The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-09
Taft Challenged Again

Washington, March S.-Senator Joseph Dixon issued another challenge" from the national Roosevelt headquarters today to Director Mckinley of the national Taft bureau upon the subject of presidential primaries. Replying to Mr. McKlnleys letter of last night, Senator Dixon char acterized 1t as fiat refusal to aid in getting presidential preference primaries, and he makes a new demand on the Taft manager g MT. Mckinley in his reply to Chairman Dixon last night said he was "in abso- lute accord with tho selection of delegates to the national convention by the primary system wherever primaries are, or may be legally provided. fairly conducted and surrounded by the restrictions of the law"
 Dixon's Letter
 Senator Dixons letter sent to MT. Me Kiney in part is as follows: MT. Mckinley:
 Dear Sir-Your flat recn,l to aid in se- curing for the voters an opportunity to express their wish is received. Your wish must be regretted by anyone who has at. heart the success of the republican party in November. In your letter to me you stated that you had been asked by Pres ident Taft to act director of bureau with headquarters In Washington for the purpose of securing him the nomination | for the position of President for the next 1 term.
 "I am forced, therdore, to the con clusion that in refusing to join with me in an effort to secure an expression by | republican voters as to the candidate they want. you are announcing a decision of your chief, and that Mir Taft refuses to trust the voters to determine the question of his candidacy. and he is willing to be- come a candidate of his party even when against the wishes of the majority of his party"
 Senator Dixon expresses regret that Mr.; Mckinley referred to changes in the rules while the game is in progress" He Grows Caustic "I regret that you regard the selection of a republican candidate for President as 'gsme," says the letter. Evidently you lack comprehension of the dignity with which the people invest the presidency of the United States so to designate a function which Is preliminary to the election to that high office. Col onel Roosevelt, it is hardly necessary to say, is engaged in no game But if you insist on designating II a game. my de- sire is to eliminate marked cards and loaded dice. MT. Roosevelt and his sup porters will not tolerate the tricks and deceptions and fraud which are inseper- able with the kind of politics your char acterizaton implies"
 Colonel Roosevelts manager says in his letter that through political manipulation, particularly in the south, there has been an absolute, stifling of expression on the part of republican voters;" and he sub mits the following questions to Mir Me- Kinley as manager for President Taft:
 Specific Demands
 T now ask you spechcally:
 First, are you willing to join me in an appeal to the republican state committees to provide for an expression of the re- publican voters of the several states on the choice of the republican presidential candidate?
 Second, will you imme ediately join me in telegram to the republican members of the legislatures in Massachusetts, Maryland and Michigan, which are now in session, where presidential preferential bills are now pending and where 1t is reported your friends are trying to defeat their passage, urging them to support these measures?
 q await your immediate answer to these two propositions because 1 regard action favorable to the view I take as absolutely essential to party success .n November. Trust the republican voters now. Very truly yours, JOSEPH NJ. DIXON"