New-York tribune., 1912-03-11
ROOSEVELT BACKS UP
DEMAND FOR PRIMARY
Writes to Senator Dixon That
ONLY Professional Politicians
Are Opposed to Such a Test.
NOT TOO LATE. NOW, HE SAYS
McKinley's Reply to Challenge
Denounced by the Colonel
as Not Facing Real
Issue.

washington, March 10.-Copies of a
letter on the subject Of preferential
presidential primaries written by Colonel
theodore Roosevelt to Senator Joseph NJ.
nixon. director of the Roosevelt national
beadouarters here. were given out to-
night by Senator Dixon.
o Colonel Roosevelt apparently indOrses
Senator Dixons challenge to Director
mckinley Of the Taft headquarters for
such primaries, and denounces Mr.. Nc
Kinley's reply that he did not favor
changes in the rules Of the game while
the game was in progress" Colonel
Roosevelt refers to the nominations Of
federal offceholders which President
Taft recently withdrew from the Senate.
and infers that the Presidents action
was taken to provide an example" for
the politicians.
practically the entire body Of pro-
fessional politicians are pitted against
us in this contest" the colonel wrote,
"and in every state and in every Con-
press district they arc led by the office
holders. who with the example before
them Of what was done III connection
with the nominations for local Offices IN
North Carolina, are working as we have
rarely seen them work in American DO
Iitical life"
Colonel RooseveIt's Letter.
Colonel Roosevelts letter in full fol-
lows:
Ny Dear Senator Dixon:
I have received your letter Of March 6
stating that In your opinion IT is Of vital
Importance 10 the success or the RepuDl-
can party i'm the November elections that
the Republican National Convention shall
nominate the candidate whom the mass or
the Republican voters wish nominated. and
that therefore this sentiment should be
given expression through Presidential pref
erential primaries in the several states, in
order that the wishes of the voters may be
ascertained before instead Of after the
nomination.
/ have aIso seen your correspondence wnG
Mr.. Mckinley. You proposed 10 him that
as far as possible the selection of the Re
publican candidate for the Presidency
should be determined by the voters of the
party in preferential Presidential prima-
ries Mr McKinley's answer is contained
practically In one sentence in the letter
sent you: Il do not favor changes in the
rules of the game while the game is in
progress
Calls Il Issue Within Party.
The point of view expressed in that SEN
tenCe contains the issue within the ReDub-
lican party at this time. We who stand for
the progressive cause, for the cause OF
honest ana genuine democracy, genuine
representative government, hold that
public contest between parties or within
parties Is not carried on game; is not
carried on for the purpose of winning
prizes for the contestants or with view
TO the personal wishes or welfare of any
one man. We hold that Il should be car
ried on for the purpose OF aSccrtalnlng ana
putting into effect the Will OF the people,
so that the people may jointly do for them
selves what no man can do SO well for
them. We hold that the laws that govern
elections and govern party organizations
should not be treated as rules which are Ut
subjects for tricky manipulation by con-
testants for q prize. We hold that as far
as possible these laws should be treated as
rules 10 ascertain the Will of those whom
the public officials and party officials are
supposed TO represent. IN sum. therefore,
We hold that the object of this contest is
not 10 secure rewards for individuals. but
TO secure the more effective government OF
the people, by the people and for the peo-
pie.
Our opponents on the contrary. take Mr.
McKinley's view, that We are engaged IN
? game in which the interests Of the peo-
pie, Il is true, are at stake, but in which
the people themselves are not to have
their voice Mr. McKinley's position was
stated with frank CyniCism ny Congress
man Campbell, on behalf OF the reaction
airy element in the Republican party, when
in q recent speech I'm New Hampshire, he
is quoted as "rousing the greatest en-
thusiasm by declaring that the Republican
party does not believe in an appeal from
The umpire to. the bleachers."
Calls Position "Astounding.'