The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1912-03-22
FEARS
IN THE PRIMARIES
M'kiNLEY POINTS OUT DANGER
OF REPUBLICAN WILL BE-
ING NuLLlFiED.
TAFT TAKES THE DARE
This Situation. Roosevelt Men Say,
Prevails in North Dakota With
Democrats Helping Ia
Toilette.

Washington, D. c., March 2O.-The
promptness with which the Taft head
quarters here seized upon the express.
sions contained in the presidents
speech in Boston on the subject of
presidential primaries indicates how
anxious the Taft people are to con
vince the country that they are not
opposed to presidential primaries
where these instruments can be made
true expressions of the wishes Of the
people. Hence 1t vas that Represen-
tative Mckinley, in charge of the Taft
headquarters. gave out the following:
THE position taken by the presi-
dent in the preference primaries. as
outlined in his speech at Boston. is a
fair statement of the position he and
his representatives have maintained
throughout this entire campaign. In
reply to Senator Dixon's recent chal-
lenge for such primaries. I said on
March 2: I am in absolute accord
with the selection of delegates to
the national convention by the pri.
mary wherever primaries are or may
be legally provided. fairly conducted
and surrounded by the restrictions Of
the law
Il called attention In that connec-
ton to the lack of uniformity in the
state laws governing primaries, for
the purpose Of making 1t clear that
any primary conducted without the
pale of the law would open the door
to the participation Of Democrats in
Republican primaries and, to that ex.
tent. nullify the will Of the Republic.
an masses in the expression of their
choice of a candidate.
s'This exact situation, according to
reports from the Roosevelt campaign
managers. has already come to pass
in North Dakota. where q presiden.
tial preference primary will be held
by the Republicans. The Roosevelt
managers are already proclaiming
from the %housetops that they are In
grave danger of defeat and, as an
excuse. they are alleging that the
Democrats of North Dakota are pre-
pairing to participate in that primary
in the interest OF: Senator La Toilette
The presidential office is of toe
great honor and dignity to be dealt
with lightly by the members of the
Republican party. Il. under a wide
ly heralded state law such charges
as. this can be made. whether based
upon fact or not. it is easy to sur.
mise what might be expected and
what would be almost certain to: hap
pen, in soap box primaries in those
states which have no primary law
worthy of the name" -.
Great results are expected by the
supporters of Colonel Roosevelt from
the North Dakota primaries.
At Taft headquarters. the North
Dakota fight from the beginning has
been set down az a squabble between
the Roosevelt and La Toilette fac.
lions representing the opposition to
President Taft and no expectation has
been entertained that the friends OF
the president would seek to make
mucilsof a showing ins1 What
they have sought to do, howayer. has
been to show to the people fs.North
Dakota and other agricultural states
OF the west and northwest, who have
SO sharply criticized President Taft
for his Canadian trade agreement.
that there was no reason for, them
going to Colonel Roosevelt upon that
issue because he had Endorsed the pc.
sition Of President Taft as to that
matter. !.