The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-07-18
LEADERS GATHER . TO MAP DRIVE { FOR LA TOILETTE Committeeman Are Opti-
 mistic On Eve Of
 Meet GROUP TO SELECT
 RUNNING MATE . Warren S. Stone Now Placed On List Of 1. PrOL abi. ities
By THOMAS l.. STOKES .(By Leased Wire To Age-Herald.)

Nhy 1JcdSCu vVAO AU ENSO-AAOAS~Au'J 4 WASHINGTON, July 1.-The campaign to make Senator Robert : M. LaFollette president, will be i, given its opening boost here Friday and Saturday, when leaders from all sections of the country-con- E stituting the national committee ' gather about the table behind closed doors to select vice presidential , candidate and map out the drive. f These high-lights were gathered as various leaders tracked in and out o fthe office of the Wisconsin senator Thursday:
 ,. 1. There were optimistic predictions ; of success. Arthur E. Holder, secretary # of the national committee, declaring he was convinced that LaFollette would carry g states.
 2. The vice presidential situation has narrowed down to three names. it was said. While these were not made pub lie. it is known that those most strongly considered include Peter Witt, of Cleve- land, member of the city council; James Maurer, Harrisburg, Pa, head of the state federation of labor, and Farley Christensen, farmer-labor candidate for President in 1920.
 8. Senator Lynn Frazier. republican, of North Dakota. announced himself for LaFollette, adding to the defection Wednesday of Senator Wheeler of Montana from the democratic candidate.
 f. Some of those close to the move ment were predicting that the American Federation of Labor would endorse the I1.LA ,,.,l vention at Atlantic City in August.
 Hope to Carry Nebraska
 Explaining his prediction, Holder said he looks for surprising success in the middle west. west. and southwest, with perhaps some eastern states in the La Toilette column. Discounting claims made for Coolidge in California, and for the democrats in Nebraska, through Bryan. he said there was no doubt that LaFollette would carry both of these states, as we'll as Iowa. All are much disputed battle ground.
 Holder said he was much encouraged over prospects, in New Jersey and Con necticut from which states he was re- ceiving thousands of letters. Much in. terest is being manifested also. he stat ed. in Georgia and Texas. He said he had great hopes for Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Illinois.
 Others are equally as optimistic as Holder, while the more conservative pre- dict that the Wisconsin senator will carry enough states to force the election in the House. While the movement has received encouragement from the south, it is not believed that the strong democratic vote there. will be seriously affected
 Others On Lists
 Chief interest in the meeting begin ming here Friday is in the choice of running-mate for LaFollette. While Witt, Maurer and Christensen appear to run strongest. numerous other names are being considered, including J. A. H. Hopkins, chairman of the committee of 4S;" Warren s. Stone, president of the brotherhood of locomotive engineers David B. Robertson, president of the brotherhood of firemen, and John A. McSparren, of the Pennsylvania state grange. Senator Wheeler. of Montana, is not being strongly considered, it was said Thursday.
 Progressive leaders were very ex- uberant over the possibility that Wheel CT would join the ranks of LaFollette, following his announcement Wednesday that he will not support the democratic candidate, John w. Davis. There was also much joy over the announcement from Frazier, a defection from the re- publicans.
 Selection of a vice presidential candi- date will be the first business of the meeting Friday. The committee will then discuss financial matters, and the campaign fund. Location of branch headquarters will then be taken up. Besides the main headquarters at Chi cago and here, it has been recommended that branches be established at New York, Minneapolis, Denver and San Francisco.