New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-15
NEGRO DELEGATE TURNS
Mississippian Says Taft Leader
Gave Him Expense Money.

Chicago. June IA letter written by
Charles Banks. one OF the negro Taft dele
gates-at-large from Mississippi. to Director
Mckinley Of the Taft headquarters an
uouncing that he would support Roosevelt
and was returning the money placed in
my hands, at your suggestion. to defray
travelling expenses OF some Of the dele
gates from Mississippi" was given out to-
night by Senator Dixon. manager Of the
Roosevelt campaign. and created sensa-
ton in political circles
The letter was accompanied by no ex-
PLANTATION from the Roosevelt managers
further than that Senator Dixon received
at Roosevelt headquarters this afternoon
the following copy OF letter sent to-day
Honorable william p. Mckinley"
Mr. Banks and his associates on tho
Taft delega tion-at-large were seated by
the national committee yesterday against
tho protests Of the Roosevelt contestants
from the state.
The letter alleged 10 have been written
f. Mr.. Mckinley by Mr.. Banks said In
part:
In keeping with my suggestion of yester-
day. | am returning 10 you herewith ths
money placed in my hands, at your sug.
gestion. 10 defray travelling expenses OF
some of the delegates from Mississippi
Ii is apparent that some one connected
with your campaign has been continually
trying TO discredit me before the country
and with my people for some time.
ago. looking after the new federal court
bin from Mississippi, and called at your
headquarters, your assistant without any
suggestion from me whatever. brought up
the matter Of expenses for delegates from
my state | told him then and there, In
YOUR presence. that. SO far as | was con-
Cerned I would not accept any expense
money for me whatever;
You then proposed that ! take enough
for the rest of the delegates. | stated 10
YOU that they were all men who could
get 10 Chicago. and you could look after
the matter there Both Of you, however.
proposed that the matter be closed them
10 which I agreed.
Banks SAYS in the letter that when he
reached Chicago last Wednesday he learned
that some one had Informed the Missis-
sippi delegates that you had given me a
lot Of money for them, as well az for my
self" He adds that II am returning you
herewith the money and you can do az
YOU gee 1t." His letter adds.
In turning from the support Of your can
didat- II may bo urged that ! nave No,
lated Instructions l shall say nothing OF
tho conditions under which the convention
issued instructions unless later develop
ments require II. but no member OF the
delegation from Mississippi Will say with
Justice to his conscience that was elected
on the strength OF. or alliance with, any
particular candidate.
The reply of the Taft headquarters to
the Banks letter. in the form OF remark
from Mr. Mckinley. was brief and oracu-
lar Mr.. Mckinley said:
81 hope every Republican will read the
Banks letter with extreme care and then
draw his own conclusions. Its disclosures
are Illuminating. Its issuance from the
Roosevelt headquarters Is significant
II was more than !ntimated that this
was merely the forerunner Of more specific
material 10 be issued from the Taft head
quarters Tomorrow.