Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-06-05

ono was able TO say that he had actually
| seen Mr. Roosevelt drink to excess or pef.
sonally knew that he did so.
During this period I also talked with
various reputable people In Ishpeming
ana elsewhere than the places before men
| toned, who claimed to know the cond,-
lions as they existed in Washington and
In whose statements I had the utmost
confidence, both as TO their reliability
and their opportunity to know tie facts
CONVINCED AGAINST HIS WILL.
During the spring of 1912 newspapers
came to me on our exchanges list var.-
GUS Of which contained reference to Mr..
Roosevelt's drinking habits. I saw and
read these newspaper publications.
From the statements so made in these
papers and all the information which had
come to me from the other sources mem
! toned, felt that I could no longer
doubt the truth of the statements viii. h
had been made, much as I regretted to
believe them.
| when Mr. Roosevelt was nomina ted
for the presidency on the national pro-
gressive ticket I opposed his election,
having been a lifelong republican and be-
leving that the success of that party
would be Cor the best interests of the
country n October, 1912, Mr.. Roosevelt
made rampaign trip through .urthcrn
Michigan, and among other 'olie
at Marquette on the ninth.
II was present on that occasion and
heard him speak. In the course of his
address he made what I considered O
| most Unjust attack on our candidate for
| Congress, who was one of my lifelong
| friends.
This incident. together with the state
ments which had previously come to my
knowledge, confirmed me In the opinion
that Mr.. Roosevelt ought not to be elect
ed president, and | concluded that It was
my duty in opposition to his candidacy
to publish the statements, which ] then
believed to be true.
II thereupon wrote and published the
article which is here complained of.
This publication was intended only as
a blow TO Mr. Roosevet's candidacy for
the position he then sought. In this
publication l acted in entire good faith,
believing that the facts stated were
true, and believing that. as a publisher,
I owed the duty TO my readers to make
that statement.
After this article was published on
he 18th day of October 1912, neither
he plaintiff nor any one In his behalf
notified me that he claimed the charges
so made were unfounded, nor did they
request me to make any correction OF
the same.
ION the contrary. this suit was com.
menced on October %. 1912, and the selv-
ice of the papers constituted the first
intimation received that the article
was complained of.
After the commencement of this suit
there was nothing for me to do but &c
best of my ability. From that time
proceeded to investigate the actua
facts which could be shown by wit.
nesses who would testify under oath.
las | have said, up to the time OF
the publication my information had beer
through persons who claimed to have
knowledge of the statements which had
been made, and I went forward to verify
these statements and determine the wit
nesses by whom they could be proven
Additional information came to me fror
various sections of the country. as tn:
case had been given wide publicity.
SEARCH FOR WITNESSES
| Both my attorneys and my self wen,
forward with the investigation of all thi:
with great thoroughness and in numcrou.
places in various parts of the country
| We found reputable witnesses who WEI
willing to swear that from observable,
during certain of the addresses and public
appearance of Mr.. Roosevelt they believed
that he was intoxicated when they saw
him.
We have been unable, however. to 10
! cate or produce witnesses who will swea
that they have actually seen Mr. Roose
welt drink to excess. Upon this phase o.
the case, when the statements attributed
to such persons should be sfted, 1t wa:
found in each instance that the witnes:
did not himself know that Mr.. Roosevelt
drank to excess or that II he made sucf
claim he was not willing to testify.
1T Is fair to the plaintiff to state tina
| l have been unable to find In any section
of the country any individual witness whc
is willing to state that he has personally
seen Mr.. Roosevelt drink to excess.
II have taken the testimony in tn,
form of dispositions OF more than 4
! reputable witnesses who have espresso,
the opinion that on these occasions as I,
! which they testify ne was intoxicated
I believe all these witnesses were homes
in making their statements. I have re
lied on those witnesses but have recog
rized the lesser opportunities they bav
had TO observe .he plaintiff and nj
habitP.
II have been profoundly impressed dur
ing the progress of this trial ny the ma
.ure and extent OF the evidence produced
by the plaintiff to the effect that he AZ,
not in fact use liquor to excess on an.
occasion
II am unwilling to believe that thss
eminent men would purposely misstat
the facts. or that under the circun:
stances related by them and their init
mate acquaintances with the plaintiff 70
so many years they could he mistake
as TO his habits.
Il therefore have been forced to be
lieve that those who have given 3epca,
tions or made the statement that In thei
opinion, on occasions TO which they sctel
Mr. Roosevelt was intoxicated, hao In
sufficient means and opportunity of cor
rectly observing him, and were mistaken
ADMITS HE Is MISTAKEN.
up to the time of this trial | had be
lieved that the statements made In in
article which I published We're entirel
, warranted, But In the face of unqualiiie
testimony of so many distinguished me
, who have been In position for years I
know the truth, ] am forced to the cor