New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-26
COLONEL STARTS LIBEL
SUITS AGAINST EDITOR
Criminal and Civil Actions
Grow Out of Charges That
He Gets Drunk.
MICHIGAN MAN DEFENDANT
First Chance Roosevelt Has
Had to Reach a Person OF
Responsibility in Reports
of His Intemperance.

In n statement made public yester-
day at the Progressive national head
quarters It was announced that Grim
iual and civil actions for libel had been
brought by Theodore Roosevelt in the
state court at Marquette, Mich. against
George A. Newett, editor and publisher
of The Iron Ore" a weekly newspaper
published at Ishpeming, Mich. The
civil action demands nominal damages
Of 5000.
The action was taken, the statement
declared, because of the publication by
MIR Newett in 1.-The Iron Ore Of
Saturday. October II, OF an article
headed THE Roosevelt Way" which
included, among other alleged SANDERS
the following paragraph:
Roosevelt lies and curses in most
disgusting way. He gets drunk. 100
ard that not infrequently, and all MS IN
Inmates know about II.
It has been well known to Colonel
Roosevelt and his friends for long
time, the statement said, that his op-
moments were conducting an insidious
campaign Of slander against him, ana
seeking by innuendo and covert sugges-
ton to create the impression through
out the country that he was heavy
drinker and that he was frequently in
toxicated. No respectable person OF re-
sponsibility, so far as he is known TO
Colonel Roosevelt and his friends mas
dared to make this charge In an open
and responsible way until Mr.. Newett
made it in his newspaper.
The letter written by Colonel Roose-
welt some weeks ago In which he spoke
about his habit regarding all beverages
and said that he drank about as much
as DR.. Lyman Abbott, the statement
declared. was the result OF reports
| brought to him by friends that SLAM
derous stories of such a nature were
being circulated as widely as his op-
ponents could procure. 1t appeared
however, that opponents Of Mr. Roose-
welt continued to spread this falsehood
concerning his personal habits the
statement said, and the coloners friends
had been watching TO secure evidence
of the utterance of this libel by any re-
sponsible person. The publication OF
the article in the Ishpeming Iron
Ore" was the first case that had come
10 the notice Of Mr.. Roosevelt, or his
friends.
Colonel Orders Suit Started.
The statement went on:
Colonel Roosevelt was In Chicago from
Saturday, october ~, TO Monday, october
H. The Iron Ore containing SIrdae TINS iioel
October r. On Monday, october IL, as
Colonel Roosevelt was preparing TO go TO
Milwaukee, copy OF the paper was pu'
tion that the publisher Of the paper is
resnonsible person. Immediately upon
reading the article in question, colonel
| Roosevelt gave ditectiohS SO 20 PLTICGei P%oIonei
Roosevelt left for Milwaukee at O'Clock
that afternoon. While on the tram
telegram was prepared which was sept at
lhe INST opportunity 10 +" iSIs. -. -
mel Roosevelt in Detroit, ASKING MN 10
retain competent counsel, to have the cir
cumstances of the publication Of the libel
| Investigated and TO prepare al once 10
proceed against the publisher OF The IRON
Ore" Before there was time for any re-
sponse TO be received to that telegram
the attempt 10 assassinate Colonel Roose-
welt In Milwaukee was made
Judge James II. Pound, of Detroit,
who was retained as counsel for Colo
mel Roosevelt in the case, went TO Chi
Cago and had conferences with repre-
scntativcs Of Colonel Roosevelt and
| members of his family, the statement
went on. Judge Pound advised that IT
was possible to begin actions in the
federal court, but 1t was decided that