Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1912-03-20

New York, March 19.-Theodore
Roosevelt issued statement today in
which he discussed President Taft's
speech in Boston yesterday.
Il am exceedingly glad that the pres
ident favors the presidential primary,
and If his campaign managers sincere
ly will back him in the proposition,
he will be able at once to get the
presidential preferential primary in
Michigan, Illinois, Maryland, the Dis
trict of Columbia and New York." said
Mr., Roosevelt.
President Taft is reported as say
ing at Boston yesterday" said Mr..
Roosevelt, "that voluntary primary
power, as he calls 1t, the soap box
primary-that is, method adopted by
the people as the only way in which
to express their wishes when their
legislatures deny them any other op-
portunity to do so, is worse than moth
ing But the president continued to
say that he favors a preferential pri-
mary for the presidency.
Hale Asks Support
ION the fifth of this month Matthew
Hale, of Boston, acting on behalf of
the Massachusetts, progressive Repub-
licans, who were making a desperate
fight for the passage of the presiden-
tial preference primary bill, tele-
graphed the president at the White
House, asking him for his moral sup
port in securing the passage of the
Massachusetts bill. Mr.. Hale referred
specifically to the fact that the presi-
dents adherents in Massachusetts,
were using every means to defeat the
passage of the bill.
On the 9Th of March, the presidents
secretary, Mr.. Hilles, wrote to Mr.. Hale
brief note saying that his message
had been received, and, by direction
of Mr.. Taft, referred to his campaign
manager, Representative Mckinley,
(who at the time was doing all he
could to defeat a similar measure in
Illinois,.
Public Opinion Aroused.
Nothing further was heard from
the president or his campaign man
ager, Mr.. Mckinley, by Mr. Hale, or
by anyone else in Massachusetts, as
far as know, and no moral aid, COM
fort or support was given by the
president or his manager to the men
in Massachusetts, who were making a
most desperate fight to overcome the
efforts of the presidents supporters
in that state to defeat the bill
However, public opinion was
aroused and the bill went through,
and I am exceedingly glad that the
presldent-now nearly a week after
the bill has become a law-should
say, as he does, that he favors 1t, and
welcomes it.
But l earnestly hope the president
and his supporters in other states
will support such legislation before
1t passes, and not after 1t passes.
Bill Up in Maryland.
"There is pending in the leglsla-
ture of Maryland bill providing for
the exact kind Of legally safeguard
ed presidential preference primary
which the president says he favors.
"The collector Of customs at Balti-
more, the most active of the presl-
dents party managers Of Maryland
and the head of the offlce-holders
there, has been opposing the enact
ment Of the measure by every means
in his power Every Roosevelt mem
ber Of the Maryland legislature is for
the primary bill, and all have been
endeavoring to secure the assistance
Of Collector Stone and Governor
Goldsborough and the other support
ers OF President Taft.
Opposition Is Seen.
"An almost similar situation exists
in Michigan. There the legislature
was called in special session to enact
a presidential preferential primary
law. The gentlemen in that state
who are leading the movement for
Mr.. Taft's nomination opposed the
bill by all the means in their power.
It was finally passed despite that OPP
position, but It lacked in the senate
the necessary two-thirds vote to
make 1t Immediately effective, the sup
torters of the president making a
desperate opposition and holding
more than third Of the legislature.
Governor Osborne has now called the
legislature to reconvene on March
90
'Tf the view that the president
takes Of the law that has been enact
ed in Massachusetts, is taken by his
supporters in Michigan, earnestly
and in good faith, there will be no
difficulty in Immediately securing the
presidential preference primary in