New-York tribune., 1918-02-24
Will H. Hays to Arrive To-
morrow and Will Tackle
Problems
Political Record Able
Is Considered To Be His Own
Boss; Will Give Dinner
for w. r. Wilcox

Will II. Hays. the new chairman of
the Republican National Committee,
is due in this city tomorrow after
noon, and his present plans are to
tackle some big problems almost as soon
as he arrives. His headquarters while
in town will be at the Union League
Club. Tomorrow night he will be
host at a small dinner for former
chairmen Of the National Committee
William r. Wilcox. Charles D. Hilles.
Frank H. Hitchcock, George B. Cortel-
you, Victor Roscwater and Senator
Harry S. New. of Indiana.
Chairman Hays is planning to call
on Colonel Roosevelt at Roosevelt
Hospital on Tuesday afternoon. and
to confer also with ex-President Taft
and Charles Z. Hughes. Early in the
afternoon he will leave for Washing
ton, where he will confer with Re-
publican Senators and Congressman
and where a reception will be held for
him, probably Tuesday night. If he
can get through with his engagements
he will return 20 this city on Thursday
to conference with Republicans and
Progressives. 1t will be a sort of
"open house" affair the latter part of
the week, when he will try to see
every one who calls on business.
Will Be Own Boss
Tho Indiana snonsors of the new
chairman say that Hays will be his
own boss, and that any one else who
thinks he is going to be "the power
behind the throne" may as we'll pre-
pare for a one-man power in the chair
man. In discussing Chairman Hays
one day last week Joseph B. Healing.
of indianapolis. known as "Big Chief"
Healing in the Hoosier State, had this
to say:
"Wili H. Hays will be the real chair
man of the committee. he plays TO
favortes. He is an intense Republican,
but he will be fair and square and
treat all elements of the party win
considerations What he did in Indiana
he will do in the United States. The
contest of 1912 split the Republican
party wide open in Indiana, ard the
future looked dark. Hays was elected
chairman of the state committee In
1914, and he had ahead of him a tre-
mendous task. There were three tickets
in the field and three candidates TOR
United States Senator, B. f. Shlvely,
Democrat; Albert Beveridge, Progress
sive, and Hugh r. Miller, Republican;
Shively was elected, Miller ran second
and Beveridge third. Hays managed
the Republican campaign so we'll that
the Republicans took heart.
Brought Parties Together
"Hays was reelected state chairman
in 1916, and Immediately began TO get
the Republicans and Progressives to-
gether, recognizing the Progreslves ir
the selection of working committees
lie got nearly all the Progressives back
into the Republican fold. The remnant
was financed By the Democrats.
"He succeeded so we'll in 1915 that
James P Goodrich was elected Gov
crnor and Harry S. New and James E.
Watson Senators, the electoral vote was
given to Hughes and the entire Repub-
lican state ticket was elected. 1t was
an extraordinary victory, compared
with what the Republicans were able
to do in other states. The party lead
crs made no mistake at st. Louis when
they chose Mr.. Hays chairman of the
national committee He will be the
chairman"