In response to a call made by R. R. Kitt, former chairman of the Republican County Central Committee, a mass convention, composed of the voters of the county who believed in progressive principles and a square deal, was held in Chillcothe, on the 27th day of July, 1912. Every township in the county was well represented and the convention organized by electing H. P. Scrubby chairman and Wm. Olenhouse secretary. Delegates were chosen to a state convention to be held at Kansas City, there to elect delegates to the national convention at Chicago on the 5^th, 6^th, and 7^th of August, 1912. A permanent committeeman from each of the twenty-one precincts in the county was also named after which the convention adjourned. This committee then convened and perfected a permanent organization by electing Chas. W. Gillidette county chairman and Chas. A. Hagaman secretary, each and every committeeman pledging his faith and support to the new party, At a convention held on August 20th, delegates were chosen to a state convention in St. Louis on September 3, 1912 to nominate a state ticket after which a recess was called to convene again on the 10th of September, at which time a full county ticket was placed in nomination. The campaign was vigorous from start to finish and the new party succeeded in electing Elton Marshall, prosecuting attorney and John Yeomans, county judge of the eastern district. The success of the new party was largely due to the active campaigning of Chairman Gillidette, who was ably assisted by H. P. Scrubby, F. A. Meinershagen, Louis H. Gould, J. F. Hawley, W. C. Hunt, Jo Dusenberry, F. V. Ross, P. M. Russell, W. H. Jackson, Harry Graham, H. H. Hoenshell, F. L. Arthaud and others. Progressive Party clubs have recently been organized in every township in the county.

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