The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-21

CUMMINS STEPS
OUT INTO OPEN
Makes Announcement of His
Candidacy-I.a Toilette Con-
Quoting Hot Campaign,
While Roosevelt Is Consid-
cred in Race for White
House Honors.
Especial to The Times pi.patch.7

Especial to The Times Dispatch.1
Washington. II. -. January 20
That President Taft may DO opposed
as the Republican presidential nomi-
nee by thrco candidates. each com
rnandlns a separate faction of prog
ressive Repubilcaniem. became appar-
ent tonight.
The possibility OF the heretofore
closely bound progressive movement
splitting into three branches. with
Senator La Toilette. Senator Cummins
and Theodore Roosevelt each leading
his personal cohorts in pursuit of the
presidential nomination. was discussed
widely as result of Cummins'e state
ment that he Will be a candida tc for
the presidency, Issued to-day.
There Is no way of telling now just
what effect Senator Cummins'a an
nouncememt Will have on the progress
sive campaign, sold Representative
George w. Norris. of Nebraska. prog
ressive' leader In tho House tonight.
1T may strengthen the progressive
movement. then again II may not.
When tho proSressivcs organized e.
was decided to support Senator La
Toilette for President At that time
others wero asked to lead the figtt. but
they declined. There seemed lIttls
chance OF success at that time But
now that Senator La Toilette has made
a phenomenal campaign and won un-
usual support, Indicating tho POSSIBLE.
ties of tile movement, candidates ara
cropping mp here and there with as
founding regularity"
Two Refused II.
The two men who refused to lead
the progressive movement when cad
crshtp was offered them were. 1t was
said tonight, Roosevelt and Cunmins-
The Iowa progresslves were all in
favor of Senator Cummlns's announce.
mcnt. Their attitude was expressed
by Representative Goods statement:
we believe that the progressive vote
bids fair TO he split between Senator
! La Toilette and Roosevelt. Senator
Cummins offers candidate who can
win the support of followers of both
of these and concentrate the progress
sive strength"
La Toilette supporters claimed that
Cummins's declaration would help the
: Wisconsin candidate. Cummins Will go
into the convention as the favoritc son
of Iowa. The La Toilette men say that
this will take the delegation OIL to the
the floor as progressives, and that after
complimentary vote for Cummins they
Will line up for La Toilette, thus talk
ing another State away from Taft.
La Toilette would not discuss Cum
mins's candidacy tonight. Practically
all of his supporters likewise refused
comment Walter L. Houser, chairman
Of the Wisconsin Senator's campaign
COMMITTEES. merely declared that La
Toilette was in the presidential race
10 stay. and that nothing else mat
tered.
Three Influences. 1t was said. led SEN
ator Cummins to his decision to fight
for the presidential nomination. First
OF all was the change In the situation
by the entrance of Roosevelt who ts
regarded by Cummins as n candidate,
into n fight that had previously been
limited to Taft and La Toilette
Then there We're conferences by the
Senator with Iowa Republican leaders
during the holiday recess of Congress.
which was spent by Cummins Mt his
home in Des Noines, and, last of all,
tho approval of tho Iowa delegation
In Congress-
Strong In Deadlock.
Cummins will not mako II speaking
tour nor enter upon an extensive cain
paign for delegates His friends be-
lieve that he Will not show strong
in the carly ballots at the convention,
but that he viii be the second choice
of many delegates. His opportunity,
they say, Will arrive in tho event of
deadlock.
Cummings candidacy is counte ed sis an
advantage to Kenyon In his campo Ign
for reelection for the Senate. kenyon
was pledged to Taft, but Is now re-
ported TO DO aligned with Cummins. n
condition that Will avert a factionnl
contest in Iowa.
Friends of Cummins cay Chat he was
influenced In his action in par, hv
the opinion that La Toilette could
not win tho Iowa delegates from
Taft.