Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-11-06
RUMOR PUTS HAYS
in HARDING CABINET
Organizing Ability Qualities
Him for Postmaster
GeneraIship.

republican politicians and states
men are speculating as to what of
nc1al part Will H. Hays will play in
the new administration. assuming
naturally that the executive ability
ne displayed in the management of
.ne campaign will be utilized in some
nigh administrative office. Mr.. HAYS
himself is understood to be giving
the subject no thought. but. according
10 close friends, has expressed his
deSlre to return to the practice of law
Ohe report, current in political cir
cies, is that he may be asked to take
tne postmaster generalship, and apply
his genius for organization to build
ing up the disorganized postal sery-
|dce.
While Mr.. Hays has not escaped
antagonizing some men holding high
pIace IN the party. and who will be
expected to oppose his recognition, all
other republicans who have been as
sociated or familiar with the conduct
OF the campaign agree that Mr. HAYS,
as chairman of the national commit
zee, created an organization for the
mas never been approached for effec-
tiveness.
Talented m an Organizer.
He is credited with a native talent
ior organization. an apparently limit
less capacity for work, and, though of
slight physique, he has untirine
energy. will Hays knows more re-
puoiicans, from Maine to California,
by their first name than any living
man., some one remarked recently
since February, 1918. he has devoted
MS entire time to building up the
existing organization of the repub-
llcan party. which contributed in such
vember 2. II the organization did not
make the landslide. it undoubtedly
facilitated its movement, and acceler.
ated its volume and force.
When the republican national COM
mittee met in St. Louis in February.
1918, to choose q successor to Chair
man Wilcox, who had resigned. two
anoidates were put forward for the
chairmanship-John T. Adams Of
Iowa and Will n. Hays of Indiana. 1t
was q difficult choice between two ad-
mittedly available candidates, but the
committee decided upon Mr.. Hays.
while Mr.. Adams was made vice chair
man
Chairman Hays first announcement
was that he would Immediately set
out to reconcile the progressive and
old guard factions Of the party, who
even at that late day after the debacle
Of 1912 were glaring and growing at
each other.
.OAasC0 HNcpUD1hC3m t'0ftys
He worked indefatigably and sue
cessfully at this task. It was a long,
uphill pull to get the factions to-
gether. He travelled the country over,
talking personally with leaders of
both elements. listening to their Kriev-
ances and in the end winning them to
his plan for reunion by the obvious
argument that without a united party
in 1920 the country would inevitably
face another four years of democratic
rule.
That suggestion was more shocking
to each side than even their own
abiding sense of injustice to or De-
trayal of their interests by the other
side. They gulped down their resent
ment and shook hands. The voting
showed that they Carried through" on
election day.
Assured of a united party, Chair
man Hays next started in upon his
plans of building up a party organ
ization. Having more time at his dis
posai than Mark Hanna in 1896, he
perfected party machine which is
regarded as the most complete ever
organized.
Mr.. Hays was born in Sullivan. Ind.
IN 1879. He began his political career
before he was twenty-one. and began
tnen as an organizer. He was pre-
cinct captain in Sullivan. This is a
thriving town about forty miles south
of Terre Haute. His father was a
lawyer, with practice extending out
side the state. The Hays boys were
educated to succeed to the practice.
After Will Hays was graduated from
Wabash College, at Charlottesville, a
Presbyterian institution. he went into
the law Office and Immediately inter-
ested himself in politics.
In 1904 he was a member Of the re-
publican state advisory committee
and in 1906 and 1908 was on the state
committee. assisting in organization.
He came into national prominence
! in 1916. when he was made chairman
of the state committee, and promised
the delivery of Indiana to Hughes. He
delivered according to his guarantee
! The vote was close and the state was
won. admittedly. through organi-
zation.