The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-01-20
HITCHCOCK MAY LOOSE JOB.
TELEGRAPH OWNERSHIP INCL
DENT MAY CAUSE BREAK.
III Postmaster General Resigns, Will
Coming Campaign Find Him ON
Slide Of Insurgents?

Washington Jan. 16.--Will Frank
III. Hitchcock, who for so long has
been the right hand man of President
Taft and before him of Former Pres
ident Roosevelt. leave the cabinet as
result Of having made public his
plans regarding the control of the
telegraph lines by the government? ?
This subject has been the only live
topic Of conversation In hotel lobbies
and other places where where poll
ticians and public men met here to-
day. That he may do 80 Is the state
ment Of White House callers today,
who believe breach has been Great
ed between the postmaster general
and his chief-a breach which can
not be healed. And. IL Mr.. Hitch
cock resigns. will he be found among
the insurgents when the time comes
to nominate Republican candidate
Tor the presidency? To support this
a good many facts are being marshall
ed.
In the first place. the move Of Mr..
Hitchcock In putting out a statement
favoring the government ownership
OF telegraph lines In direct opposi-
tion to the presidents wishes is the
main thing. That this was done with
deliberation and done with the cer-
tain knowledge that the president
would repudiate 1t Is no longer ques-
toned. The very statement issued
formally at the White House late
yesterday shows that Mr.. Taft had
blue-penciled such a prop
osition. The White House is today
still insisting there Is no friction be-
tween the president and the postmas-
ter general. No such idea was con-
veyed, however. in the formal state
ment. Not word or syllable was in
corporated In that document to say
that the insubordination had been
overlooked or that any apology had
been offered by the postal official.
There are other straws that point
70 the early retirement Of Mr.. Hitch
cock. few weeks ago. for instance.
ne was turned down fatty when the
Republican r.ticrct ccr,rittec
named Harry New OF Indiana against
4 vtgorous< Hitchcock protest for
chairman OF the committee on ar
engagements FOR the national conven-
ton.
Secretary Hilles and the postmas-
ter general had clashed over this
matter and the president sustained
Hilles. New was named and Mr..
Hitchcock withdrew from political
activity In behalf OF the president.
That was not the first time Hitch
cock was turned down. In the trou-
bic over the control OF the Ala
oama patronage and the orga1ization
Of the State for the coming conven-
ton. Hilles and Hitchcock disagreed.
The administration took sides with
Hilles.
Now comes the government owner
ship incident. This was SO important
that the administration found 1t abb
soiutely necessary to say that the
president had no part in it. This
statement came after the postmaster
general had been called I'm by the
president and had devoted the better
part of two hours talking 1t over.
There will be no immediate break
In the cabinet. II this comes, as is
predicted 1t will come in a few more
weeks. 1t will come after time has
been allowed for the mater to "blow
over" But that it will come before
the convention meets in June Is the
opinion OF a good many people who
appear to know what they are talking
about.