Omaha daily bee., 1916-10-10
TEXAS TOW LINE
BREAKS THE LAW
Demo Committeeman Hold Up
Federal Officeholders for
Ten Per Cent Of Pay.
PROOF Is EASILY PROVIDED

OF the democratic national commit
tee, yesterday virtuously denied the
charge that the democratic organiza-
ton was attempting to extort CAM
paign funds from postmasters and
other federal officials by a ten per
cent political assessment. Today, he
admits the charge, but tries to explain
ii tomorrow, he may have to ex-
plain his explanation. in view Of fur
Their and conhrmatory evidences
which has reached the republican ma
tional committee.
When Mr.. McCo.mick's attention
was directed to the charge, that the
democratic committee through R.
Donna Ridgwsy, a member Of the
democratic national finance commits
tee and chairman OF the democratic
central committee OF Texas, was at
tempting to hold up the postmasters
Of the country, by collecting Con
tributions Of 10 per cent Of their an
ual salaries under threat that rec
ord would be kept Of those who
proved loyal by contributing. and
OF those who proved "disloyal." by
refusing to contribute. Chairman
Mccormick said: Those charges are
the most arrant nonsense and are alb
solutely untrue. They are in line
with the campaign OF misrepresenta-
ton that the republicans have been
making from the start"
Cold Facts Startle Him.
Today. havin learned that copies
OF the "shake-down" letter were In
possession OF the republicans, and that
fac-similes were bling furnished to
the press, Mccormick revised--prac-
tically repudiated--his denial Today
he says: ).
This letter was written and mailed
without the knowledge or consent
OF any member OF the democratic
campaign committee. and have just
learned OF its existence. Mr.. Marsh
the treasurer OF the democratic ma.
tional committee, tells me that he
received copy OF the letter about
two weeks ago and that he wired
Immediately to w. Poindexter, ma.
tional committeeman for Texas. and
to P. Donna Ridgway. that the letter
should not go out Apparently some
copies did get out before this tcle-
gram reached them"
Mr.. McCormick's conflicting de-
malls bring the question Of misrep-
resentation sharply to the front when
compared with the accompanying let
ter from r. Donna Ridgway, chair
man OF the democratic central COM
mittce OF Fort Worth. addressed to
the county, chairman OF his state
II is pecularialy interesting that 1t
should be in the state OF Texas, the
home state OF Postmaster General
Burleson, that this particular attempt
TO evade the law comes 10 light
What the Letter Proves.
Mr.. Ridgway's letter is especially
Illuminating in that it shows that the
national democratic committee. Vance
G. Mccormick, chairman, is actually
engaged III.
First--lAttemptin. to extort from
each democratic postmaster or other
federal appointee 10 per cent Of his
salary, for the Wilson campaign fund.
Second--That there is to be per-
manent political force which will
keep an official record and rate as
loyal those who contribute AID az
'disloyal' those who do not.
Third-Those who receive the let.
ter are warned about the law, and in
structed to proceed intelligently" so
to violate the purpose OF the statute
and keep out OF the penitcntiary.
Text Of the Letter.
The following is the text Of the
letter:
Headquarters Texas Finance COMMITTEES
The national democratic campaign. Fort
Worth Texas central committee. X. Bonna
Ridgway. Fort Worth, chairman. Johr
Kirby Houston; Frank c. Davis, San An,
tonic; John j. Simmons. Dallas: II. A
Wroe. Austin; Allen d. Sanford, Waco
w. Poindexter. Cleburne, Louis j. Worth
am. Fort Worth. national committeeman
tPersonaiy
Fort worth Texas. sept. 10, isis--count,
Chairman: At the instance Of Nationa
Committeeman Polndexter who conferred
with the national campaign committee
while In New York few days ago, an
writing 10 suggest that you have privAt,
interview with the postmasters In you
county who were appointed by the presen
administration. In regard 10 contributing
70 the national democratic campaign fund
The names and salaries Of these appointee
are given below
The national democratic executive com
nittee Is expecting each postmaster o
other federal appointee to contribute to tn
national campaign fund an amount equs
70 10 per cent Of one years salary o
course this Ii not comulsory. but we ar
advised that In the event President wilso
Is reelected. there Will be permanen
organization OF our force throughout IN
country and note win be made Of tn
loyalty Of those appointees who contributed
as well Of the .disioyalty Of those who re
fused TO contribute toward the re-electio
~ the. administration from whom they re
ceivsd there appointments.
The civil service law will not PERM
the writing Of letter TO postmaste
demanding money for campaign purposes
nor will Il permit anyone to 20 to II
postoffice and request subscription to I'll
campaign. But you can see the postinastt
away from his place Of business and max
such an appeal 10 him you would max
to any other democrat 10 contribute to tn
national democratic campaign fund and ca
advice him as to what the national con
mittee IL expecting of him.
II 10 hoped that you will proceed INTEL
gently along these lines and arrange In
legal way TO solicit each democratic pos
master or other sppointee Of the preset
administration. to contribute 10 the Wilse
campaign fund. all Of whom should reaili
that the interests Of President Wilson
this race are Identical with their own.
Very sincerely yours.
II. Donna Rdlgway. Chairma
1a Central COMMITTEES.
Points In Premises.
Mccormick in claiming that Il
hold-up letter was sent out witho'
the knowledge OF the national con
mittee, fail to refer to the fact tn