, but
merely to divert attention from parcels
post and side track that prom'-ing meas
ure.
But most interesting is the considered
ton given here TO the possible effect on
Hitchcocks official and political future
He has been under suspicion for some
time Of getting in readiness to get from
under the Taft administration, possibly
to cast his fortunes with the Roosevelt
movement. The question today IS:
els Hitchcock deliberately seeking to
break with President Taft?"
II the postmaster general has planned
to ally himself with the Roosevelt move
ment very necessary preliminary would
be to get out of the Taft cabinet.
For year the postmaster general has.
been out Of political tune with his chief
The political arrangement dates from
the appointment Of Charles HilIes as sec
rotary to the president He and Mr..
Hitchcock do not agree politically. He
peatedly they have FLASHED in politics
and each time Secretary Hiiles has been
upheld. The last encounter was at the
meeting of the Republican national conn
mittee, when Hitchcock opposed the APP
pointment of Harry New as chairman OF
the committee on arrangement and was
turned down by the president.
A semi-oficiaI statement ! from the
White House this morning confirms the
belief that Postmaster General Hitchcock
acted without the knowledge OF approval
of the president in his recommendation
that the government required the owner
ship and control of the telegraph com
panies.