Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-06

L u general luTOuSHOuI tie COuIl-
try the fortunes of Roosevelt and Taft.
Director Mckinley. before acting on the
challenge. demands to know of Director
Dixon whether he is acting by authority
(of Roosevelt. intimating that the under
standing is that Roosevelt is not seeking
| the nomination.
| Issues His Challenge.
| Director Dixon's letter follows:
| MY Dear Mr. Mckinley: For the pur-
pose of determining definitely whether
the republican voters of the country de-
sire Col Theodore Roosevelt or President
Taft as their candidate In the approach
| ing presidential campaign, / hereby chal-
lenge you to a test by means OF primaries
| in every state in the Union.
| II take it you will agree with me that
the chief object we are both seeking is
the election of a republican to the presi-
dency next fall Whatever may be our
personal views as to the availability OF
one or another candidate, we are all re-
publicans, all interested in the success or
the party and all DESTROYS OF doing what
We can to insure such success.
| 1.-The first requisite to such success is
| the selection of the man who has the
greatest strength with the voters them
selves. We ought to do everything IN
our power to ascertain. before the con-
vention is held, what is the desire OF the
man on whom the party must rely 10
carry it through to victory In November.
I'VE ought to have free ana Voiun-
! tary expression of opinion directly from
! the voters who will cast the ballots that
will determine finally the verdict at the
polls. The time to find out what the
voters want is before the nomination IS
| made, rather than afterward. 1t Will
| be too late after the convention IS held.
Action Not Justified.
II am, of course, aware Of the action
| of the republican national committee on
the primary question at it's meeting in
this city last December, and l know
the argument on which it was based. In
my judgment no argument can justify
that action. In every state and district
in the Union proper arrangements can
be made, and effectively carried out, Tor
securing q free and voluntary expression
Of the will of the republican voters
"If it cannot he done by a statewide
primary, which would be preferable, 1t
can be arranged for districts, under the
supervision of proper committees. In
Ohio, for instance, there is a proposition
for district primaries, which, while not
as satisfactory as the statewide presi-
Dental preference primary provided by
law in North Dakota, Wisconsin, Oregon,
Nebraska, California, New Jersey and
South Dakota, nevertheless will result IN
OOIdEHlHS D. uACOI OApA OSSAOAA - OAAA ~AAS
voters themselves.
with your cooperation similar ar
rangements, no doubt. can be erected IN
all other states where legislatures are
not now considering the enactment of
presidential preference primary laws. I
am Informed that in several states where
the presidential primary question is
awaiting legislative action the influence
of men who are working with you Is cast
determinedly in opposition. Your CO
operation with me in such states, no
doubt, would result in the enactment of
these laws and the considerable spread
thereby of the presidential preference pri-
mary under direct legal sanction by the
state.
Roosevelt Not "Active Candidate"
LET me call your attention again to
the fact that Col. Roosevelt has declared
repeatedly that he is not an active can
didate for the nomination, but will ac-
cept If it comes to him as the demand
of the voters of the party. His letter
to Mr. Moore of Pittsburgh, sent out by
your headquarters last night and pub
lished in the newspapers this morning,
is an additional proof of this attitude, and
of the fact that in now saying he will
accept the nomination under the condi-
tions specified he is merely responding to
a popular demand.
THE voters of the country have an un-
questionable right to express their de-
sire, and l sincerely trust you will accept
this challenge and prepare to cooperate
with me in the arrangement of such
primaries.
commissioned officers are necessary to
direct any army. but it is the rank and
file that win the victories. Respectfully
yours JOSEPH NJ DIXON,
chairman National Roosevelt Executive
Committee
Mckinley Makes Rap1y
National Taft Bureau, Raleigh Hotel.
Washington, ID. c., March =, 1912.
Hon. Joseph NJ. Dixon. Chairman
Roosevelt Executive Committee
Washington, u. c.
MY Dear Senator: / am just in re-
ceipt of your letter of the 9Th instant de-
livered by special messenger. Since you
are pleased to apply to your commune
cation SO grave term as challenge it
becomes somewhat important to have our
respective relations to candidates made
clear at the outset. ] would, therefore
say that l have been asked by President
TAFT to act as director of bureau, with
headquarters in Washington. organized
Tor the purpose OF securing his renOmi
nation for a second term Before an
/ swerfng your challenge desire to know
| whether you are acting as chairman of
| the Roosevelt executive committed either
| by selection or authority of Mr.. Roose-
welt. and also whether your so-called
| challenge was issued by authority of
| Mr.. Roosevelt. whose nomination for
| third term as President understand you
| and your organization are attempting to
| secure. Respectfully yours.
"WILLIAM b. MCKINLEY,
/ Director National Taft Bureau"
Dixon's Rejoinder.
| Director Dixon today sent the following
rejoiner to the reply which Director Nc
kinley made last night:
/ Il have received your reply to my let
ter of yesterday challenging you to a
test by primaries to determine whether