The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-02-09
Campaign Managers Predict
Nomination of Taft
By a Majority of 241 at Chicago
Convention.
HEADQUARTERS ARE OPENED
Congressman w. Z. Mckinley
in Charge at Washington.
Fight VIII Be Made in the
Open, He Declares.

| Washington, Feb. 9.-President Taft
will have 7SO votes out of the total of
1,076 on the first ballot at the Chicago
convention or 241 more than the ma
jority necessary for nomination accord
ing to Representative William B. Nc
Kinley, of Illinois, secretary to the
president G. D. Hilles, and Senator
Murray Crane of Massachusetts.
The three held conference today
which was the opening of the Taft
campaign The figures were reached
after careful canvass of the country,
it was said.
Active Work Begins.
Washington, Feb. 9.-Active work
for the denomination and reelection
of President Taft aside from that done
at the White House began here today
when Representative w. B. Mckinley
Of Illinois, chairman of the Repubh-
can congressional committee, took up
his new duties as manager of the Taft
campaign. Mr.. Mckinley began work
early and planned to see many of the
party leaders now in Washington
Quarters for the Taft boomers are
not secured but within a few days Mr..
Mckinley expects to open offices.
Although Republican leaders said
today that it was too early to talk
about the plans of campaign after
the Chicago convention. many friends
if Mr.. Taft is renominated Mr.. McKin-
ley will be his choice for chairman of
the Republican national committee
Mckinley would be acceptable to all
the old line party leaders. Some of
these leaders have objected to Post
master Hitchcock and Mr.. Hilles, both
prominently mentioned for national
chairman.
Mr.. Taft's friends have advised such
a step, but no action was taken until
the pressure of political work became
so great that Secretary Hilles found It
almost insupportable.
Besides it was interfering seriously
with the regular and necessary work of
his office
The selection of Mr.. Mckinley is re-
garded as especially happy. In his ca
pacity as chairman of the Republican
congressional committee he will have
exceptional means of keeping in close
touch with political affairs throughout
the country.
Mr.. Mckinley announced his inten-
tion of holding a series of conferences
at once. He will begin today and the
remainder of the week probably will be
campaign. Mr.. Mckinley gave out a
statement concerning his appointment
and his plans. He said:
1.-The suggestion to me came as such
a surprise that I must plead for time
to think. I cannot make any predic- |
ton except that the denomination of
M. Taft is assured.
1.-THE idea is now to arrange within a
few DAYS for a central bureau from |
which the country will also be informed /
in a thorough manner as to what the |
administration has accomplished. There /
will be no attacks on other candidates !
nor intriguing: it will be an open cam
paign. Mr.. Taft will stand on the |
record of his administration and his
party.
GAS to when the HEADQUARTERS will be
esta blished. I cannot state until have |
had opportunity to confer with party |
leaders. = will begin at once"
The sudden announcement of the de- /
cision to open Headquarters here i'm
nediately and the placing of Mr. Nc
Kinley in command came as a complete /
surprise.
It was recalled however. that Mr.
Mckinley has been constant visitor
at the White House during the past
few weeks.
In the last national campaign the