The Washington times., 1913-06-01
VERDICT PLEASES
COL. ROOSEVELT
Former President Exonerated Of
Drunkenness Charge by His
Editor Opponent.
CONTINUED from First Pase.)

to say that he had actually seen Mr..
Roosevelt drink to excess or person
ally knew that he did 30.
During this period I also talked
with various reputable people in Ish-
places before mentioned. who
claimed to know the conditions as
they existed In washington, and In
whose statements I had the utmost
confidence, both as to their RELIABLE
ity and their opportunity to know
the facts.
During the spring Of 1917 news
list. various Of which contained ref
erencs to Mr.. Roosevelt's drinking
hebits. I saw and read these news
paper publications. From the state
ments % made in these papers and
all the Information which had come
to me from other sources mentioned
the truth Of I the stat.msnss at aisI which which
had been made. much ~ regretted
to believe them.
Opposed Roosevelt's Election.
When Mr.. Roosevelt was nominat-
ed for the Presidency on the Nation
a Progressive ticket opposed his
election. having been q lifelong Re-
publican, and believing that tho sue.
cess Of that party would be for the
best interests of the country. In
October. 1917, Mr.. Roosevelt made .
campaign trip through northern
Michigan. and among other places
spoke at Marquette on the 9th.
was present on that occasion and
heard him speak. In the course Of
his address he made what I consid-
cred most unjust attack on our
candidate for Congress. who was one
Of my lifelong friends.
This incident. together with the
statements which had previously
in the opinion that Mr.. Roosevelt
ought not to be elected President.
and I concluded that 1t was my duty
In opposition to his candidacy to
publish the statements, which then
believed to be true.
I thereupon wrote and published
the article which II here complained
Of. This publication was intended
only as . blow to Mr.. Roosevelt's
candidacy for the position he then
sought. In this publication acted
IN entire good faith. believing that
the facts stated were true, and be-
lieving that AZ q publisher owed
the duty to my readers to make that
statement.
After this article was published on
the 12th day Of October, 1872, neither
the plaintiff nor any one in his be-
half notified me that he claimed the
charges 80 made were unfounded,
nor did they request me to make any
correction Of the same.
Unable to Find Wituessea
On the contrary. this suit was
commenced on October 3. 1917. and
the service Of the papers constituted
the first intimation I received that
the article was complained of.
After the commencement Of this
suit there was nothing for me to do
but to prepare to defend II. and did
30 to the best Of my ability. From
that time I proceeded to investigate
the actual facts which could be
shown BY witnesses who would tes-
tify under oath. As I have sad. up
to the time Of the publication my
information had been through per-
sons who claimed to have knowledge
Of the statements which had been
made. and went forward to verify
those statements and determine the
witnesses by whom they could be
proven. Additional Information came
70 me from various sections Of the
country, as this case had been given
wide publicity.
Both my attorneys and myself
went Forward with the investigation
or all this with great thorouRhness.
and In numerous places in various
parts OF the country We found repu-
table witnesses who were willing to
swear that from observation during
certain OF the addresses and public
appearances Of Mr.. Roosevelt they
believed that he was intoxicated
when they saw him.
We have been unable. however, to
ocate or produce witnesses who will
swear that they have actually seen
Mr.. Roosevelt drink to excess. Upon
this phase Of the case. when the
attributed to such per-
sons should be sifted. it was found
n each instance that the witness
lid not himself know that Mr..
Roosevelt had drunk to excess or
that II he had made such claim he
was not willing to testify.
1t Is fair to the plaintiff to state
that 1 have been unable to find in
any section Of the country any in
iividual witness who is willing to
state that he has personally seen
Mr.. Roosevelt drink to excess.
Convinced by Evidence.
l have taken the testimony in the
'orm Of dispositions OF more than
orty reputable witnesses who have
the opinion that on those
occasions as to which they testify |
,e WAS Intoxicated haIIev. oil
hese witnesses were honest In max
ng their statements. l have relied
lpon those witnesses. but have rec
'gnized the lesser opportunities they
rave had to observe the plaintiff
md his habits.
/ have been profoundly impressed
Turing the progress Of this trial py
he nature and extent of the evil
lence produced by the plaintifr 10
he effect that he did not. In fact.
lse liquor to excess on any occa-
ion.
/ am unwilling to believe that
hese eminent men would purposely
nisstate the facts, or that under
he circumstances related by them
md their intimate acquaintances
With the plaintiff for so many years
hey could be mistaken as to his
abits.
/ therefore have been forced to be-
Ieve that those who have given
eposiuons or made the statement
hat In their opinion, on occasions to
rhich they refer. Mr.. Roosevelt was
had insufficient means
nd opportunity Of correctly observ-
ne him. and were mistaken.
Up to the time of this trial had