The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-03-11
ROOSEVELT HAS
CRISP LETTER
Tells Why Taft Organiza.
ton is Afraid to Trust
The People.

DIXON, his manager. to Director VIII.
liam B. Mckinley of the Taft cam.
paign bureau. In an accompanying
note. Senator Dixon asks whether Mr..
Mckinley's position is indorsed by
president Taft as Dixon's has been ,y
said: 'es'0'
In view of this unqua lifted endorse.
ment of my challenge on March 1 for
general primary test of the sentt-
ment OF the Republican voters as to
their presidential candidate in this
campaign. l shall be- glad to know
whether President Taft. whose per-
sonar representative you say YOU are.
similarly indorses you in refusing that
test. ~'"e
Joseph M. Dixon"
Roosevelt's Letter.
Colonel Roosevelt's letter in f,ll wa.
as follows: LA. ""'
MY Dear Senator Dixon: hava
received your letter Of March s stat
ing that In your opinion it is Of vital
importance to the success of the Re-
publican party in the November cleo
tions that the Republican national
convention shall nominate the candi-
oate whom the mass Of Republican
preston through presidential prefer
en'lai primaries in the several states
IN order that the wishes of the voters
may be ascertained before, instead NJ
after. the nomination.
have also seen your corre-
spondence with Mr.. Mckinley. You
proposed to him that as far as possible
tne selection Of the Republican candi-
oate Tor the presidency should be de-
the preferential presidential primar-
les. Mr.. McKinley's answer is con-
talneo practically in one sentence in
the letter sent you: I do not favor
changes In the rules Of the game while
the game Is in progress
ne point of view expressed in that
sentence contains the issue within tha
hepublican party at this time. We
VINO stand for the progressive cause,
LOT ao .ne cause OF honest and genuine
democracy. genuine REPRESENTATIVE
government, hold that a public con-
Test between parties or within parties
Is not carried on as game: is NOT
carried on for the purpose OF winning
prizes for the contestants or with
view to the personal wishes Of well
rare of any one man.
We hold that it should be carried
on Tor the purpose of ascertaininr and
putting into effect the will of the peo-
pie SO that the people may jointly do
Tor themselves what no man can do
so we'll for them
We hold that the laws that govern
elections and govern party organiza-
hons should not be treated as rules
which are tit subjects for tricky
by contestants for a
prize.
I'VE hold that as far as possih,s
these laws should be treated as rules
TO ascertain the will of these whom
the public officials and party officials
are supposed to represent
In sum. We hold that the object of
this contest is not to secure rewards
TOT individuals but to secure the moro
effective government of the people by
the people and for the people.
our opponents. on the contrary.
take Mr.. Mckinley's view that we are
engaged in a game in which the inter.
ests OF the people. it is true. are at
stake. but in which the people them
selves are not to have their choice.
Mr. Mckinley's position was stated
with frank cynicism by Congressman
Campbell on behalf OF the reactionarv
element in the Republican party.
when in a recent speech in New
the greatest enthusiasm by declaring
that the Republican party does not be-
lieVe in an appeal from the umpire to
the bleachers'
"Mr. Campbell has simply stated
more frankly the view held Gas is eyi-
dent by Mr.. Mckinley's statement)
generally among our opponents Their
feeling Is that politics Is game, that
the people should simply sit on the
appeal lies to the people from the men
who for their own profit, are playing
the game.
1t is astounding that men should
venture to take such a position and it
shows that these men and those for
whom they speak and whom they rep
resent have wandered far indeed
from the ground held by Abraham
Lincoln when he declared this to be
government dedicated to the welfare
of the common people and to be man
aged justly and honorably by those
plain people for their own welfare In
accordance with the immutable laws
of Righteousness.
Our opponents take the view that
this contest is merely game, that the
object of the contest is to win prizes
for the contestants and that public
office is the reward that goes to tho
fore. it is a piece of allowable smart.
ness to refuse to make changes in the
laws during the progress of the con.
test, If these changes would depriva
the lead captains Of the political world
Of the advantage they now hold over
the plain people.
In short the issue may be stated
as follows: Should election laws be
framed with view to the interests Of
or should election laws be
framed with a view to carrying au,
the popular will?'
Ruin Rather Than Yield.
I'VE have on the one hand Mr.. Nc.
Kinley and Mr.. Campbell and the re-
dictionary element for which they
stand. an element which has made il
evident that they prefer to see the Re-
publican party ruined rather than to
see 1t again what it was in the days
Of Lincoln and on the other hand
those who believe that the Republi-
can party can and shall be made now
what 1t was made under Lincoln-a
great instrument for the achievement
OF Righteousness through the rule of
the plain people.
I'VE regard the present contest not
as a contest between individuals for
We are not concerned for the welfare
OF 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
function Of politics In q great democ-
racy.