Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-09
LEADS TAFT FIGHT
Mr.. Mckinley Heads Cam
paign Workers.
HEADQUARTERS ARE HERE
No Attacks on Other Candidates, No
Intriguing, But Open Cam
paign, He Declares.

After conference at the White House
yesterday afternoon between Secretary
Hilles, Senator Crane, Senator Penrose
and some others Of the Presidents polit-
zeal friends and advisers, announcement
was made that Representative Mckinley
Of Illinois, chairman of the republican
congressional campaign committee, had
been selected to take charge of head
quarters to be opened in this city for the
prosecution of an active campaign in be-
half Of the denomination Of President
Taft
Mr.. Mckinley Was notified last even
ing Of the responsibility conferred upon
him by this choice and made the follow
ing statement:
THE suggestion came to me as such
n surprise late this evening that / must
plead for time to think. cannot make
any statement tonight, except to re-
iterate what Secretary HilleS already has
said--that the denomination of Mr.. Taft
Is assured. It is, however, the desire Of
the friends of the President throughout
the country to have some central place
from which they can be kept advised Of
the details of the campaign as it pro-
crosses. The idea now is to organize
within a few days a central bureau II
you choose to call it such. from which
the country also may be Informed as to
what the administration has accom-
plished.
To Conduct Open Campaign.
:There will be no attacks on other can
didates, no intriguing but an open cam
paign. Mr.. Taft will stand on the record
of his administration and the record Of
the party. AS to when and where the
headquarters will be opened / cannot tell
until 1 have conferred with the party
leaders"
The understanding is that Mr.. Hilles
will continue to participate in the active
management of the campaign, but this
new arrangement will leave him free to
continue to give his attention to other
affairs of his office.
The selection of a campaicn manager
and the creation of headquarters Is In
response to the demand which has been
voiced for the past two weeks that the
President should have a practical or
ganization at work in his interests. Com
plant was made that politicians We're
at loss for some central source of in
formation and direction in the work OF
securing instructed delegates.
Mckinley Good Choice.
The choice of Mr.. Mckinley is regarded
as peculiarly happy, not only on account
of his experience, but of his standing
with republicans of both factions While
it is true that in 1908 Mr.. Mckinley was
identified more closely perhaps with the
old guard faction o. the party, he has
always been acceptable to the other wing.
This was shown in a striking degree
yesterday by his unanimous election to
the Craftsmanship of the republican con-
gressional committee and by the friendly
spirit manifested toward him by the pro-
gressive republicans of that organization
Mr.. Mckinley will Immediately take UP
h. r,,A of tivcy hos drrro ~fp N
surrounding himself with an adequate
staff to carry on the practical work of Sc
curing instructed delegates for Mr.. Taft
This effort will not interfere with his
committee, as the bulk of that work will
not become large until after the national
convention
May Get New York Delegation.
New York people today declare that
the appointment of Representative Nc
KinIey means a solid delegation for Taft
from New York and the possible renomi-
nation of Vice President Sherman. This
IS the way the New York statesmen and
politicians dope it out. Mckinley was
the manager of the campaign of the al
lies against Taft four years ago. He
lost in that campaign, but in conjunc-
ton with Uncle joe Cannon forced
the nomination of Sherman on the Taft
tIchct. SuoTIudu, MCNIIlicy anu SdILiOii
are close friends Mckinley is on init
mate terms with Representatives Dwight,
Vreeland and other New York congress
men representing northern New York
who have not shown much vigor for
Taft
Vice President Sherman is one Of the
most Intimate friends William L. Ward,
national committeeman of New York.
has. the leading New York hold-out. He
controls his congressional district. 1t is
now predicted that he will be in the Taft
column inside of a month, and that
Dwight. Vreeland and others will begin
for Taft. The only trouble the President
has had in northern New York is with
the farmers, many of whom are still sore
over his reciprocity attitude.
With Vice President Sherman bringing
Ward into line, and Mckinley's influence
rounding up the northern New York
statesmen the prospect of a solid New
York delegation for Taft is regarded as
excellent. Moreover, it is to be an in
plans. Information here is that State
Chairman Barnes has decided that an in
structed delegation will be best He is
positively known to be for Taft
The denomination of Mr.. Sherman is,
of course, matter of conjecture. With
his old friends in control in New York
and his intimate friend, Mckinley, run
ming the Taft campaign here. Mr.. Sher-
man is regarded as looming up. At least
that is the New York view today. At the
proper time, it is said, the business men
of the country will exert all possible pres
sure for Sherman.
III "