The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-08-06
SILENCE Of TOMB
IS COLD GREETING
FOR ROOSE VEL 7
No Cheers end Air;
No Hand Chaps
Crackle.
COMES AND GOES
WITH NO ACCLAIM
lllustrious Witness Appears Be-
fore Probing Committee and
Shoulders All Responsibility
for Absorption of Tennessee
Company by Steel Cor
poration.
Especial to The Times-Dlspatchl

New York. August ST wish II dis
unctly understood that I acted purely
on my own initiative and that the re-
sponsibility for the act was solely
mine.
II the same situation should face
me again / would do exactly what
did then"
Ihese declarations were made to-day
oy Theodore Roosevelt in the most
unprecedented event in American his
tory. The only living ex- President of
the United states gave utterance to
them before congressional commit
tee in the course OF an explanation ne
was making of one OF his official acts
That act was his official sanction of
the absorption OF the Tennessee Coal
and Iron Company by the United
States Steel Corporation at the solicit
tation OF two OF the highest officers o,
that giant combine
II ] had withheld my consen, do
not dou.t that the Steel Corporation
would not have purchased the Tennes-
zee Coal and Iron Company" declared
the eXPrcsident when a question on
that point was nut squarely 10 him by
Representative Bartlett, OF Georgia. a
member OF the congressional commit
tee that is investigating the Steel
Trust. and which for ten days has
been holding hearings In New York
for the especial purpose OF developing
all the facts connected with the alb
sorption by the trust OF its only great
rival in the United States, contrary,
as the majority OF the committee
frankly proclaim. 10 the spirit and
letter OF the Sherman antitrust law.
lie Was JTnhcrnlded.
Colonel Roosevclt's appearance in the
Finance Committee room Of the Alder
manic chamber al the City Hall. where
the Investigators have been holding
their sessions was unheralded and
wholly unexpected by everybody ex-
cept the members OF the probing com
mlttee. II was not decided until late
Friday night that he would take the
witness stand Chairman Stanley had
extended an invitation TO him Friday
afternoon to avail himself OF the op-
portunity. IL he so desired, to enlighten
the world as to his reasons for licens-
ing. while he was President, the Steel
Trust to buy its only competitor but
not until almost midnight OF that day
was the invitation definitely accepted
Only few minutes before his arrival
did the rutnor spread that he was he
ing looked for.
Although the room was filled with
crowd OF the usual dimensions that
daily have followed the committees
proceedings, not one of the hundred
feet when the eX-President entered.
smiling and stopping every few steps
10 grasp an outstretched hand. Not a
cheer rent the air; not a crackle of
handicap greeted him when he entered
or departed While he was talking
the silence or the tomb reigned, eX-
cept at long intervals when the ten.
sion of the moment expressed itself in
nervous ;.tters that ran round the
tween the illustrious witness and his
inquisitors provoked outbursts OF
laughter. in which the ex-President
usually led.
The oath that had been administered
to all other witnesses was not reouir-
ed of him. 1t was explained by Chair
man Stanley that Colonel Roosevelt
was voluntary witness, that he had
come In response to an invitation, that
no subpoena had been Issued for him.
nor had II been intended thus to force
his attendance.
The Colonel-that is the title by
which he was Invariably addressed by
his inquisitors-was dressed In a gray
sack suit OF tweed with broad stripes
OF black, He wore a white felt hat
His broad rundown collar bore In its
fold a black four In hand tie dotted
with white.
Makes Formal Statement.
Colonel Roosevelts testimony d.
vided itself into two parts-a formal
statement In his own handwriting.
which he had prepared the night be-
fore. and quick answers to rapid fire
questions shot at him by Representa-
tives Stanley, Littleton and Bartlett.
Democrats. and Young and Sterling.
Republicans. At his request he was
permitted to read his prepared state
ment without interruption. asserting
that he would be pleased after he had
finished 1t to answer any question
that might be asked. He emphasized
the reading by frequently pounding the
table with his right fist and thrum-
ming with the fingers of his left
hand. which trembled with apparent
nervousness. There was no tremor In
his voice. however. He was on tho
half Before rising to go he returned
the Fluctuations of Chairman Stanley
for having come forward voluntarily
as witness by saying:
Mr. Stanley an ex-President of the
United States is just like any other
citizen, with the same obligations and
responsibilities"
Not even this declaration produced
applause or other manifestation of ap-
proval. In sharp contrast with the
scenes that attended the ex-President's
conclusion OF his testimony was the
spontaneous outburst of applause that
greeted the conclusion an hour later
of the testimony which for two days