The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1912-03-06
SEN. DIXON
CHALLENGES
Taftites to a Show down
With the People and Open
Tryout in Ohio Between
the Rough Riders
l and Fossils. ,a

NNSnlnBlOn, AldiNh % -'oNhNNo' - 80
DIXON. chairman of the Roosevelt
executive committee, last night chal-
lenged Representative w. b. McKin-
lev. director of the Taft bureau, TO CO.
operate with him in bringing about
presidential preference primaries IN
every state in the union. The chal-
lenge was conveyed IN 4 letter In which
Senator Dixon said that the Roosevelt
supporters want to nominate a candl-
date who can win at the polls in No
Vember and that that candidate Is the
one whom the majority of the Repub-
lican voters of the country wanted.
Sona. or Dixon expressed the opinion
that, an overwhelming majority of Re
prblicans in all sections of the country
wont Roosevelt. 700
Director Mckinley replied last night
in q terse letter inqu:ring of Senator
Dixon on what candidate the latter
represents Mr.. Mckinney made 1t
plain that I'm view OF the fact that
Roosevelt has said that he would not
Eo an active candidate Tor the presi-
dency, the Taft people hesitate TO deal
with an organization that purports to
represent Roosevelt and undertakes TO
make him an active candidate.
Would smoke II. II. Out.
In other words. Mr.. mcKinleys let
ter is intended to go -urther toward
smoking out Colonel Roosevelt.
When told OF McI<lnley's reply to
his challenge, Senator Dixon said last
night that he would answer 1t today
and that he asked nothing better
than that the TAFT people should quib-
hlc over and dodge the direct issue Of
putting the presidential nomination
UP to the people for decision at popu-
lar primaries.
In issuing his challenge, Senator
Dixon said that he Is especially an
xious to effect an agreement with the
Taft managers so that primary
might be held in Ohio for the election
lof the delegates-at- Large.
1--WE want the Republicans of the
nation to know the real preference OF
tho Republicans of Ohio" he said.
mo other one thing could do as
much toward settling this entire con
test. Unfortunately, under the Ohio
law no primary expression Of ohio
Republicans can be secured before
May q, but If the country knew that
o statewide primary would be held in
Ohio the Chicago convention would
he composed OF men free to name the
candidate VINO had the greatest
strength with the masses of the party.
and they would ask no better index
Of that than the result OF the Ohio
primary"
Senator Dixon's letter was as fol-
lows:
my Dear Mr.. McKmley-For the
purpose OF determining definitely
whether the Republican voters Of the
country desire Colonel Theodore
Roosevelt or President Taft as their
candidate in the approaching presi-
Dental campaign, l hereby challegene
you to test by means OF primaries In
every state dn the union"
Both Want 10 Elect Republican.
Senator Dixon states that the OBJ
vious purpose of both the Republican
campaign committees is TO elect a Re.
publican next fall; that both are in.
terested primarily in the success OF
the party and that the first requisite
to such success is to CHOOSE the candi-
date with the greatest popular
strength.
I'VE ought TO have free and volun-
tary expression OF opinion directly
from the voters, who VIII carry the
hallots that viii determine finally the
verdict at the polls.' the letter con
tinues.
"rhe time to find out what the
voters want is before the nomination
is made rather than afterward. 1t viii
be too late after the convention Is
held"
Senator Dixon states that the Re-
publican national committee was not
lrstlhed in leaving the primary ques-
ton to the action OF the states.
In every state and district In the
union proper arrangements can be
made and effectively carried out" he
says FOR securing free and voinn.
tory expression OF the VIII OF the Pe-
publican voters. II dt cannot be done
ny statewide primary, which would
le Preferable, Il can be arranged for
Districts, Under the supervision Of pro-
per committees
The letter calls attention TO the var