Norwich bulletin., 1912-03-11

letter on the subject or preiefentldi presidential primaries written by Col onel Theodore Roosevelt to Senator Joseph M Dixon, director of the Roosevelt headquarters here. were giv- en out tonight by Senator Dixon.
 Endorses Dixon's Challenge.
 Colonel Roosevelt apparently endors- es Senator Dixons challenge to Direct or Mckinley of the Taft headquarters, for such primaries, and scores MT. NC IZinley's reply that he does not faVor changes in the rule of the game While the game is in progress
 Taft Providing an Example"
 Colonel Roosevelt refers to the nom nations of federal office holders which President Taft recently withdrew from the senate and infers that the presl- dents action was taken 'p provide an example" for the polll e4ans of the state.
 Practically the entire body of pro fessionaI politicians are pitted against us in this contest" the colonel wrote, 'and in every state and in every con Eressional district they are fed by the oficehOlders, who, with the example before them of what was done in con nection with the nominations Tor local offices in North Carolina, are working as we have recently seen them Work in American political life
 Text of the Letter.
 Colonel Roosevelts letter in part was ss follows:
 e1fv Dear. Senator Dixon.-
 T received your letter of March stating that in your opinion it is Of vital importance to the success of the republican part in the November cleo tons that the republican national con vention shall nominate the candidate whom the mass of the republican voters wish nominated and that there fore, this sentiment should be given expression through presidential prefer ential primaries in the several states ir order that the wishes of the voters may be ascertained before, instead of after the nomination.
 CT have also seen your corresponds ence with MT. Mckinley You prOpoE- ei to him that as far as possible the selection of the republican candidate for the presidency should be determln- Pd by the voters of the party In prefer ential primaries. Mir. NcKinley's ans S7er fs contained practically in ono sen touce in the letter sent you: do not favor changes in the rules of the game while tho game is in prOgress.'
 Not Carried On As Game.
 ~rhe point of view expressed in that hsDtence contains the issue within the republican party at this time. We who Ftand for the progressive cause, for the cause of honest and genuine democ- racy. genuine representative govern meut. hold that a public contest be- tween parties or within parties is not carried on as a game, is not carried on for the purpose of winning prizes for the contestants or with 8 view to the personal wishes or welfare of any one man We hold that it should be carried on for the purpose of ascertaining and putting into effect the will of the peo- pie 70 that the people may jointly do for themselves what no man can do so wei flor them
 "Our opponents. on the contrary, take Dir. McKinleys view that VIC are en- gagged in a game in which the interests Ct the people ,it is true, arc at stake but in which the people themselves are not Co have their voice. Mir. Mo Einley's position was stated frankly on behalf Of tho rcactionary element in tho republican party when, in a recent speech in New Hampshire, he fig quoted as -rOusing the great enthu- BiaHm by declaring that the republi- can party does not believe in an ap- peal from the umpire to the hleachers. Wandering From Ground Held By Lin
 esln.
 ''Hr. Campbell has simply stated : more frankly the view held Gas is evil . dent by Mr. McKinley's statementl, generally among OUT opponents. Their !. feeling is that politics is a game. that ' rhe people should simply sit on the bleachers as spectators, and that no ! appeal lies to the people from the men \ who, for their own profit, are play ing the game. lt is astounding that men should venture t0 take such Q po- sition. it shows that these men and those for whom they spaak and whom ] fhsy represent have wandered far E indeed from the ground held by Abra- T ham Lincoln when he declared this to be a government dedicated to the vel fare of tho common people ane te be managed justly and hcnora bly, by these { piain people fn rheir own welfare in Accordance with the immuta biA iswg of righteousness.
 The Issue As Roosevelt States f.. g Tn short, the issue may be stated as follows. should election be framed -,zith a view to the interests of DoIi- f'FicianE or should election laws be Trsm- E rd with view ta carrying out tha 3 popular uiil We have on the one 2 hand, Mir Mckinley and Air. Camp i bell and the reactionary element for whom they stand an element which has made it evident that they prefer 10 see the republican party ruined rath- CT than 10 see it made again what IL was in the days of Lincoln; and. on the other hand, those Wh8 believe that the republican party can and shall he made now what it was made under Lincoln--a. great instrgaient from the achsev eulsnt of righteousness through the rule of the plain people.
 Not Contest oF individuals.
 We regard the present contest not as 1. A contest between indiViduals-f0r we fare not concerned with the welfare oi any particular individual, neither with mine nor with that of any other man but as a contest between these two radically different views of the flnc- ! ton of politics in great democracy. 7-There never was a straighter fight Waged for the people Of pOpular rule fhat that which We are Waging. We are fighting against intrenched priv 2 legs. both political privilege and fi- nancial privilege. We believe that fl , given fair chance the people will de- rlarc against both political and h- . nanciai privileges Therefore. We de- Inaud that they he given that fair chance.
 Spells Politicians" and Patronage.
 NoFasrs.