Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-23
HAS JUST BEEN AROUSED
TO IMPORT OF STORIES
May Be Forced Into Game, to Vim.
dicate His Position.
SAYS MISSOURI IS FOR TAFT
Representative Bartholdt Refuses to
Take Seriously the Boom for
Roosevelt-Taft Must Fight
for California.

81 am for Taft strong a man
can be. and 7 did not realize until q
day or two agO how far these stories
nbOut my alleged differences with the
President were going. I shall probably >
have something to say ON the subject
This was the frank and positive state
ment of Postmaster General Hitchcock to-
day as he entered the cabinet meeting at
the White House. Mr.. Hitchcock, gener-
ally averse to newspaper notoriety and to
interviews for publication. had said moth
ing up to this time about the many stories
this morning is generally considered as
settling all further gossip.
Mr.. Hitchcock is understood to be thor
oughly aroused over the stories, which
have had the effect of tempting him to
get into the game in an active manner in
behalf of President Taft. Mr.. Hitchcock,
in pursuance of plan formed two years
ago and announced to the President and
other friends then. did not want to play
politics any more. He had had enough
of the game and was willing that some
body else should take his place. Follow
ing that idea, he has during the last few
sible. although compelled at times to give
advice to strong friends who have asked
for his views and wishes.
Resentful of Stories.
In all these cases Mr.. Hitchcock has
declared that he wishes his friends to
stand true to Taft. The hint is pretty
strong that Mr.. Hitchcock is beginning
TO feel that the enemies of President
Taft are going to force the Postmaster
General to an active participation in the
game-at least active enough to see that
his followers line up openly and force
fully for the President
After the cabinet meeting. when in
auiries were made Of Postmaster General
been going the rounds about him and his
relations to President Taft, he merely
added this toswhat he had already said:
1T Is an insult to me for any friend
of mine to presume that have ever been
anything but loyal to President Taft. l
dislike to say even this much. because
no friends OF mine ought for one minute
TO believe any of the stories that have
been printed
Rooseve1t's st. Louis Boom.
Representative Bartholdt Of ST. Louis
spent some time at the White House to-
day. Referring to the action of the st.
LOUIS ISpuOHSdH City cOululittcc III COui-
ing out for Roosevelt. Mr. Bartholdt said
The work of the committee, in its un-
authorized use of Roosevelts name, does
not meet with the approval of the SUBJ
stantial republicans of st. Louis or of
Missouri. 1t looks to be a game on the
part of a certain man to lift himself into
the saddle again. and the only way he
can do IL is by attaching himself to
Roosevelt's coat tails
There is no doubt now that Missouri
will send a practically unanimous dele
cation to Chicago for Presiden. Taft, and
l am inclined to think IL will be solid
for him.
The man Mr. Bartholdt referred to is
Jeptha ID. Howe. formerly chairman of
the republican city committee of ST.
Louis. and seeking to again jump into
power.
George A. Knight. republican national
committeeman from California, saw the
President today. Mr.. Knight declared
fight in that state. owing to the influence
of Gov. Johnson for La Toilette they are
convinced they will be able to carry the
state for the President. We must get
to work to win." said Mr.. Knight.
DIR. j. r. Wilder of this city who is a
candidate for delegate from the District
10 the national convention. was at the
White House today. Il am strongly for
said DIR. Wilder. Il will stand by him
to the end. il that is necessary. He has
been a warm and valuable friend Of the
people of the District. and the colored
man never had a better friend in the
White House.
The Lincoln memorial commission, al
it's meeting at the White House yeSter-
day afternoon made no progress toward
the selection of site The President
will call another meeting of the commits
sion after his return from Ohio the last
Of this month, and the question of site
will again be taken up.
The Revenue Cutter Service.
The recommendation Of President Tafts 8
ecnnomy and efficiency commission that