Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-01-20
Iowa Senator Formally
Announces His Candida
cy for Presidency.
RUNS AS PROGRESSIVE
National Meeting of Latter May
Be Held to Center Support
on One Man.


nins of Iowa, a progressive, today an
lounced his candidacy for the repub-
lean presidential nomination In a
statement in which he says that If the
republicans of Iowa believe him fit
nan to urge before the Chicago con-
Tention, he will accept their decision.
COMPLICATEs SITUATION.
The entrance of Cummins into the
presidential fight materially compli-
Gates the republican situation. Taft
now is openly opposed for the nomin-
alton by La Toilette of Wisconsin and
Cummins, both progressives, while
still other progressives are urging the
of Roosevelt.
RIOT OF SPECULATION.
An announcement from Cummins
had been expected for several days.
Coming today, in connection with a
report from Denver that Clifford Pin
chot was taking the initiative in a
for a conference of progres.
sive republicans to decide upon one
candidate to oppose Taft, it started a
riot of political speculation which
eclipsed the ordinary activities of gov
ernment.
SITUATION HAS CHANGED. -'---
Cummins' statement follows: "SC
much has been published in the news
papers and so much written and sai(
to me concerning the presidential mat
ter that feel it to be my duty to make
the republicans of Iowa a plain state
ment upon the subject. Immediatel!
upon my return from the last session
of congress l gave through the pres!
my opinion with respect to the presi
Dental Nomination. That opinion re
mains unaltered. The situation, how
ever, has materially changed, and /
now seems probable more than tw'
candidates for the nomination will b,
seriously considered by the nationa
convention.
FOR GENERAL WELFARE.
Under these conditions, if the re
publicans of Iowa believe that | am
fit man to be presented to the nationa
convention as candidate for, the pres
idential nomination, and desire to s.
present me, l will appreciate and az
cept their confidence as most CRAFTY
ing evidence to serve, as best | car
the general welfare of the people.
(Signed) ALBERT B. CUMMINS."
IOWA DELEGATION APPROVES.
The republican members of tn
Iowa congressional delegation at
meeting today approved Cummins' al
nouncement of his candidacy. Repre-
sentative Woods was reelected a men
Der of the republican congressiona
campaign committee.
LA TOILETTE To STICK.
! w. l.. Houser, manager of the I.
Toilette campaign, today said he kne,
nothing about the Denver report of
conference of progressives, and d.
clared La Toilette will remain in tn
field. La Toilette refused to commer
on the Cummins statement.
IOWA LEADERS DIVIDED.
Des Moines, Iowa, Jan. 20.-RepuJ
lican leaders here today seemed mo.
| interested in the effect of the Cummir
announcement on the Iowa polite;
situation than in a national sense
They were divided in opinion as
where Cummins can get solid deleg
tion from Iowa. Governor Carro
could not see at present that Cummin
candidacy would help the Iowa stu
ton. Secretary of State Hayward b
lieved it would unite the party.
LA TOILETTE LOSING GROUND.
Il Omaha, Neb., Jan. 20.-Vict,
Rosewater, republican committe
man from Nebraska, said today
thought Cummins would receive
good vote at the Nebraska preside
tial primaries. He is of the opinic
La Toilette is losing ground.
TO ENTER CUMMINs' STATE.
: Chicago, Jan. 20.-Plans are beir
made here for a La Toilette tr
through the Dakotas, Iowa, Nebrasl
and possibly TO the Pacific coast. tt
trip will begin early in March.
FOR PROGRESSIVE MEETING.
Denver Jan. 20.-The Republic;
here today says concerted plan is
foot to call national meeting of pr
gressiVe republicans to decide upon
choice between Roosevelt and La F,
lette as q candidate for the preside
Ial nomination, the one chosen To