The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-03-07

ton / am being forced BY certain per-
sons into the arena this year. ! may
merely say that the statement II cor.
rect. only in the sense that It wouio
be correct to make the same state
ment as to my advocacy Of Mr.. Slim
son for Governor m 1910.
"In that contest. into which was
exceedingly reluctant to be drawn
and in which entered only from
sense Of duty to the people as whole.
I was assailed with virtually the same
arvuments by tho great majority OF
those who are now assailing me.
Not Personal Interest.
"rf I had consulted only my per-
soraI interest and personal prefer
ences l should have kept out OF the
Ia1O campaign and let the machine
remain in control at SARATOGA ana
Rave sesn the State go Democratic by
700 900 majority. as under those CIR
numstances 1t certainly would nave
gone. ,,io,s,,.
81 went in because / conscienuous'y
Thought IL was my duty to take my
part in the fight for honest govern.
ment. for genuine self-goverhineht ns
the people, without regard 10 inc co,-
seauences to myself. ana J am IN VIZ,
fight on exactly the same pas's anu
I'm
LET me add. In view OF the Dues
,ion of certain friends, that neither
MIR. Stimson, nor any other man
whom l have supported for pubic OF
tice owes me gratitude for doing So
7 support q man. not TO get MS Sra
itude. but because l believe ne WI,
render good service to the aeopie' anu
I ask nothing from any man IN re-
turn except that he render sucn ser
vice TO the people and l Juage MN
accordingly.
"As for the question concernlns
who are forcing me INTO the afe"9'
the answer Is easy.
(Which side Is making the demand
for the primaries? And which size
il stirling this demand whenever pos
sibIe. refusing to concede ii. save I'M
der compulsion, and trusting TO the
use of patronage. to such metnods as
those tried in the recent Kansas lily
congressional convention. and TO
those very machine leaders who have
turned a complete sonersault as re-
CARDS the President, during the past
four years?
These leaders are managing the
campaign against me. ano uhss
we're deliberately trying to wreck the
Republican party they would follow
precisely the same tactics az they
have been following: tactics which
made II seem that they would rather
see The Repubiieaff party defeated
than to see IL restored to what 1t was
under Lincoln,-and- see 1t become
again the genuine party OF the peo-
pie, which stands for real popular
rule, and for the highest ideal Of so
ciai and industrial justice, to De
achieved through popular rule.
Stands For Primary.
1--WE stand for direct presidential
primaries everywhere. in Illinois. In
Massachusetts,, In New York ffor In
New York the present primary law.
passed by the machines of the two
parties, is expressly designed to pre-
vent either party from escaping the
control Of professional politicians and
from falling under the ronuroI OF the
people).
If our opponents wish the people
to have their say let them support
real primary bills. II in open pri-
maries. without coercion or fraud.
without pressure brought by patron.
age, or by the promise OF. or by the
Withholding OF patronage, the plain
people OF the Republican party declare
that they do not wish me to be nomi-
mated, then most certainly do not
wish the nomination.
IF they declare that they do wish
me not In my interest. but in the In
terest Of the people, as a whole. then.
as I have already said. I will accept
and strive TO serve the people with
all OF whatever power / possess