Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-11-29
HIRAM JOHNSON'S
PICK Of MANAGER
|NSURES 4 BATTLE
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
ueased Wire Service to The Journal
(ConVripht 1902

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2S.-Selec-
ton of Frank FL. Hitchcock to man
age the campaign of Senator Hiram
Johnson for the Republican nonlina-
ton for the presidency is the politi-
cal sensation of the hour.
Mr.. Hitchcock is known as the
most astute broker in delegates in
the recent history of American poll
tics. The mere announcement of
his connection with a campaign
means notice to other campaign man
ayers that there will be a fight.
And a fight by the Hitchcock tactics
Is something which usually results
in a nucleus of first choices and
some understanding as to second
choices when the delegates are as
sembled, a political giveand- take
system that IS practiced in both the
Republican ard Democratic parties
from time to time. but a system at
which Mr.. Hitchcock usually has
been able to excel.
{. Bascom Slemp, private secre-
tary to President Coolidge, knows
the political game from the ground
up, and the forthcoming duel e.
tween him and Mr.. Hitchcock will
be worth watching. if indeed it be-
comes visible to the naked eye.
Widely Experienced
Mr.. Hitchcock has had all sorts of
experience. lie mana ged the Roose-
welt campaign in 1904, and then the
Taft campaign in 1908. He stayed
out of the 1912 fight. but reappeared
in 1916. He visited Charles Evans
Hughes when the latter was on the
supreme court bench, but received
not the slightest authority to go out
and collect delegates. But he did so
on his own responsibility and came
to the Chicago convention with
nucleus of delegates for Hughes. He
took a prominent part in the cam.
paign afterWard, being in charge of
the western headquarters. In 1920
he wasn't an active figure, but when
the johnson managers this year look
ed around for a political manag ger
whose name would mean something
to prospective delegates they select
ed Frank Hitchcock. Rumor has it
that they tried to get John Il. King,
or Connecticut, and also Will Hays,
but that neither would accept.
Nh. Hitchcock has a way of bring
ing contesting delegations to the
conventions. His main source of
strength is in the south, though ne
has many friends in different parts
of the country, friends who nave
worked with him from the days
when he dispensed Offices in the
postoffice department over which he
presided.
Knows Local Politicians
He knows many former federal
officeholders, those who would like
to have the jobs held by others and
who are taking an active part in
local politics. He knows how to
play on the strings of local fractional
discomfort and make tha most Of his
opportunities
The only question which arises is
how much Mr.. Hitchcock can do in
the south where there are today
fewer delegates than before due to
the reapportionment. In South Caro-.
lima, Georgia and Mississippi, for
instance, there are only about seven
teen delegates in all as contrasted
with ffty-one in the good old
days.
Similarly, the presidential primary
has entered into the situation in many
states and the pledging of delegates
to go against Il primary verdict is
not easy unless the men who run
for delegates are not handpicked.
Generally speaking. the regular Re-
publican organizations will be for
President Coolidge and they will see
to- it that delegates are chosen who
will stick to the instruction of the
primaries or state conventions. Some
delegations will be persuaded, no
doubt. to switch at the psychological
moment, but the game now is to
pick the right kind of delegates and
make sure of their allegiance.
White House Advantage
Mr.. Hitchcock has the promises of
the past and methods of persuasion
that have been effective in the past.
The White House strategists have
jobs ready to give. Witness, for
instance, the situation in South
Carolina, where dissatisfied Republi-
can leaders who naturally control
delegations have recently been salts
fed by the graceful disposition of
the right kind of patronage. No
trouble is anticipated there in hold
ing the delegates for Coolidge. The
situation in Georgia is in process OF
being ironed out.
AS for the west, particularly South
Dakota, it turns out that the recent
primaries do not mean so much
after all as some of the statutes
have been repealed on which it was
thought the delegates would have
to so instructed by the primary YER
dict. They can go uninstructed.
This means they can all keep an
anchor to windward and tack to the
Coolidge side if it looks as if the
president has pledged enough dele.
gates to insure his nomination.
The campaign has begun. Frank
Hitchcock's entry into the lists
means that the competition for dele
gates will be keen and what the
politicians are wont to describe as
"a rough and tumble fight with
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