The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1912-03-09
DIXON ISSUES
A CHALLENGE
To Manager Mckinley to
, Vote on the Subject.
Wants Presidential Pre-
ference Primaries.

Washington, March 9.-Senator Jo-
seph M. Dixon issued another chal-
lenge from the Roosevelt national
headquanters last night to Director
Mckinley of the Taft national bureau
upon the subject of presidential pri-
maries. Replying to Mr.. iMcKinley's
letter of last night, Senator Dixon
characterizes 1t as a fiat refusal to aid
in getting presidential preference pri-
maries. and he makes a new demand
upon the Taft managers.
Director Mckinley. in his reply to
Chairman Dixon Thursday night, said
he is "in absolute accord with the
selection of the delegates to the ma
tional convention by the primary sys-
tenn wherever primaries are or may be
legally provided, fairly conducted and
surrounded by the restrictions of the
law"
Senator Dixon's letter sent to Mr.
Mckinley last night is in part MS fol-
lows:
Says Decision Is Regretted.
'Dear Mr.. McI<inley--You fiat re-
fusal to aid in securing for Republ-
can voters an opportunity directly to
name the candidates they desire to
support in the approaching campaign
is received. Your decision must be
regretted by everyone who has at
heart the success of the Republican
party next November.
nm your letter to me of March 3
you stated you had been asked by
President Taft to act as director of a
bureau with headquarters in Washing.
ton, organized for the purpose OF Sc
curing his renominatior for second
term.
81 am forced, therefore, to the con-
cluslon that in refusing to join with
me in an effort to secure an express
sion by Republican voters as to the
candidate they want, YOU are am
nounclng a decision of your chief and
that Mr. Taft refuses to trust the
voters to determine the question OF
his candidacy, and he Is willing TO be-
come a candidate of his party even
against the wishes OF the majority of
his party"
Deplorcs Use of Word "Game."
Senator Dixon expresses regret that
Mr.. Mckinley referred to changes in
the rules while the game is in prog
ress."
II regret that you regard the selec-
tion of Republican candidate for
president as game" says the letter
Evidently you lack comprehension OF
the dignity with which the people in
vest the presidency of the United
States, so to designate function
which is preliminary to the election
to that high office. Colonel Roosevelt,
It Is hardly necessary 10 say. is en-
gagged in no game But II you insist
on designating 1t a game my desire
is to eliminate marked cards and load
ed dice. Mr. Roosevelt and his sup
porters will not tolerate the tricks
and deceptions and fraud which are
inseparable from the kind of politics
your Characterization implies"
Colonel Rooseveqts manager says in
his letter that through political man
ipulation, particularly dn the South.
there has been an "absolute sitting OF
expression on the part OF Republican
voters" and he submits the following
questions to Mr.. Mckinley. as manager
for President Taft
Questions Put to Mckinley.
81 now ask you specifically:
"First-Are you willing to join me
in an appeal to the Republican state
committees to provide for an expires.
sion of tho Republican voters of the
several states on the choice of the Re.
publican presidential candidate?
"Sec ond-Will you Immediately joir
with me i'm a telegram to the Repub-
llcan members of the legislatures In
Massachusetts, Maryland and Michi.
gan, which are now In session, where
presidential preference bills are now
pending and where 1t is reported that
your friends are trying to defeat their
passage, urging them to support these
measures?
II await your immediate answer ia
these two propositions, because l re-
gard action favorable to the view
take as absolutely essential to party
success i'm November Trust the Re-
publican voters now"
Calls Story Forgery.
Senator Dixon denounced as a for
gerry telegram published in a Local
raper yesterday morning, purporting
TO be the text OF message. sent by
Senator Dixon to Colonel Roosevelt
The supposed telegram was as follows
Theodore Roosevelt, New York.
"The senate has ratified your con-
tentlon in regard to the treaties Our
Democratic friends have come to oul