Evening journal., 1916-10-09
Republican Committee
Publishes Order for 10
Per Cent Levy on
PoStmaSterS
LOYALTY TO WIN
WILSON'S FAVOR

ously denied the charge that the
Democratic organization was attempt
ing to extort campaign funds from
postmasters and other federal officials
BY a ten per cent political assessment.
Today, he admits the charge, but tries
to explain A. Tomorrow, he may nave
to explain his explanation in view OF
further conclusive and conhrmatory
evidence which has reached the Re-
publican National Committee.
When Mr. McCormicks attention
was directed to the charge that the
Democratic campaign committee
through r. Donna Ridgeway, a mem
Der Of the Democratic National Fin
ance Committee and chairman OF the
Democratic Central Committee OF
Texas, was attempting to hold up the
postmasters of the country by collect
ing contributions OF ten per cent.
Of their annual salaries under the
threat that a record would be kept
OF those who proved Iloyal" by con
tributinc and Of those who proved
"disloyal' by refusing to contribute,
Chairman Mccormick said: These
charges are the most arrant non
sense and are absolutely untrue. They
representation that the Republicans
have been making from the start
Yesterday. having learned that
comics of the shake down" letter
we're in possession of the Republi-
cans and that facsimiles we're being
furnished to the press Mr.. McCor-
mick revised-practically repudated
his denial.
rr.I... ho
"This letter was written and mailed
without the knowledge or consent of
any member OF the Democratic cam
paign committee and l have just
learned Of its existence. Mr.. Marsh,
the treasurer Of the Decorate Ma
tional Committee. tells me that he
received a copy of the letter about
two weeks ago. and that he wired inn
mediately to w. Poindexter. National
Committeeman for Texas, and to P.
Donna Ridgeway that the letter
should not go out Apparently some
comics did get out before his telegram
reached them
Mr.. McCormick's two conflicting de-
malls brings the question Of mis-
representation sharply TO the front.
when compared with the accompany
ing letter from r. Donna Ridgeway,
chairman of the Democratic Central
Committee. of Fort Worth. Tex, adj
dressed to the county chairman Of the
State.
u is peculiarly interesting that II
should be in the State of Texas, the
home State of Postmaster General
Burleson, that this particular attempt
to evade the law first comes to light.
Mr.. Ridgeway's letter is worth a
careful perusal. Il embraces a good
many points for deliberate considera-
ton. In its opening sentence for In
stance It cites the Democratic Ma
tional Campaign Committee of which
Vance Mccormick Is chairman, as its
authority for directing the course out
lined BY the letter. Mr. Ridgeway in
forms his "strong-arm squad" that the
Hon. William PoindeXter, Democratic
National Committeeman from Texas
had been in New York but a few
days prior to the writing of this letter
and while there had conferred with
the National Campaign Committee. II
was evidently upon the return OF Mr..
POindexter from New York TO Fort
Worth that he conveyed to Mr.
Ridgeway the instructions of the Dem
ocratic National Campaign Committee
to embark upon this course of eXtort-
ing campaign funds from federal Of
flcials. II was entirely appropriate,
with the Democratic scheme of things
that these orders from the Democratic
Campaign Committee should go 10 Mr..
Ridgeway because Mr. Ridgeway Is
not only chairman of the Democratic
Central Committee of Texas. but is
also the Texas member of the finance
-. NFuH N
Committed Mr.. R'dgeway's letter is
especially Illuminating in that It shows
that the National Democratic Cam
paign Committee, Vance Mccormick,
chairman. is actually engaged in first
attempting to extort from each Demo
cratic postmaster or other federal APP
pontee, ten per cent. of his salary for
the Wilson campaign fund.
Second. That there is to be a per-
manent political Federal force which
will keep an official record and rate as
Loyal those who contribute and as
"Disloyap those who do not.
Third. Those who receive the letter
are warned about the law and in
strueted to Proceed intelligently" so
-rRs to violate the purpose OF the statute
and yet keep out Of the penitentiary.
The following is the text OF the let
ter:
(PersonaD.
To county chairmen:
At the instance Of National Com
mitteeman Poindexter, who conferred
with the national campaign commit
tee. while in New York a few days
ago, am writing to suggest that you
have private interview with the
postmasters in your county who were
appointed by the present administra
ton. in regard to contributing to tn,
national Democratic campaign fund
The names and salaries o. these ap
pointees are given below.
The national Democratic executive
committee is expecting each post
master, or other federal appointed
to contribute to the national cam
paign fund an amount equal TO j
per cent. Of one years salary. .
course. this is not compulsory. bu
we are advised that in the even
President Wilson is reelected Their
will be a permanent organization o
our force throughout the country an
note will be made OF the loyalty o
those who contributed, as we'll as o
the disloyalty of those who refuses
20 contribute toward the reelection
OF the administration from whom
they received their appointments
The civil service law will not per
NIT the writing OF letter to post