The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-06-17
LA TOILETTE OUT
FOR PRESIDENCY
Formal Announcement Will
Come in a Few Days from
Wisconsin Senator
FRIENDS NOW CLAIM
THIRD OF DELEGATES
Progressive Leader viii Go
Before the Country on His
Record as a Soldier of
the Common Good

WASHINGTON, June l7.-Senator
Robert NJ. Lafo!.ette is candidate
1cr tn Repuhiioan nom 1at'on fer
president. This statement was made
to-day wfa mis- knowledge ana con
sent. His friends announced that he
is in the iisld. prepared - battle TO
The end with the intrenched arm,
II Presid sat Taft
Claiming that they o-e already as
s'lred Of ore-third OF the delega 'es in
the RepHbii, an convention, they de-
with the cry, LaFollette and ii
chance TO win. or Taft and sure de-
featt'
Without money, without the organ
ization characteristic of machine poii-
tics, without q legion or office no lders
ar the far@reaching influence OF the
interests" Latollettes friends say,
but on progressive platform In
the light of his achievements in Wis
consln and the record OF seven years
IN the senate. he Will appeal 70 en-
iightened public opinion"
win Issue Statement Rate-.
LaFollette viii defer the Issuing Of
formal announcement until the
campaign is mere fully developed and
voters begin To give more serious at
tention to their choice among the can
didates for White House honora.
When he come to the front, II Is
said, he viii issue statement caIcu+
lated to giye men a clear understand
Ing. from his standpoint, or the is
sues and the advlaa bilty Of timing mp
with the forward movement Of The
progressives. He VIII tell Of his long
tight TO free Wisconsin from the con
tinued exploitation OF corporations
and holders of special privileges and
may quote Roosevelt vhn said. after
q recent visit Ia the Northwestern
Commonwealth, cit Is a model State. >"
His record of seven years In the sen
ate viii hc reviewed.
In the convention the progressIVes
viii undertake TO make a dern0nstra~
item. they say, that viii impress the
nlass IF delegates with realization
that President Taft is not the popular
chcice af the Republican voters fer
denomination. THE IaFotlrtie mcn
contend that tie TAFT support VIII be
based largely on Southern off}cehold-
erS. who will elect themselves dele
gates under the guidance nf the post
master General. ana delegates in rock
ribbed Republican States whore few
leaders give controlling advice SIS to
the personality Of delegations.
Want Direct Vote For Delegates.
In contrast 10 these delegates the
l.aFollete leaders plan To have "A con
siderable group If GeIegatos chosen
by tho votes IL the rank and fls Of
the party and directly instructed
against voting for the denomination
IT the president. Five States haze
placed In effect a plan whereby the
members OF a party may by their
votes, at a primary election. indicate
their choice for president and vice
president. They are Oregon. Wlscon-
sin. Nebraska, New Jersey and North
Dakota. It is expected that similar
laws viii be passed before the time
arrives for the election Of delegates
TO next year $ convention, and that,
in the absence Of such laws, the Rs
publican voters In many districts may
voluntarily make use OF the plan.
With a strong percentage Of suca
delegates. the La Toilette men declare
n majority Of the convention could
he won from the support OF the presi~
dent. '.'he estimate that i4aFolette
viii enter the convention with the
solid delegation from Wisconsin and a
sufficient mum Der of supporters from
other States to give him oue-third of
the delegates. They put California.
Oregon. Washington and Kansas in
the LaFollette column.