New-York tribune., 1912-03-06
ROOSEVELT MEN ASK
NATIONWIDE PRIMARY
niyon Makes Proposal to Nc.
KinIey, Taft's Manager, to
Act Before Convention.
MS AUTHORITY DEMANDED
n..sident's Friends Wish to
ynow if Colonel Approves the
Scheme Before Replying
to Suggestion.

e.-,..h,rrton. March 5-Senator Joseph
n,~on chairman Of the Roosevelt EX-
y Committee. to-day challenged the
Tsyt campaign forces "to test py means
- nriroaries in every state IN the Union
e.nstor Dixon conveyed the proposal ID
,~...r N REPRESENTATIVE William B. Mchln-
5irector Of the National Taft Bureau.
r,-setor Mckinley tonight sent letter
e.,.tor Dixon asking if the proposal
- made with the authority OF Colonei
poossvelt. and also asking II Senator DIX
.r we're acting as chairman OF the hoose-
~, rvecutive Committee. either by selec-
~, or authority Of the colonel
senator Dixon's letter follows
por ,bs nyrpcse Of determining definitely
.bsther. the Republican voters OF the 80 ~
~, desire Colonel Theodore Roosevsh on
ps.sident Taft as their canolesIe Hi ra9 ~
eDproaching PresioentiaI can ~ means OF
~ chsilengs you 10 test py ttIvanS
rOy,rcsries O In every state in the Union
Senator Dixon states that the obvious
,p-nose Of both the Republican campaisn
.o-'r,i+-sas is 10 elect a Republican next
tou .hat both are interested primarily n
the success Of the party and that the nrst
,sauisite 10 such success is TO choose the
strength The letter then says.
We ought TO have free and voluntary
expression cf onion oireeIig esig,s lIS han VII Iii
Ssternine finally the verdict at tne poLs:
The tine 10 hnd out what the voters wan. S
* before the nomination is maze ra;h
man aftcrward. II VIII De 100 4aCe a4leI
f1s convention IS neld
senator Dixon says that the Republican
,snenal committee was not JUSTIFIED IN
l.aving the primary question 70 the action
Of The states, and adds:
II every state and district in the Union
rroper arrangemeuts can be made ana ef,
tectively carried out for securing a free ana
,oiuntary expression Of the will OF the he"
publican voters. II il cannot be done by
stste-v-ide primary, which would be prefer
sbie Il can be arranged for districts, un-
der the supervision Of proper committees.
The letter calls attention 10 the various
states where arrangements have been or
are being made for primaries, and adds:
With YOUR cooperation similar arrange
rnents no doubt can, be enected in all olner
states where legislatures are not now con
siderine the enactment OF Presldentlal piel-
eTence primary laws. am informed tnat N
several states where the Presidential pref
erence Urinary question is awaiting leglS-
iatjve action the influence Of men who are
wer,lrs with you is cast determlnedly IN
ornoeitIon Your cooperation with me IN
sgcb states no doubt would result in the
enactment of these laws ana the consloeI
able spread thereby OF the FreslqentIal
preference primary under direct legal sane
ii me cali your attention again 10 the
fact that Colonel Roosevelt has declared re-
peatedly that he is not an active canuluaie
tcr the nomination. but VIII accept II II III, is
cones TO him as the demand of the voters
OF he party. His letter 10 Mr.. Moore, OF
Pittsburgh, sent out by your headquarters
last night and published in the newspapers
this morning, is an adoitionai PROOF OF IiliS
attitude and Of the fact that IN no" saylnS
he viii accent the nomination under the
conditions specified he IS merely responding
toa popular demand ,
p. Tire voters OF the country nave an un-
Questionable rieht to express thelr oesre,
and I sincerely trust you VIII accept tH+s
challenge and prepare 10 co-operale w. u
nc IN ths arrangement Of such prlmaflS'
Corarois issioned officers are necessary 70 a.
rect an army. but II is the rank and ME
that win the victories
Director NcKinley's letter in reply was
BRIEF. He wrote:
am Just n receipt Of your letter Of The
TN ms. ant delivered by special messenger.
Since -or are pleased to apply 10 your
Communication so grave a term as chal-
lenee It becomes somewhat important 70
have or respective relations 10 Candidates
would therefore. say that I have been
asked by President Taft TO act as director
u a bureau, with headquarters IN WASH
fng,on. organized for the purpo7e Of secur-
ing bis denomination for second term
Blfors answering your challenge oesl g
10 know whether you are sctlnS as cnar-
man OF the Roosevelt executive comnittse'
ritEer bv selection or authority OF MT;
Roosevelt and also whether your so-caI "a
rballeree. was issued by authority Of Mr.;
Roosevelt whose nomination for a tnlraa
term as President I understand you ana
yoss organization are attempting 10 ee-
eureo
Senator. Dixon repned today 10 the state
nsnt given out by the national TAFT head
quarters yesterday in which attention was
called 10 the location Of the Roosevelt
headquarters in building owned by Frank
4. Munsey. The Senator eald:
We elected Taft four years ago out Of
the International Harvester Company
Rullding in Chicago. Our headquarters oc-
aupied the sixth foor Of that bnilding;
and 50 far as I know, no rent was palo
FOR the rooms. II personalities are wanted
In mis- camoaign We win give them more
mar they expect