Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-02-10
Chairman Mckinley, Leader
of Campaign; Secretary
Hilles and Senator Crane
See 241 Majority.
WORK IN BEHALF OF
PRESIDENT BEGINS
Illinois Congressman Takes
Active Charge Of Presi-
dents Fight for Renomia-
alton; To Open Offices.

Washington, D. c., Feb. 9.-Presi.
dent Taft will have ITO votes out OF
the total of 1,076 on the first ballot at
the Chicago convention or 241 mere
than the majority necessary for nom
| ination. according to a. statement
made today by Representative William
B. Mckinley, of Illinois, Secretary 10
the President c. d. Hilles and Sena.
tor Murray Crane of Massachusetts.
The three held conference today
which was practically the opening OF
the Taft campaign for reconciliation.
The figures given out were reached
after careful canvass of the coun.
try. it was said
Mckinley Takes Charge.
| Work for the denomination and re.
election of President Taft aside from
that done at the white house, began
here today when Representative Viii
liam B. Mckinley of Illinois, chairman
Of the republican congressional cam
paign committee, took UP his new
tauties ms managspssof the Taft cam
jpaign.
| Mr.. Mckinley began work early and
planned to see many of the party
leaders now In Washington Quarters
for the Taft boomers have not been
secured but within few days Mr..
Mckinley expects to open Offices.
Although republican leaders said to-
day that it was too early to talk about
the plans of campaign after the Chi
cago convention, many friends of MI.
Mckinley were of the opinion that II
President Taft is renominated Mr.
Mckinley will be his choice for chair
man Of the republican national COM
mittee.
Mr.. Mckinley probably will be &C.
ceptable to all the old party lead
ers. Some Of these leaders have OBJ
jected to Postmaster General Hitch
cock and Secretary to the President
| Hilles, both prominently mentioned
heretofore for national chairman
To Hold Many Conferences.
Mr.. Mckinley announced last night
his intention of holding series OF
conferences at once. He will begin
today and the remainder of the week
probably will be devoted to mapping
out plan Of campaign. Mr.. Mckinley
gave out statement concerning his
appointment and his plans. He said:
II cannot make any predictions
except to reiterate what Sescretary
Hilles already has said that the
| denomination of Mr.. Taft is assured.
1t is, however, the desire of the friends
of the president throughout the coun-
try to have some central place from
which they can keep advised of the
details of the campaign.
"The idea now Is to arrange for a
central bureau from which the co,in
try will be informed in thorough
manner as to what the administration
has accomplished. There will be no
attacks on other candidates nor In
triguing; It will be an open campaign
Mr.. Taft will stand on the record of
| his administration and the record OF
his party.
II will start the work today
! Causes Surprise In Washinqton.
The sudden announcement OF the de.
cision to open headquarters here be
came as a surprise but It occasioned
no more surprise than did the selec-
ton of Mr.. Mckinley to take COM
mand. It was generally supposed that
Mr.. Hilles would be selected to adj
vance his chiefs political interests.
It was recalled. however, that Mr.
Mckinley has been constant visitor
at the white house during the last
few weeks, in conference with the
president.
In the last national campaign the
congressional committee, of which Mr..
Mckinley, then as now, was chairman,
worked in complete harmony with the
republican national committee in adj
vanciug Mr.. Taft's political fortunes.
The work done then by Mr.. Mckinley,
it is believed, had much to do with his
selection again to look out for Mr.
Tafts fences.
Postmaster General Hitchcock, who
is taking an active part with Secre
tary Hilles 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 situation together today and
make tentative plans for the launching
<ha Z