The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-03-11
"Spoils Politicians" and
ronage Mongers" Among
Terms Used 81
DEFRAUD PEOPLE OF 81
ELEMENTAL RICHIE
Justifies All Bitter Thiu
Senator Dixon Has Said Il
of Mckinley and
His Assistants

WASHINGTON. March 10.-Th4
dore Roosevelt In letter to 6cmAk
Dixon. which describes the Taft GN1
porters as "spoils politicians and
tronage mongers, who are en9AeeN
defrauding the American people CO.
Of their first and most elem1me
right" has backed up Dix0ns1 4
mand for settlement OF tho race ~
the Republican presidential nomi1 ri
ton at--the- primaries 1nctdeueAI
he justifies all the bitter things IT,
senator has said OF Mr.. Mckinley -
his assistants in the Taft camp.
The colonel says he will cheel8N& -
abide by the result OF tho prtm143 n
which Ii interpreted by his fr1en6o
declaration that he will suppee
Taft II Taft wins before the peoH4q
However. neither the colonel nor 6oNs
ator Dixon has the fainteet idea tMo
the President will accept the ekA&
lenRe or that he would meak AMs
thing but DISASTROUS defeat II he ~ ~
Relations With Taft as End.
Colonel Roosevelt has been txruo
to address his letter directly 70 f10sa
he regards that all diplomatic rob-
tons between himself and Mr.. sIA8ks
are at an end, and will communtcA4eS
with him only through third pAft1s
The letter reached the Taft cam4
paign headquarters early. but NKx
Mckinley. In the absence Of his Cau~sE
didate. preferred to mako no ropays
1t is absolutely certain that netthoka
the threats nor the taunts Of the
himself. can shake their determines.
ton not to submit the dispute ovoE
the nomination to q primary or t0S
abate one jot of their efforts to defeAtz
primary bills In every State whey0
they are being considered.
The Letter. ss
Roosevelt's letter ia as follows. M III
MY dear Senator Dixon.--I hay0N
received your letter OF March
stating that In, your opinion It II 90
vital importance to the success OF thoa
Republican party in the NovembAE
elections that the National RepuOlt~N
can Convention shall nominate tho
candidate whom the mass OF the Ae-s
publican voters wish nominated. and
that, therefore. this sentiment shoul&s
be given expression through preoeSN
dental primari in the several 6tAtop
in order that the wishes OF the votef4eS
may be ascertained before, instead 0&M
after, the nomination.
II have also seen your correspon0s
ence with MIR. Mckinley. You pre-
posed to him that as FAR a. posafnt4e
the selection Of the Republican CAMS
didate for the presidency should bqs
determined by the voters OF the p41tys
in preferential presidential prtmar1SeS
Mr. MckinIey's answer 10 contalne0M
practically In one sentence In the 1eesS
ter sent YOU
II do not favor changes In tl
rules OF the game while the 9aSn
is in progress" ia
THE point OF view expressed
that sentence contains the 1s1H
within the Republican party aat thS
time. We who stand for the px1
gressive cause. for the cause OF hN13
est and genuine Democracy. genutM
representative government, hold e14
q public contest between partieo ~
within parties IL not carried on 49,
game, IL not carried on for the p<N
pose OF winning prizes for tina 00
testants or with q view to the ps
sonal wishes or welfare of any NM1g
man. We hold that 1t should be c1x0
ried on for the purpose Of asceftn1
inx and putting into affect tn
OF the people 30 THAT the people
Jointly do for themselves what no M
Nn do so well for them. ia 81
Appeal to the Bleachefs,
"Our opponents, ON the c0nt10&
take Mr.. McKinley's view that
are engaged In game In which,
| interests OF the people. It 10 true
at stake. but in which the 49,
themselves are not to have
| voice. Mr.. McKiniey's position
| stated with frank cynicism BY c.
!. gressnaan Campbell nnb3hA1f 6&
reactionary element In the nA49&
can party, when. in Z recent nDq
in New Hampshire, no II quotes
.rousing the greatest enthusiaara
declaring that the Republican, p
does not believe in m APPEAL 6
the umpire to the bleachern, Y8s
I'VE demand that States uke
nois. Michigan. New York. 0&
chusetts. DO given the chance t4a
press their preference In pfeM6f
primaries a. to whom they Ntm1
President. Practically the antir4
OF professional politicians axAs
against W In this contest. n&N
every State and In every congr1
district they are led by thu
holders. who. with the exaMI
fore them Of what was dons ans
motion with the nominAtloa
local ofices In North CArOl1Nn3
working ~ We have rarely saoA
work In American political NE 4
Against such forces 4 n%S
event dif1cult enough for to 0l
plain cttiEans, who have only
eral welfare at heart, to W1r
becomes well nigh impoap
these plain cttisens 70 ~
sion to the popular will
= no popular primary. 3A4E
tion syatsm n o,ir paIty
when. . - ~
it = turned 11(8 ~ -
noed Tor tho 1tfo0&