New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-04
Demands $1,000 from Head
of Anti Saloon League
for Making Charge.
LEGISLATORS TO
BLAME, HE SAYS
Try to Cause Impression That
They Are Not Responsible
for Their Acts.

William Barnes, Jr., chairman or the
Republican State Committee, filed j
suit yesterday against William II. An
derson, superintendent Of the Anti
Saloon League for $1,000 damages for
libel. The suit is based on an open
letter by Anderson to Barnes in which
the defendant charged that Barnes
was a boss" and that in that capacity
he had stood in the way of the enact
ment Of the optional local prohibition
bill in the Assembly.
Mr.. Barnes says in his complaint
that the appellation boss" in the letter
of Anderson is used as an odious and
opprobrious epithet in common use by
those whose cry is down with the
BOSSES meaning thereby those who,
through their influence and position in
recognized political parties, dominate
and control nominations made by such
parties or appointments 10 office. and
through such domination and control
in procuring nominations and appoint
ments improperly, immorally and IL
ence the representatives of such par
ties in their public Office to perform
acts in violation of their oath of office
and against the general welfare and TO
surrender and subordinate their own
will to those Of such bosses"
Anderson referred to Barnes as boss
of the liquor end of the Republican
Party" Here was an innuendo, Barnes
contends, that he "as such boss dom
mates an alleged branch of the Re
publican Party, representing producers
and consumers of and dealers in intoX-
icating liquors" Anderson went on
70 gay that the Assembly excise COM
mittee was so selected as TO defeat
the optional local prohibition bill which
was backed by the federated churches
Of the state.
Barnes also takes exception to the
appeal OF Anderson that he permit
"your representative" Assemblyman
Hinman, TO advance the bill, the char
acterization, the plaintiff alleging
carrying with il the innuendo that AS
semblyman Hinman was and acted as
pls.. -,f's personal agent and repre-
sentative and in violation of his in
dependence and duty as the represent
ative Of his constituency"
Barnes alleges that Anderson pub
llshed his letter to induce him unlaw-
fully TO use his influence in procuring
the passage Of the bill and for the
purpose of defaming and injuring the
reputation and legitimate political in
f1uence and activity of the plaintiff
in the performance OF his duty OF
citizenship"
Barnes valves all exemplary dam
ages and asks for $1,000 damages,
solely as compensatory damages. He
said yesterday through his attorneys,
Wins Wolff & Hoguet. that his pur-
pose in bringing suit against Ander-
son was to demcastrate that ] will
not permit a charge Of this kind to
go unchallenged."
"I hold" said Barnes" that ] have
no function, as chairman, either TO
favor or oppose measures pending be-
fore the Legislature, except such as
the party itself may be committed TO
or has declared against. in which case
my support or opposition should be
open and aboveboard and without any
improper or Illegal exercise OF any in
fuence which I as a party official
may have.
Zach member Of the Legislature
should be responsible to himself and
TO his constituents. and TO no one else.
Popular government breaks down when
an outside agency is able TO control
the action of the representatives of
the people chosen to the Legislature.
The existence of such al agency brings
the Legislature into disrepute and
contempt
"It is true that members Of the
Legislature at times have cndeavored
to hide behind such an agency-eXist-
ent or imaginary-and are themselves
open TO blame for the creation of the
impression that they are irrespon-