New-York tribune., 1912-03-23
TAFT MEN POINT TO TEXAS
Say Lyon Is Using Patronage
Club" for Roosevelt's Benefit.
From The Tribune Bureau. J

FROM ] ne lIlDuhe bureau
Washington, March 22.--The threats Of
Colonel Cecil Lyon 10 deyapltate politically
every federal Ofcehollcr In Texas who
does not join in the Roosevelt movement,
which were outlined In these dispatches 10
The Tribune on March ~. were pointed to
by the managers of tn" TAFT Bureau to-
day Ia reply to Senate: DiXon's familiar
charge that federal patronage was beinS
made use of in furthering the Taft move
ment The reply OF IN" Taft Bureau IL az
follows:
The open and unblushlus attempt Of
Cecil Lyon. Republican national committee
man and chairman Of the Republican State
Committee Of Texas not only TO force fed
eral officeholders in Texas 10 Join him III
electng Roosevelt delegates from that
state, but the further attempt of the OPP
ponents Of President TAFT IN Texas to col,
lcct a "slush fund from the federal
officials In thai state, has been revealed by
Mr. Roosevelts campaign managers in
Washington and by Colonel Lyon himself.
In an open circular lstter TO the federal
officials IN Texas tetll Lyon wrote on
March last:
Il take this means of announcing that.
while | have recommended for office every
man now holding Presidential commits
sion I'm the state of Texas except nVe,
wish to say 10 all that ! am expecting 10
send this circular later to every man
have recommended for office, and take this
means OF saying to them and TO the state
at large that | shall cherish no malice
against any man who sees nj TO differ with
me I'm his Presidential preference. | grant
to every man the right 10 make his owp
selection. Since | am stating my own posi-
ton | think II Is only fair to me that those
whom | have recommended to office be
equally fair TO me, and to that end i In
close "A card with request that you return
IL To me. signed. after filling In the blanks.
This Information Is required for my own
personal guidance, and ask an immediate
reply.
some men who attempt 10 carry water on
both shoulders. aud on that account there
will be some who will seek TO avoid placing
themselves on record, and who would ordi-
narlly, therefore. not comply with my re-
quest that they fill out and return this card
TO such I will say that ] Will make my
own classification II | receive no reply In
ten days"
Coming from the nld-mannered and
thoroughly docile Colonel Lyon, who has
the habit OF turning the left cheek to the
enemy after the right has been smtten,
this document Is a seven days wonder Lit
orally translated, Ii means that every post
master In Texas, every United States mar
shal and district attorney In Texas. every
collector OF customs and of internal reve-
nue. and every federal Judge whom Lyon
admits he appointed to Office I'm every par
ticular instance save i've out OF nearly five
thousand, must either take sides In this
fight or suffer the consequences from Lyon
personally.
The Roosevelt managers in statement
this morning declared that the Taft man
ayers were making an open and unblush-
ing attempt 10 coerce the Republicans OF
Texas into selecting Taft delegates TO the
Chicago convention by means OF the patron
age club"