The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-05-23
MANY WITNESSES FOR
NEWETT.ROOSEVELT TRIAL


talk OF a special car full Of notables
Marquette expects Clifford Pinchot,
Gen. Leonard Wood. Surgeon General
Rixey, OF the United States navy; Al
bert Shaw, editor OF the Review or
Reviews Lyman Abbott, editor OF the
Outlook. and others Of national fame,
VINO will presumably testify to Roose
velt's sobriety. And there Will be
bale of dispositions OF the same tenor.
In the matter of dispositions, Editor
Newett is on the job. too. He has just
been out west gathering lot OF them.
And his lawyers, w. p. Belden. or
Ishpeming, and Horace Andrews, OF
Cleveland, have been very busy Ia the
east and the middle west taking down
the testimony of volunteer deposers.
who are said TO agree with Newetts
estimate Of the colonel.
The dispositions will make entertain
ing reading for the American people.
And for that reason. Judge Richard
C. Flanagan, the prim, scholarly Re-
publican justice who will hear the
case. Is keeping them sealed Tor the
present. He doesn't want any posi-
BILE Juror to know what's in them be-
forehand.
Roosevelt. Of course, will be the
central figure OF the trial. But Newett
will share the limelight. And this
balligerent Irish editor. who has dared
to bait the colonel single-handed, Is
regarded here as a sort or hero.
Not that the populace loves Newett
He isn't a popular leader. exactly.
Many people In this Bull Moose
stronghold call him reactionary.
Anyhow, he has trained with the
standpat Republican bunch. and been
member of the ruling clique In Mar
quette county overthrow by I. X.
last fall. Besides. men OF Newett's
truculent character and vocabulary
make plenty OF enemies. But his foes
respect his scrapping qualities, and
his friends swear by him. And New
EFT stands by his friends.
That's what got him into this mix
up with Roosevelt. The colonel had
jumped onto Congressman II. o.
Young, of Ishpeming. Newetts life-
long friend. II was at political
meeting In Marquette. Oct. 8.
Roosevelt. in a sermon on the text.
Thou shalt not bear false witness,
bawled out the congressman as an
attorney OF the steel trust. Thereupon
ole John r. Van Evera rose up in
meeting and told Roosevelt he was
liar who knew, or ought TO know.
that Young had dropped his steel
trust work when he entered congress
ten years ago. And then Friend New
EFT wrote the piece for his paper.
which appeared three days later. re-
peating that the colonel was liar
and adding. by way Of good measure.
that he was drunkard. a blasphemer
and a bad loser.
Col. Roosevelt. in his libel suit,
passes over the charges that he lies
and curses in most disgusting way.
saying that such averments are In
some measure a matter OF opinion.
But he insists that the drunkenness
charge is "a false. scandalous. malic-
.ous and defamatory libel and asks
$4,000 damages.
The defendant replies that the ac-
cusation was true and therefore was
legitimate campaign material. and he
expects 10 prove IL.
Newett. who started as printers
devil at l6. and at sc has modest
fortune made out OF his printing shop.
his mining paper and general mining
interests has been accused ~ being
& tool In this matter. for the steel
trust or for powerful political enemies
OF the colonel. He protests. however.
that h. has spoken and acted only for
himself
He adds that voluntary contribu.
tons amounting To several thousand
dollars have poured in upon/him, In
sums from 81 10 $500, TO help pay the
expenses OF the trial. and that he has
returned every dollar
Newett disclaims any personal
grievance. lie was postmaster OF
Ishpeming for four years, and was ap.
pointed by Roosevelt. lie has never
run for an elective Office
Roosevelt couldn't have picked
tougher man to tackle anywhere in
the United states" says a Marquette
business man. He's a fighter almost
OF the Rooseveltian sort. He's good
hunter. too. who loves the open. and
strong. outstanding man. Really, he's
about the Invest wire in the upper pen.
Ursula. .