New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-01-21
rJMM|NS ANNOUNCES
HIS OWN CANDIDACY
mill Run for President if Iowa
Republicans Desire to Pre-
sent His Name.
BLOW TO LA TOILETTE B00Ll
Senator's Announcement Fur
Their Demoralizes Insurgent
Ranks in Washington-Effect
in His State Uncertain.
rrrom The Tribune Bureau.l

III ITO eSbcbOS SASOA Uo4hs
tFrom The Tribune Bureau.l
Washington. Jan. 20.-The La Toilette
,oonniet received another serious setback
,o-day by the announcement Of Senator
cunmins the Iowa insurgent. that he is
candidate for the Republican Presi-
dsntIal nomination. The statement to
this effect. which was given out after a
conference of the members of the Iowa
allegation in the office of Senator Cum
Minis caused only a small ripple on the
,rface Of the political pool. because it
had long been expected and because 1t
&c generally regarded. not as the launch
ing of & real boom, but as a mere pre-
canton on the part Of the Iowa Senator,
in order that he may be ready to take
advantage Of political circumstances in
which every candidate but himself might
he cleared from the field. Although it
does 1t say so in so many words, the
statement conveys the intelligence that
he will be ready u take the nomination
Y Taft or Roosevelt cannot get it. Sen
ator Cummins says:
So much has been published in the
newspapers. so much written and said Ia
me concerning the Presidential matter
that feel il TO be my duty TO make to
the Republicans OF Iowa a plain state
nent upon the subject.
Immediately upon my return from the
last session Of Congress l gave out
through the press. my opinion with re-
spect 10 the Presidency. That opinion
remains unaltered.
The situation, however. has materially
changed, and il now seems probable that
r1bre than two candidates for nomina-
ton will be seriously considered by the
national convention.
Under these conditions. if the Republi-
cans of Iowa believe that l am NJ
man TO he presented 10 the national
convention as a candidate for the Presi-
Dental nomination. and desire so 10 pre-
sert me, / will appreciate and accept
their confidence as most gratifying
evidence OF their continued faith in my
purpose to serve as best / can the gen.
eral welfare OF the people.
First to Desert la Toilette.
The immediate effect of the announce
ment is the further sinking of the La
Follette hopes. Senator Cummins is thi
first of the insurgent group to desert the
wisconsin Senator openly. although sew
eral others of his colleagues are ready Il
bolt as soon as occasion offers. The Lie
Toilette lieutenants say that his cam
paign will go on. but it Is now in such
condition that whether It goes on OF
not It is no longer a factor in the pre-
convention struggle.
The political situation in Iowa, the en-
vironment in which Senator Cummins's
Presidential hopes unfolded and ia
which, for the present at least, they are
confined. was described In The Tribune
last September Senator Cummins was
then convinced that the La Toilette
boom was ephemeral and that the Iowa
delegation could not be brought into line
10 support the Wisconsin Senator. while
he gave evidence of having himself beer
so badly stung by the Presidential bee
as TO have lost ali sense Of proportion.
All but two Of the members Of the
Iowa delegation were present at the
conference" with Senator Cummins
One of these was Senator Kenyon, who
although he had been reported as in
dorsing the Cummins candidacy. said HI
had not made up his mind and wished
10 think II over" 1t is quite possible
that Senator Kenyon will decide it j:
good policy to support Iowa's 'favorit'
son." on the ground that he would thus
gain a vantage point from which b,
could work successfully TO obtain the
selection Of delegates who would vot'
for Mr.. Taft as soon as it becomes obvt'
Gus that Mr.. Cummins is not In the run
ming.
II has long been understood by Sen
stor Cummins's colleagues that al
though a nominal supporter of Senator
La Toilette and a member Of the insur'
gent group which acknowledged hi
leadership he chafed under the whip Of
the Senator from Wisconsin and cher
ished the ambition Of assuming the in
srgent leadership himself. To this enc
be presented himself as a safe and sane
radical in the Senate, and, although sup
porting Senator La Toilette in public. in
private made no effort 10 conceal his
disapproval Of the methods Of the Wis
consin patriot.
The Decentralization which has struck
the insurgent ranks was reflected par.
tlcularly In the House. where the insur-
gents outnumber those in the Senate,
and where the so-called Progressives OF
the rank and file discussed more freely
the candidates from the other wing OF
the Capitol
There is the devil TO pay" commented