Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-03-16
A FAKE ISSUE,

managers are raising a great cry for
presidential primaries. They are fir
ing their black cartridges at the presi-
dent and Chairman Mckinley, while
m admiring group of rough riders is
standing by and emitting occasional
whoops. The fake issue thus raised by
Colonel Roosevelt is not fooling any
one. President Taft has nothing to do
with the question of presidential pri-
maries. Neither has Chairman McKin-
ley. This is matter for state legisla-
lures to decide, and that such pri-
maries have not been considered of
sufficient Importance to move the
legislatures to action is indicated by
the fact that in only few of the
states have primaries been provided.
In Iowa, for instance, not voice
was heard in favor of presidential pri-
maries until Col. Roosevelt picked up
this issue in an attempt to cover up
his tracks and draw the attention of
the people away from his indefensible
course in breaking his solemn pledge
not to be candidate for third term
as president. Roosevelt well knows
that no presidential primary can be
legally conducted unless state legisla-
lures have made provision for them.
To demand presidential primaries in
states where such primaries cannot
legally be held under existing laws is
an evidence that Col. Roosevelt has
reached dangerous state of mind. He
would be the first to break the pre-
cedent established by Washington
which limits our presidents to two
terms, he would plunge the courts into
chaos with his recall of judicial de-
cisions doctrine, and now he would
override the state laws governing the
manner of selecting delegates to presi-
few shouters have led him er-
roneously to believe he would profit
by such primaries. ~
Roosevelt would not gain any bene-
ut from legally conducted primaries,
certain amount of spurious strength
from primaries illegally called, as the
Taft supporters would disregard such
primaries and conduct their delegate
conventions in the manner prescribed
by the laws of.their states. The recent
situation in the Fifth Missouri dis
trict is case in point. In the states
where legal primaries have been pro-
vided by the state, backed up by state
laws and providing legal count OF
the vote, there is no objection to presi-
dental primaries, but there is objec-
ton to soap box" primaries held with
out warrant Of law.
There hasn't been the slightest in
timation that all sides have not re-
ceived q square deal in the Iowa
caucuses and conventions so far held,
which have given Taft six delegates,
Cummins two and Roosevelt none.
Take Wapello county, for example.
In this county calls for the ward. and
township caucuses were published for
weeks ahead and every republican
voter was notified concerning them.
There was real test of strength. be-
tween Taft and Roosevelt here, be-
cause the Cummins men threw their
strength to Roosevelt and only two
sets Of delegates were voted on in
the caucuses, those favorable to Taft
and those favorable to Roosevelt.
There were 179 Taft delegates selected
at these caucuses and only % for
Roosevelt. And this result was secured
at legally conducted caucuses in which
every republican voter in the county
had vote.
Roosevelt, with astounding egotism,
seems to assume that all these dele.
gates have been secured for President
Taft by binding and gagging the
voters. He cannot, or will not, see
that the great body of republican
voters are for President Taft In this
contest, and he is sending up cry
for primaries in his chagrin over the
discovery that he made serious mis-
take in taking up fight for the nomi-
nation.