The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-01
COL. THEODORE ROOSEVELT
WINS HIS SUIT FOR LIBEL;
GIVEN 6 CENTS DAMAGES
NEWETT ADMITS
HIS STATEMENT
TO BE AN ERROR

Marquette, Mich, May 31.-G. A. Newett,
defendant in the Roosevelt libel suit read
the following statement to the court here
today, admitting that the article pub
lished regarding Colonel Roosevelt was
an error but claiming to have acted in
good faith in the matter
Il was born on a farm near Janesville,
Wis, in 1856, and lived there until | was
about 16 years of age.
Il obtained my education In distrlc.
school. | came to Marquette county In
1878 and have lived here ever since. In
1874 l began working for the Iron Home
the first paper published in Ishpeming
and have ever since been engaged in
newspaper work in this county.
I'm 1879 left the Iron Home and start
ed the publication of paper of my own
and have continued its publication from
then until the present time This paper
| is known as Iron Ore.
I'm October, 1912, it had a circulation
of from 250O to 5000, four-fifths of which
was confined to the county of Marquette.
Il do not use wines or liquors myself
in any form and am an absolute teetotal-
er, having strong convictions on this sub
ject. Neither do | use tobacco in any
| form.
"In 1896 I was appointed commissioner
| of mineral statistics for the state OF
Michigan, a position | held four years.
| In 1905 | was appointed postmaster at
lshpemng by the plaintiff of this case
and held that office for four years. at
the end of which term | resigned
have also held various positions on civic
| boards in the city of Ishpeming
Prior to 1912 | had been for many
years strong supporter of Theodore
Roosevelt, recognizing him as the great
| l,oI f,,1-
published editorials and other articles in
Iron Ore commencing him and approx
ing his policies and | had, therefore.
assisted all his campaigns, not only By
personal effort but also by financial con-
tributions. Even in the primary cam.
paign of 1912 I supported him as second
choice for the republican nominee.
81 mention these facts as indicating
the impossbility of my harboring any
feeling of personal malice against the
plaintiff.
Various Statements
Some time before 1912 began to hear
statements from various sources that Mr..
Roosevelt was drinking wines and liquors
to excess. During this period ! took a trip
throughout the western country passing
through the states of Montana, Nevada
and Arizona, as well as the Intervening
cities. The statements of Mr.. Roosevelt's
in my hearing in various sections by many
persons whom / believed to be reputable,
but Notwithstanding this, | was loath to
credit them | felt that there was possi-
bility that these lersons were mistaken
and therefore thought the statements
probably unwarranted.
Later during the winter of 1912, took
trip to Florida, passing through Chicago
and other cities en- route and spent sew
eral weeks at Bellear and other Florida
points.
During this trip the same statements
as to Mr.. Roosevelt's habits We're repeated
in a very circumstantial way. although no
one was able to say that he had actually
seen Mr.. Roosevelt drink to excess or per-
sonally knew that he did So
During this period | also talked with
various reputable people in Ishpening ard
elsewhere than the places before mem
toned, who claimed to know the condi-
tions as they existed In Washington. ard
in whose statements / had the utmost con-
fdence both as TO their reliability and
their opportunity TO know the facts.
During the spring of 1912 newspapers
came to me on our exchange list, various
of which contained reference to Mr..
Roosevelts drinking habits. | saw and
read these newspaper publications. From
the statements so made in these papers
and all the information which had come
10 me from the Otner sources fnentlOneu.
| felt that / could no longer doubt the
truth of the statements which had been
made, much as ] regretted 10 believe
them.
Opposed His Election
when Mr.. Roosevelt was nominated
for the presidency on the national pro-
gressive ticket 1 opposed his election.
having been a lifelong republican and be-
1ievng that the success of that party
would be for the best interests of the
country. In October, 1912, MIR. Roosevelt
made campaign trip through northern
Michigan. and among other places spoke
at Marquette on the 9th. 1was present
on that occasion and heard him speak
In the course of his address he made
what | considered a most just 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 Colonel Roosevelt ought not be elect
ed President, and l concluded 1t WAS my
duty in opposition to his candidacy pub
lish the statements which | then believed
to be true.
II thereupon wrote and published the
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