The Washington herald., 1912-07-08
President Gathers His Chiefs About
Him for Campaign
Powwow.
MAY COMMAND
FORCES IN THE FIELD
Difficulty May Be Had in Securing
Funds to Finance
the Run.


paign this summer and fail will be dis
cussed and probably perfected at a Sc
ries OF conference o be held at the
President Taft big guns IN the Republi-
can party have come to Washington to
confer relative to the work OF reorgsniz-
ing the Republican National Committee
in preparation for what is expected TO
prove one of the liveliest political bat
ties in many years. 1t Is the general
expectation that within the next day or
SO the President will exercise the privi-
lege reposed In the party candidate by
naming the campaign manager of the
year
When the Chicago convention ad-
journed some weeks ago Republican
leaderr left for their homes convinced
that Charles ID. Hilles. OF New York.
secretary to the President, would be the
new chairman of the National Commit
tee. At that time there seemed to be no
opposition to his selection. Secretary
Hilles is still regarded as a probability.
although Mr.. Hilles is understood to
hold the view that he can do more ef-
fective work In his present position.
Party leaders in Washington seem to
believe that Mr.. Hilles will not be
named.
That William Barnes. jr.. of New
York, is favored by many of the lead
ers in Washington, is indicated in hotel
corridor gossip tonight. Objection is
made TO Mr.. Barnes selection by some
OF the close friends of the President on
the ground that the New York man has
been so severely criticised for alleged
political brigandage that he would be
a Tar for a hlEa fhrnnRhnmt the n
paign.
Others Mentioned.
In addition TO Messrs. Barnes and
Hilles. the following named Republi-
cans are regarded as particularly avail
able for the national chairmanship.
Harry s. New. Joseph B. Healing. for
mer Senator James A. Hemenway, and
James p. Goodrich. Of Indiana: Harry
Daugherty. of Ohio: Senator Newell
Sanders. of Tennessee. and F. W. Esta-
brook. OF New Hampshire.
The members of the subcommittee e
will be entertained at luncheon at the
White House this afternoon. and they
will he guests of the President at din
ner tonight.
1t is expected that by Tuesday or
Wednesday the President will announce
his choice. There seems to be general
unanimity of opinion that IL is impera-
tive that the national chairman this
year shall be named without unneces-
sary delay in order that steps may be
taken at once to whip the campaign
organization into shape.
II is altogether likely that a strategy
board" composed Of such men as Sena-
tor Crane of Massachusetts,. former
Senator Hemenwsy. Mr.. Healing. and
nj her will no created work IN
operation with the national chairman
and his executive committee. II Score
tary Hilles remains at the White House
as now seems probable. Mr.. Taft will
keep in touch with the men in the field
largely through his secretary.
Worried Over Finances.
Just what part President Taft will
take in the campaign has not been de-
termined. Some of the leaders are op-
posed to the idea of Mr.. Taft going on
the stump. They are OF the opinion
that he should remain at Beverly and
content himself with the delivery of
three or tour carefully prepared speech
es at crucial periods OF the campaign
Other leaders point out that Col. Roose-
Welt will undoubtedly appear in every
Northern AMI Western State. in all the
border States, and in a few States OF
the South.
Everybody seems to agree that il Is
going to be difficult to raise campaign
funds this year. Members Of the Ma
t!Onal Committee say that the party or
gan!zation will have to get along with
less money this year than il possessed
n 1905. when Chairman Hitchcock had a
smaller fund at his disposal than any of
his predecessors since the days of Mark
Hanna.
The Willard Hotel lobby was crowded
last night with Republican leaders.
Among those IN the crowds were former
Speaker Cannon, Minority Leader Mann.
Representative Mccall Of Massa chusetts,
Representative Wilson of Illinois. a for
mer Roosevelt leader: Joe Healing of
Indiana; Powell Clayton, Of Arkansas,
senior member of the Republican Ma
tional Committee. and other lesser lights.
President Taft will return to Wash
ington to-day. The day at the White
House will be devoted largely to po-
litical conferences