Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-05-15
MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATED
PRESS.
Is,
FRANK II. HITCHCOCK.

Frank H.. Hitchcock is in New Mex
leo TO make a cursory survey for
symptoms of oil and to take look
at his mining properties in Socorro
county. He developed oil in Wyom-
ing. and believes New Mexico may be-
come a great oil-producing field. But
that is a matter which can be settled
only By the drill.
Mr.. Hitchcock is only fifty years
old, but he has had otable'career.
Graduate of Harvard university, he
started out to become a lawyer. and
in fitting himself for that profession
he took all the degrees for work that
the colleges confer. But he side
tracked the law in order to manage
the campaign of William Howard Taft
for the republican nomination for
president. Roosevelt selected him for
that work. as the most talented
young man" of his acquaintance.
Hitchcock made a thorough job of it,
As republican national chairman he
put Taft across by the largest popular
majority that ever had been cast for
any candidate Also he introduced new
methods of managing a campaign.
The old-time politicians were aghast
at his elaborate system of card-indeX-
ing voters. Also when they called for
cash for their various states, they
were advised that money, as used In
the Mark Hanna campaigns, was
thing of the past. The republican
campaign would be won by argu-
ment, by sentiment and by organiza
ton down to the precincts to get out
the votes, or it would be lost. Ger
tainly it would not be bought.
The old-school politicians threat
ened revolt. Such campaign was some
thing unheard of before, and there
We're predictions of disaster. Not
few of them hoped there would be
disaster. But there wasn't.
Hitchcock entered Taft's cabinet as
postmaster general There he brought
10 bear the same efficiency of organ
ization that had characterized his con-
duct of the pre-convention and pre-
election campaigns. He made the
postoffice pay. and more. A thing
that never had been done before and
has not been done since.
But Hitchcock could not guide Taft
politically. He opposed the appoint
Inent of Ballinger to the secretaryship
of the interior. and wanted Taft to
csll for Ballinser's resignation before
the charges of mismanag cement be-
came public.
Roosevelt came back from Africa
and tried TO induce Hitchcock to re-
sign and join him in his fight on Taft's
denomination. Hitchcock not only re-
fused to oppose Taft's renomonation.
but told Colonel Roosevelt frankly
that part of his reform program was
impossible, strongly intimating that
the proposal to referendum supreme
court decisions involving constitutions
al questions sayored of insanity
But Roosevelt and Hitchcock re-
manned the best of friends to the day
OF the colonel's death. Also the
friendship between Taft and Hitch
cock has been of the warmest at all
times
After his retirement from the cabi-
net in 1918, Mr.. Hitchcock gave close
attention to business until 1916. when
he took charge of the convention
campaign for the nomination of
Charles +. Hughes. Although Hughes
would not say that he would accept
the nomination, a great handicap in
the campaign, he was easily nomi-
mated when the convention met.
Hitchcock declined to become ma
tional chairman again. Few doubt
that there would have been differ
ent story to tell now if he had ac-
cepted the position; for if there ever
was campaign that was grossly mis-
managed from the beginning to the
end. it was that of Hughes for the
election to the presidency.
If we may believe the statements
of Colonel House to the newspaper
men I'm Paris. Mr.. Hitchcock's abilities
never were better displayed than re-
Gently in London and Paris as a pri-
waite citizen where he cleared away
the objections of the British and the
French delegations to recognition of
the Monroe doctrine. at time it had |
been given up by the president as lost. |
For his services President Wilson
sent for Mr.. Hitchcock and thanked !
him personally.
Frank III. Hitchcock has always
been a friend of New Mexico. He has
large financia! interests In the state,