Arizona republican., 1916-10-09


 of eNtorting campaign funds from general 0ff.ceholders. It was entirely arnroprlate with the democratic scheme of things, that these orders from tEe democratic campaign com wittee should go to MT Ridgeway because Mir. Rldgeway is not only ,t5irmar of the democratic central committee. of Texas, but is also the TCNas member of the finance commit tee. AIr. Ridgeways letter is especi- ally illuminating in that it shows tha- tho national democratic campaign committee Vance Mccormick, chair man. is actually engaged in.
 First. attempting to eXtort from each democratic postmaster or other fe5cr7l appointee ten per cent of his salary for the Wilson campaign fun: Second. that there is to be perm auent political federal force which win keep an official record. and rate as -lo2GI those who contribute and as "dislovar' those who do not
 Third. those who receive the letter are warned about the law and in- structed to proceed intelligently," SC as to violate the purpose of the sta tute and yet keep out of the peni- teutiary.
 The following is the text of the letter:
 Personal"
 To County chairman:
 At the instance of national com mitteeman Poindexter. who conferred with the national campaign commit fee while in New York a few days ago. I am writing to suggest that yOl have a private interview with tn, postmasters in your county who were appointed by the present administra ton. in regard tc contributing to thc national democratic campaign fund The names and salaries of these ap. pointees are given below.
 The national democratic executiv, committee is expecting each post master. or other federal appointee to contribute to the national cam paiEn fund an amount equal to | per cent pn one years salary. 0 course this is not compulsory, but WI are advised that in the event presi dent Wilson is reelected there vii he a permanent organization of ou force throughout the country and note will be made of the loyalty O those aDpOintees who contributed, a well as of the disloyalty of thos who refused to contribute, toward tn reelection of the administration fror whom they received their appoint ments
 The civil service law will not per init the writing If a letter to a post master, demanding money for cam paigr purposes, nor will it perm anyone Co go to the postoffice and re quest a subscription to the comaigl But you can see the postmaster ava from his place 9f business and mak such an appeal to him as you woul NH fn af fo tribute to the national democrat campaign fund, and can advise hii as tO what the national committee expecting of him.
 It Is hoped that you will procee intelligently along these lines an arrange in a legal way to solicit eac democratic postmaster or other al poinlee of the present administration Go contribute to the Wilson campaig fund. an of whom should realize tn; the interests of President Wilson this race are identical with their owl
 Very sincerely Your,
 R DONNA RIDEWAY.
 Chairman Central Committee" Mir. Mccormick in claiming that tf hold-up letter was sent out withOl the knowledge of the national con mittee fails to refer to the facts tn; its author. Mir. Ridgeway. is a men Der of The general finance committ' of the national committee. and to q further fact that in his letter M Ridgeway says that he acts at tl instance of the Texas member of ti democratic national committee, M Poindexter. who had few days pre- iously been in New York in confe ence with Chairman Mccormick, ar themembers of the democratic can paiEn committee.
 Those familiar with the organiz; ton of the democratic national con mi.tee may be disposed to acce with some degree of scepticism, M McCormick's assertion,
 First. that Treasurer Marsh. of il democratic national committee, il siructeG two weeks ago that | Eidgeway letter be withheld. and
 Second. and that MT. McCormi, never learned of it's existence until was called to his attention AS hou ago by the public press.
 Tho date of the letter shows tn even, according to Mir. McCormicl own statement, a week interven between the time it was issued al the time that Mr. Marsh instruct that such copies as remained u mailed, should not go out"
 Confirmatory evidence that the per cent assessment plan is bei operated in various parts of { country is in the hands of the publicaus.