Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-20
.FLAYS TAFT'S STAND
Roosevelt Scores Attitude on
Presidential Primaries.
CRITICISES CAMPAIGN AIDS
Virtually Challenges Him to Popu-
lar Test in Four States.
REPLIES TO BOSTON SPEECH
Hopes President Will Support Legis-
lation Before, Not After,
It Has Passed.
REPLIES TO BOSTON SPEECH

NEW YORK, March 20.-Theodore
Roosevelt last night issued the following
statement:
"President Taft is reported as saying
at Boston that the voluntary primary
power, as he calls 1.-THE soap-boN
primary-that is. method adopted by
the people as the only way in which to
express their wishes when their legisla-
lures deny them any other opportunity TO
do so-is worse than nothing. But the
President continued to say that he ia
vored preferential. primary for the
presidency.
Il am exceedingly glad that the Presi-
dent has taken this ground. and if his
campaign managers will sincerely back
him in the proposition We will be able at
once to get the presidential preferential
primary in Michigan. Illinois, Maryland,
the District of Columbia and New York
''On the 9TH of this month Matthew
Hale OF Boston, acting on behalf of the
Massachusetts progressive republicans,
who were making desperate fight for
the passage of the presidential prefer
entail primary bill, wired the President at
the White House. asking him for his
moral support in securing the passage of
the Massachusetts bill.
Merely Acknowledge Letter.
"Mr Hale referred specifically to the
fact that the Presidents adherents in
Massachusetts, were using every means
to defeat the passage of the bill. March
the Presidents secretary, Mr.. Hilles,
wrote to Mr.. Hale a brief note, say
ing that his message had been received
and, by direction of Mr.. Taft, referred to
his campaign manager. Representative
MoI> ipl doing
he could to defeat a similar measure in
Illinois.
Nothing further was heard from the
President or from his campaign manager,
Mr.. Mckinley, by Mr. Hale or by any
one else in Massachusetts, as far as |
know, and no moral aid. comfort or sup
port was given by the President or his
managers to the men in Massachusetts,
who were making most desperate fight
to overcome the efforts of the President
supporters in that state to defeat the bill
However, public opinion was aroused
and the bill went through, and | am eN-
ceedingly glad that the President. now
nearly a week after the bill has become
law. should say. he does, that he
favors and welcomes it.
Maryland Bill Pending.
But / earnestly hope that the Presi-
dent and his supporters will in other
states support such legislation before it
passes and not after it passes. There Is
pending in the Legislature of Maryland
bill providing for the exact kind of le-
galiy safeguarded presidential primary
tial primary which the President says he
favors. The collector of customs at Bal
timore, the most active of the Presidents
party managers of Maryland and the
head of the officeholders there, has been
opposing the enactment of the measure
by every means i'll his power. Every
Roosevelt member of the Maryland lesis-
lature is for the primary bill, and they
have been endeavoring to secure the as
sistance of Collector Stone and Gov.
Goldsborough and the other supporters OF
President Taft
Need of Law Indicated