The Washington herald., 1912-03-19
Mr.. TAF1's VIEWS
EXCITE COMMENT
Director Mckinley and Sena-
tor Dixon Express Opinions
on Primaries.
ARE BUSY

President Taft's speech at Boston yes
terday. in which he declared himself on
the subject of Presidential preference pri-
maries. started the typewriters going in
both the Roosevelt and Taft headquar-
tiers in Washington.
Chairman Mckinley, of the Taft COM
mittee, said that the Presidents speech
was "a fair statement Of the position he
ard his representatives have maintained
throughout this entire campaign. 1
called attention in my reply to Senator
Dixon to the lack of uniformity in the
State laws governing primaries, for the
purpose of making IL clear that any
primary conducted without the pale of
the law would open the door to the par
ticipation OF Democrats in Republican
Primaries and to that extent nullify the
will Of the Republican masses in the ex-
preston OF their choice OF a candidate.
This exact situation, according to re-
ports from the Roosevelt campaign man.
ayers. has already come to pass in North
Dakota, where tomorrow. a Presidential
preference primary will be held by the
Republicans. Roosevelt managers are al
ready proclaiming from the housetops
that they ~are in grave danger Of defeat.
and as an excuse they are alleging that
the Democrats of North Dakota are pre-
10 tlat IN
the interest OF Senator La Toilette"
Senator Dixon's Views.
Senator Dixon, manager of the Roose-
welt campaign committee. declared that
President Taft waited a week after the
Massachusetts legislature had enacted
the law before he said that he favored
and welcomed a Presidential preference
primary. Senator Dixon stated that on
March 3. Matthew Hale, OF Boston.
Roosevelt manager for Massachusetts,,
Tad wired to President Taft, asking his
support in securing the passage of the
bill in the Massachusetts legislature. The
reply came from Secretary Hilles that
the matter had been referred to Manager
Mckinley, of the Taft headquarters.
Chairman Dixon says that Mr.. Hale
never heard from Mckinley. Chair
man Dixon thereupon welcomes the
President TO join him in securing the
passage of a Presidential preference law
through the Maryland legislature.
THE collector of customs at Balti-
more. William +. Stone, the most active
Of the Taft machine managers of Mary
land. is opposing the enactment Of this
measure by every means in his power"
says Mr.. Dixon. "A single word from
Mr.. Taft TO Collector Stone will change
that opposition TO support and insure the
enactment of this bill
Situation in Other states.
Chairman Dixon says that like situ-
alton exists in the State of Michigan.
where a special session of the legisla-
ture is trying to enact such law. but
is being opposed by Federal oficeholders.
He declares that in Ohio Mr. Laylin. the
Taft manager is opposing the efforts Of
Chairman Walter Brown TO bring about
an agreement for primaries to elect dele
gates to the Chicago convention. In
Illinois. according to Mr.. Dixon. Gov.
Deneen is ready, by his public declara-
tion. to call the legislature in special
session and pass a Presidential prefer
ence primary bill, # two-thirds Of the
members will agree beforehand to adopt
it. MIR. Dixon says that Chairman Nc |
kinley. of the Taft committee, is fight |
ing this proposition in Illinois and con-
Cludes: |
Under these circumstances, I submit |
to the candid consideration of every hon. |
est man in the United States that the |
test of Mr.. Tafts sincerity of what he |
said in Boston to-day is whether he |
shall now follow up his profession of this |
afternoon with the instruction to his |
managers that will give it practical ef-
feet. In other words. this question is: |
Does Mr. Taft generally favor a Presi- |
Dental preference primary, or was his |
Boston speech mere lip service?'