Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-01-23
Senator Announces His Can
didacy for Nomination at
Chicago; Statement Given
Out in Washington Today
If IOWA BELIEVES ~.
HIM FIT, HE'S WILLING
Says He Was Influenced by
Change in Situation That
Presaged More Than Two
Candidates in Convention.

Washington, D. c., jan. 2o.-sen
ator Albert B. Cummins of Iowa, pro
gressive republican, today announced
his candidacy for the republican
presidential nomination, in a state
ment in which he says that if the re-
publicans of Iowa believe him a fit
man to urge before the Chicago con.
vention he will accept their decision.
The entrance of Mr.. Cummins into
the presidential fight materially com.
plicates the republican situation
President Taft now is openly opposed
for the nomination by Senators La
Toilette of Wisconsin and Cummins,
both progressives, while still other
lprogressives are urging the nomination
Of Col. Theodore Roosevelt
This announcement by Senator Cum
Minis has been expected for several
days. Coming today in connection
with the report from Denver that Gift
ford Pinchot was taking the initiative
in movement for Conference of
progressive republicans to decide on
one candidate to oppose President
Taft it started riot of political specu-
lation which eclipsed the ordinary &C.
tivities of the government
Senator Cummins' Statement.
Senator Cummins' statement fol-
lows:
$50 much has been published in the
newspapers, so much written and said
to me concerning the presidential mat
ter that feel it to be my duty to
make to the republicans of Iowa
plain statement on the subject
STr1In n6 a al q
last session Of congress l gave out
through the press my opinion with re-
spect to the presidency. That opinion
remains unaltered.
"The situation, however, has materi-
ally changed and it now seems prob
able that more than two candidates for
nomination will be seriously consid-
cred by the national convention.
"Under these conditions if the re-
publicans of Iowa believe I am fit
man to be presented to the national
convention as candidate for the presi-
Dental nomination and desire to so
present me, will appreciate and &C.
cept their confidence as most graft
flying evidence Of their continued faith
in my purpose to serve, as best I can,
the general welfare Of the people.
(Signed) albert B. Cummins."
Calls Delegation Together.
Senator Cummins called togethe'
all the republican members Of the
Iowa delegation in congress who were
in the city and read to them the state
ment announcing his candidacy, which
they approved. Senator Kenyon, Mr..
Cummins colleague in the senate, has
not returned from Chicago. The
Iowa delegation reelected Representa-
tive Wood as member of the republi-
can congressional campaign committee.
LaFoIletie Refuses Comment.
At the progressive republican cam
paign headquarters here the declara-
ton was made today by ". l.. Houser
in charge, THAI the fight for LaFollette
would continue as if there were no
other progressive candidates on the
horizon: that it was "Mr. LaFollette,
first last and all the time"
In regard to a report from Denver
that a concerted movement was on
foot to hold a pre-convention meeting
and decide on one progressive candi-
date, Mr. Houser said he knew moth
ing CT any such move. He could not
see that any conference of the sort was
likely.
Senator LaFollette's only comment,
when shown the Cummins statement,
was:
81 have nothing to say