New-York tribune., 1912-02-09
Headquarters Will Be Opened IN
Washington, with Representa-
tive William B. Mckinley
in Charge.
TO WAGE VIGOROUS FIGHT
Presidents Lincoln Day Speech
Here Expected To Be Even
More Forceful and Ear
nest than Recent Ad-
dresses in Ohio.
from Tho Tribune bureau.

President decided tO-nlSHt 10 open i"
campaign headquarters in Washington
The headquarters will be opened lmmedl-
ateIy, and will be in charge of Repre-
sentative William B. Mckinley. of III
nois. Mr.. Mckinley was also formally
reelected to-day to act as chairman OF
the Republican Congressional Campaign
Committee. which held its first meeting
this afternoon and determined to wage
vigorous campaign for the control OF the
next House.
REPRESENTATIVE Mckinley made the
following statement tonight regarding
his selection as manager Of the Jatt
headquarters:
The suggestion came 20 me as "ueh
a surprise that must plead ter time 10
think. cannot make any predictions
tonight, except to reiterate what Sec
retary Hiies has already said. that the
denomination Of the President is as
sured 1t is, however, the desire OF the
friends of the President throughout the
country to have some central place from
which they can be keSt advised as to
the details of the campaign. The idea
now is to arrange within few days tor
this central bureau. if you choose to
call it such, from which the country VIII
also be informed in thorough manner
as to what the administration has ac-
complished
There will be no attacks upon other
candidates, no intriguing, but an open
campaign. MIR. Taft will stand upon
the record of his administration and the
record Of his party.
expect to start in conferrng with
party leaders tomorrow, and will soon
thereafter be able to say where in Wash
inoton the headquarters will be opened.
The selection Of Mr.. Mckinley IS re-
earded rs especially happy. In his ca
pacity as chairman Of the Republican
Congressional Campaign Committee he
will have exceptional means of keeping
in close touch with political affairs
throughout the country.
Conferences viii Begin To-day.
Mr.. Mckinley announced his intention
.of holding a series Of conferences with
rartv leaders at once. He will begin to-
morrow morning and the remainder Of
the week will probably be devoted to
mapping out a plan of campaign.
1t was recalled tonight that Mr.. Nc
Kinley has been frequent visitor at
the White House during the last few
weeks. He has conferred with the Pres
ldent and Mr.. Hilles almost daily. on
one Of his recent visits he was asked
whether he would accept reelection as
chairman Of the Republican Congress
sional Campaign Committee.
We'll" he said, laughingly. I'm lit
tie fellow and I would have some diff
Guilty in resisting"
In the last national campaign the Con-
gressional committee Of which Mr.. Nc
Kinley, then as now. was chairman,
worked in complete harmony with the
Republican National Committee i'm ad-
vancing Mr.. Taft's political fortunes.
The work then. done by Mr.. Mckinley,
1t is believed. had much to do with his
selection to-day.
Postmaster General Hitchcock. who is
taking an active part with Secretary
HiIes in the pre-ConventiOn work for
Mr.. Taft, will be among the first with
whom Mr.. Mckinley will consult. The
Postmaster General. Mr.. Hilles and Mr..
Mckinley probably will go over the sit
uation together tomorrow and make
tentative plans for the campaign
Friends of the President have for some
time been considering the establishment
Of campaign headquarters in Washing
ton Prompted by encouraging reports
from all parts of the country, which are
to the effect that the President is stead
fly gaining in popular favor. it was de-
cided to-day that the time had arrived to
begin the active fight from Washington.
Representative Mckinley. an experienced
campaigner and a Republican thoroughly
in sympathy with the policies Of the ad-
ministration and the splendid record
made by the President, will go to work
Immediately to promote the Taft candi-
dacy.
In this task, which bears every pros
pect of hattering success, Mr.. Mckinley
will have the advice and aid of scores of
the Presidents supporters here, who are
determined from this time on to pre-
sent the claims of the President vigor-
ously, and who are confident both of the
denomination and reelection of Mr.. Taft
by an overwhelming vote.
Strong Speech Expected Here.
Fresh impetus will be given to Mr.
Tafts candidacy when the President
delivers his Lincoln Day speech in New
York ncst '.'"k. This speech, it is ex-
pected, vs.. na even more forceful and
earnest than his recent utterances in
Ohio. Lincoln Day will mark the real
opening Of the Presidents campaign.
While he is delivering a strong speech
In New York Attorney General Wick
ersham will address tho voters Of Wis
consin and other Republican speakers
will sound the call TO arms in various
sections Of the country.
1t is believed that in his Lincoln Day
address he will again throw down the
gage OF battle to the insurgents. He
VIII probably point out, as he recently
did in Columbus, that the Democratic
victory in 1910 was not the fault of
the Republican party as a party, but
OF disaffection within its own ranks.
Drawing a lesson from the career OF