New-York tribune., 1912-03-09
ASSA|LS PRIMARY LAW
Roosevelt Never Saw Patronage
"USed More BarefaCedly."
COUNTY PETITIONS READY
Candidate Silent on Speaking
Tour, Though Told People Want
Him to Take Stump.

Theodore Roosevelt yesterday. speaking
OF the contest that is being waged in this
county for the election OF delegates who
would vote for his nomination for Presi-
dent. declared: "I have never seen a con-
test in which the patronage has been used
more barefacedly." He added that, in his
opinion, nowhere In the United States was
there a primary law more thoroughly mis-
chlevous and vicious than the one in this
state.
| There was an indication yesterday that
Mr.. Roosevelt was preparing to make a
speechmaking tour in the interests OF his
candidacy, for at Roosevelt headquarters
here message was given out from one OF
the seven governors" who furnished him
the opportunity of making his candidacy
public. In which he is besought to make ad-
dresses in the cause of equal opportunity
and equal human rights"
| Mr.. Roosevet's rap at the local organiza-
tion and at the primary law was given in
the course OF reply TO a speech from
Judge Charles Fl. Duell, chairman Of the
Roosevelt Committee of the City OF New
York, informing the candidate that the Pc
titions for independent candidates for dele
gates to the Chicago convention had been
completed in each of twelve Congress dis
tricts in New York County.
| Judge Duell delivered this Information in
| person to the colonel at his Office with THE
/ outlook Accompanying Judge Duell from
the headquarters of the committee, in the
metropolitan Tower. were various other
members Of the committee. including Elton
b. Hooker. treasurer; William NJ Bennett,
.cnairman OF the executive committee. and
Oliver I. Carpenter. secretary.
| We had no trouble in getting the neces-
sary number OF names" said Judge Duell
addressing Mr.. Roosevelt. except the
troubles that arise from the law itself. Our
so-called primary law is a wicked thing
an absurdity. 1t gives the right to those
who are intrenched in power the right 10
name the candidates that they wish to pre-
| sent the right to have the first column, the
right to use the party emblem But we
have overcome tho difficulties and mex,
week we will start in with a campaign
and we will have an organization in every
district in this county-as good an organi-
Zation. we hope. as the other side will
have: and we intend to win OUT
To which Colonel Roosevelt replied:
Judge, want to thank you and to
| thank these gentlemen for the work you
are doing under many exceptional diff
| culties. | have never seen contest In
which the patronage has been used more
in any state Of the Union there is a more
| thoroughly mischevous and vicious pri
mary law on the statute books than Tho
one we have here in New York. 1t was
nc anh M NuFn att trAa
gether. with the purpose Of preventing any
expression Of the popular will against the
machine leaders in either party. and II
has been elaborately devised to perpetuatt
the rule of the politicians and to prevent
the mass Of the voters from making Their
will felt in the selection OF the candidate:
for whom they are expected TO vote.
! Having these great odds against you. gen
tlemen. I think 1t is astounding that yoJ
should have been able to do the admirabl
work that you have done. And this is not
fight for any personality; 1t is figh
for great principle-the principle of gen
uine popular government. And sooner ol
later the principles for which We stand
must prevail, because otherwise IL Is {
sham to speak OF this as genuine demo
cratic republic. l thank you for what yol
have done.
For some time various supporters Of Mr.
Roosevelt have been urging him TO take
the stump To all such requests he has
made no formal reply The making public
last night of the message from Governor
w r. Stubbs OF Kansas was taken in
some quarters as the first move in announc-
ing that speechmaking tour would be
arranged. The Kansas Governor was one
OF the seven Governors who sent word tc
Mr. Roosevelt asking him to announce him
self as a candidate. His announcement was
made public in his reply to that communi-
| cation.
The dispatch is as follows:
| Topeka, Kan. March S, 1872
| In Massachusetts Pennsylvania, Ohio, IL
| linois and everywhere i have been there
a. an urgent demand among the people
for you to make public addresses in the in
terest of the great cause Of which you are
| the leader. You do not need 10 speak fol
yourself personally. for public sentiment 1:
more than five to one In your favor a.
| this time. But you do need to arouse every
voter to a sense OF his duty TO become ar
active, militant American citizen, durine
ticians, officeholding class and big bust
ness interests which are now enjoyins
special privileges are TO man against you
and are organized and have unlimited
money at their command. From nforma
| ton which l have received recently | dc
not think they would stop at any expense
| to nominate Taft. even though they knew
| he was facing certain defeat at the elec.
| ton, having in view the sole purpose OF de-
! feating you.
| | believe Il is your duty and that you
owe II TO your countrymen TO actively, pub
| licly and aggressively defend the great
cause of equal opportunity and equal hu.
man rights for all men which you have
espoused Your supporters are largely
among the farmers and working class OF
people, including. OF course. many en-
| ployes IN stores, tradesmen, clerks and pro-
| fessional men. These men are not active
political workers. however much they ad-
mire the principles which you represent.
citizen who loves his country. his home
and his God 10 get busy would change a
million inactive supporters of yours into
| n lighting army that would be absolutely
Irresistible The people OF Kansas are in
sisting that you make number Of public
| speeches in this state during the cam
| paign Please advise US when We can ex-