Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1912-03-20
TURNS TOWARD OKLAHOMA
DECLARES THAT PATRONAGE IN
IN THIS STATE WAS USED TO
DEFEAT WILL OF PEOPLE.
SPRINGS HARRIS letter
Claims Tyranny is TO be Found in Un-
scrupulous Minority--Would Like
Primary in New York.

NEW YORK. March 19.-Colonel
Roosevelt today issued a statement
discussing President Taft's speech in
Boston yesterday, in which Mr.. Taft
said he favored a preferential primary
for the presidency.
Il am exceedingly glad" he says,
that the president has taken this
ground, and If his campaign managers
will sincerely back him in the propo-
sltion, we will be able at once to get
the presidential preferential primary
in Michigan, Illinois. Maryland, the
District Of Columbia and New York.
He Cites Oklahoma.
what has occurred in oklahoma"
continued the colonel indicates a
need of presidential primaries, and
shows how the patronage is at this
moment being used to defeat the will
of the people. AS there has been so
much recent expression of fear of the
tyranny Of majority, it may be worth
while pointing out that the only tyr.
rany Of which there is any danger ar
this moment as regards the presiden-
tlal nomination, IS tyrrany by minor
ity. led by the office holders and the
agents of the big financiers who do
not want a square deal; and these men
have been doing everything in their
power, not merely to mislead. but
to misrepresent and defraud Of their
rights the people at large.
Springs IA Harris Letter.
"The methods used to nullify wher-
o,s,r pncsllIo "a will Of tho nnopIa in
Oklahoma, was expressed in the fol-
lowing letter, the original of which is
before me, having been forwarded to
my by Mr.. j. f. Dyche, Oklahoma
member of the Roosevelt national
committee Of Chicago. The letter is
addressed to Mr.. Newton S. Ftgley,
postmaster of Hastings, Okla, and is
signed with the signature of ]. A. Har-
rls, chairman of the state republican
committee, who, Mr.. Dyche informs
me, has admitted to him that the let
ter is genuine. 1t reads:
Wagner, Okla. Feb. II, 1912.
"Mr, Newton S. Figley, Hastings,
Okla:
Dear Sir: am In receipt Of the
following letter from the department;
The Letter
The commission of n. S. Figley,
postmaster Of Hastings. Okla will eX-
pire February 2S, 1912. When last in
spected, this office did not appear in
a satisfactory condition, and unless the
postmaster can be relied upon to
lalse the service to a higher standard
of efficiency, 1t Is believed that he
should not be re-appointed. The de-
partment will be pleased to receive as
promptly as possible an expression of
your views as to what action in this
case will be for the best interest of the
service
II hope that you have your office
in first class condition and will contin-
ue to have 1t so. If you will bring a
delegation to the state and district
convention for Taft and Harris, / will
see that you are re-appointed.'
With best wishes. l am
"'Yours truly
(Signed) az. A. HARRIS
Chairman.
Digs Into Rump Conventions.
This letter has been printed in the
Oklahoma papers. The original, as
say, is now before me. 1t is no won
der. the methods like this obtain and
appear in the press, Mr. Harris should
have threatened that II he were not
continued as chairman he would hold
a rump convention and send contest
ing delegates.
Here in New York the progressive
members of the legislature and nom
partisan committee are doing every
thing In their power to secure a gen.
uine presidential primary and to over
throw the present preposterous pri-
mary bill, which was passed by the
machines of the two parties last year
with the express purpose of prevent
ing the people from getting control
of the management OF either party.
The supporters of Mr.. Taft have abso-
lutte control of the legislature, and II
they choose to act on the principle Of
the presidents speech in Masaschu-
sets made after the Massachusetts
primary bill had been enacted into
law. they can secure for this state a
corresponding bill.
"If these supporters will now in
good faith. work for the immediate
passage of proper presidential pref
erential primary in New York state,
we can doubtless obtain It.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
LONDON. March 19.-The coal min
I.