Devils Lake weekly world. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1911-1914, 1912-03-15

letter on the subject of preferential
primaries written by Colonel Roose
Welt, to Senator Joseph NJ. Dixon, di
rector OF Roosevelt national headquar
tiers here, was given out tonight by
Senator Dixon. Colonel Roosevelt ap
parently endorses Senator Dixon IS chal
lenge to Director Mckinley of the Taft
headquarters for such primaries and
scores Mr.. McKinley's reply that "he
DID not favor changes in the rule of the
game while the game was in progress. .
Colonel Roosevelt refers to the nom
nations of federal Office holders, which
President Taft recently withdrew from
the senate, and infers that the presi
dents action was taken to provide an
example, for the politicians Of the
state.
Raps Politicians.
"Practically the entire body Of poll
ticians is pitted against US in this con
test,' the colonel wrote, "and in every
state and in every congressional dis.
trict they are led by the Office holders
who, with the example before them If
what was done in connection with the
nominations for local officers in North
Carolina, are working as we have rare.
ly seen them work in American pollti-
cal campaigns. -
Colonel Roosevelt's letter in full was
as follows:
Text of Letter.
"My dear Senator Dixon: have
received your letter of March 6. sta:
ing that in your opinion it is of vital
Importance to the success o. tho Re
lrl lican party in the November elee.
tions that the Republican national con-
vention shall nominate the candidate
whom the mass of Republican voters
wish nominated, and therefore this SEN
timent should be given expression
through presidential preference pr.
maries in several states in order that
the wishes of the voters may be ascer-
tanned before, instead of after the nom.
ination.
"I have also seen your correspon-
dence with Mr.. Mckinley. You pro-
rcsed to him that so far as possible
>',c selection Of the Republican cand;-
'a.e for the presidency should be de-
mined by the voters of the party IN
lie refe-ential presidential prima; As.
Mr.. NJ: Elnley's answer is contained IN
practically one sentence in the letter
sent you: Il do not favor changes i.
he r lies OF the game while the game
is in progress"
Plea for His Action.
''The point Of view expressed in
that sentence contains the issue within
the Republican party at this time. We,
who stand for the progressive cause,
for the cause Of honest and genuine
democracy, genuine representative gov
eminent, hold that a contest between
parties or within parties, is not carried
on as a game is carried on, for the pur-
pose Of winning prizes for the contest
ants, or with view to the personal
wishes or welfare Of any one man.
''We hold that it should be carried
on for the purpose of ascertainin: and
putting into effect the will Of the peo.
PIE SO that the people may jointly dc
for themselves what no man can do so
well for them.
"We hold that the laws that govern
elections and govern party organ,za-
tons should not be treated as rules
which are fit subjects for tricky man
iEulations by contestants for prizes.
''We hold that as far as ross Gle
these laws should be treated as rules
to ascertain the will of those whom
TIE public officials and party officials
are supposed to represent.
Not for Rewards.
"In sum, we hold that the object
of this contest is not to secure re.
wards for individuals, but to secure