The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1912-03-27
DIXON MAKES PROTEST.

DIXON MAKES PROTEST.
caustic Criticism Of Action Taken By
Republican Committee.
WASHINGTON, March 25.-Regard.
the action of the state committee at
Helena Sen ator Dixon gave out the
following open letter addressed to re-
publican voters of Montana:
'The inform alton that the republi-
can state committee at Helena had
deliber ately refused to allow the re.
publicans OF Montana who will have
to do the voting In November the op-
portunity to express their choice by
means of primary as to their prefer.
ence In regard to the republican can
didate for president occasions no sur
prise. It had been given out In New
York on Friday exactly what the com.
mittse meeting at helena would do the
next day, and no persons in Montana
is in any way misled as to the con.
trolling forces behind the Helena
meeting.
"From every state where prim aries
are being forced comes the story of
violent opposition from political and
corporate bosses and manipul ators.
Every great interest in the United
States that seeks special favors at the
hands of the executive and from legis-
lative bodies, both state and national,
is viciously determined to prevent
Roosevelt's nomination. He is the
one man in the list of presidential
candidates who has any chow of nomi-
nation that they fear and hate. The
republican voters are overwhelmingly
for him.
"The situation in Montana is exactly
the same as in every other northern
and western state. Every democratic
daily paper in Montana and every re-
publican paper that is controlled by
the Amslgamated Copper company
are moving heaven and earth, both in
its news and editorial columns to ma.
liciously misrepresent Roosevelt, and
have joined q common cause to defeat
the will of the republican voters OF
the state. No sane man who knows
the feeling of the republicans of Mon.
tana has any donbt that with full and
free expression of the voters them
selves Roosevelt would be the over
whelming choice.
"Every man knows thatleither Taft
or Roosevelt will be the republican
nominee for president. Every man
acquainted with POLITICAL conditions
throughout the nation knows that
there is life and death struggle now
going on to determine whether or not
the republican party shall continue to
follow the inspirat and tradi-
tions of Its glorious history from Lin
coin to Roosevelt, or whether the
agent of the special interests and the
money power of Wall street. Theo-
dore Roosevelt represents the hope
and inspiration Of the masses of the
party.
Au0V 40 VIC Ouc A66uo uOW COulEOuts
ing Montana republicans as it con-
fronts the republican party in every
9th er state in the Union. Forewarn-
ed Is forearmed. The action of the
state committee at Helena has chal-
lenged the attention of the rank and
file OF the republican party in Mon
tana to the true chara acter of the sit-
uation that confronts them. The &C.
tion of handful of hand-picked men
at the state committee meeting tempo
rarily in control OF the state machine
will be resented by the masses of the
republican voters of the state.
1.-THE battle will be wsged until
the people of Montana shall have
thrown off forever the present control
of the political machines of both
parties in Montana"