Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-05-28
John CaIIan 0'Laughlin
Backs Up Testimony
OF Roosevelt.
TOGETHER MANY YEARS
Correspondent ReCounts Trav-
els With Colonel and Tells
of Foreign Banquets.

Marquette, May 2S.-lnIroduction OF
further testimony to show the alb
stenious habits of the plaintiff was re-
sumed today in the libel suit of Theo-
dore Roosevelt against Publisher
Newett. Roosevelt occupied his ac-
customed inconspicuous seat with
row of spectators inside the railing.
Newett came into court with his coun-
sci. He is a very sick man, but his
rudy countenance hid this from all
but those who know him well. He sat
utterly motionless.
John Cailan O'Laughlin, Washing
ton correspondent, was the first wit
ness. Although Roosevelt, on return
ing to Europe from his African hunt,
was obliged to attend banQuets ten
tered by monarchs, he never INDUCED
in champagne TO an immoderate de-
gree, was the testimony of O'Laugh-
lin, who has been associated with
Roosevelt 20 years. He met the col
onel on the Nile after the African
hunt and accompanied him as far as
Paris as secretary to the former
! president. He also accompanied
Roosevelt on various campign trips in
this country.
During the 90 years experience
with Roosevelt have you seen him in
the slightest degree under the infiu.
ence of liquor?"
NEVER UNDER INFLUENCE.
'1 never saw him under the infiU
ence of liquor, and it seems silly to
me to@haEe anyone suggest he ever
was" replied O'Laughlin, emphatic
ally.
"At banquets did you ever see him
drink any liquor?"
He sometimes took glass of white
wine. l never saw him drink more
than one glass of champagne"
O'Laughlin described various din
ners. official and otherwise, given il
Washington, including dinners of the
Gridiron club. Asked if Roosevelt
mixed his drinks at all, or not
O'Laughlin repliIl: IF he tool
champagne he never took anything
else"
On cross-examination OLaughlir
was asked by Attorney Belden if il
1912 and for tome time prior there wal
not a general report among news
paper men that Roosevelt drank t.
excess.
O'Laughlin, shaking his finger at II,
lawyer. replied: There is not a rep
utable correspondent in Washington
but who thought the report silly"
Counsel for both sides were on thei
feet in regard to this reply, and tn
Jury was excluded. Attorney Poun,
said the answer was embarrassing,
and Belden explained he proposed t
show what other newspapers had t
say on the subject.
= The answer was stricken out by tn
court. Lawyers suggested that in tn
absence of the jury that the lega
question of the admissibility of test
mony touching on general reports tina
Roosevelt uses liquor to excess, be Sc
tied.
CHARGE NOT CONTRADICTED.
, Belden said it was the intention c
the defense to question future witness
t es in an attempt to show the positio
, of the defense. But there was in e.
istence a general report amounting t
general reputation that Roosevelt doe
use liquors and sometimes TO excess
, that the reports were published
!, newspapers, and that this charge me-
: er has been contradicted by him"
=. Belden maintained such testimon
was required to show good faith an
!, the absence of malice in the public;
ton of the defendants editorial
could not be, in the presence of wild
spread comment by the public and
important newspapers, stated the Law
: yer, that Roosevelt had been great
: damaged by repetition of charges {
: intoxication, even remotely.
I'VE propose to show such charge
as made by the Iron Ore We're by I
means confined to this region. Tt
plaintiff during 1912 was the mo-
'' talked of man in the United State
, and We expect 10 introduce testimon
u TO show adverse comments on his ha
Llo were hduS ID many OIHeT pdIl
the country. This point bears stron
iy in showing the absence of malio
on the part Of the defendant"
I'm the declaration to this suit II
plaintiff not only included the que
ton Of his use or non-use Of liquor
= but also that of his general reput
ticu," said Belden.
l. NOT AFTER THE MONEY.
q The court asked Belden whether u
e defense would combat the position
$ the plaintiff that malice in the pub
t cation of the article was the basis Il
ldanaaReA Reide2 answered proof