New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-09
Republicans Produce Let
ter Ordering Tax on
POStmaSterS.
MCCORMICK ADMITS
1T WAS PREPARED
Instructions Given for
Evading Civil Ser
vice Law.

Evidence that at least few Of the
Democratic campaign fund collectors
are using old-fashioned Strong arm"
methods of extracting cash from Fed
eral appoIntees was produced by the
Republican National Committee yes
terday in the form OF a letter being
circulated among the county chairmen
in Texas.
The statement that postmasters are
expected to contribute 10 per cent Of
their annual salary. that they will be
classed as dislOyal If they do not, and
the inference that the reelection Of
President Wilson would result in dire
calamity TO those who failed to pro-
duce the required contributions. are
contained in the document, which bears
the signature OF R. Donna Ridgway,
member of the Democratic National
Finance Committee and chairman Of
the Democratic Central Committee in
Texas.
Chairman Vance c. Mccormick. Of
the Democratic National Committee,
having verified the fact that the letter
was TO be made public yesterday, an
ticipated the Republican attack. He
had announced that such a charge was
"arrant nonsense" but made a state
ment Saturday night in which he adj
mitted the existence Of the document
and said that the national committee
had known nothing about its prepare
ton. He said that il had been recalled,
but that few of the copies must have
gotten out in spite of the order not to
make use Of it.
The letter follows:
AT the instance Of National Com
D.
with the National Campaign Commit
Tee while in New York q few days ago,
I am writing 10 suggest that you have
n private interview with the postmas-
ters in your county who we're appoint
ed by the present Administration, in
regard to contributing TO the national
Democratic campaign fund. The names
and salaries of these appointees are
given below.
THE National Democratic Executive
Committee is expecting each postmas-
ter or other Federal appointee 20 con-
tribute TO the National Campaign Fund
an amount equal TO 10 per cent Of one
years salary. OF course, this ia not
compulsory, but we are advised that, in
the event President Wilson il re-
elected, there will be a permanent or
ganization Of our force throughout the
country, and a note will be made of
the loyalty Of those appointees who
contributed. as well as of the disloyalty
Of those who refused to contribute,
toward the reelection Of the Admins
tration from whom they received their
appointments.
"The civil service law will not per-
nit the writing Of a letter 10 a post
master, demanding money for campaign
purposes, nor will it permit any one TO
go TO the postoffice and request a sub
scription to the campaign. But you can
see the postmaster away from his place
% business and make such an appeal 70
him as you would make to any other
Democrat 20 contribute 70 the National
Democratic Campaign Fund, and can
advise him as 10 what the National
Committee is expecting Of him.
at is hoped that you will proceed
intelligently along these lines and ar
range in a legal way TO solicit each
Democratic postmaster, or other ap-
pointee Of the present Administra-
ton. 20 contribute 10 the Wilson cam
paign fund. all Of whom should realize
that the interests Of President Wilson
in this race are identical with their
own"