The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1915-04-29
%%+%%%&%%%%%A%%+%%

Syracuse. N. Y, April ga series
of confidential letters taken from the
files kept by the late Thomas c. Platt,
while he was representing the state OF
New York in the United States Senate,
we're today read to the jury trying
William Barnes suit for alleged libel
against Theodore Roosevelt in the SUI
Dreme court here. Some of the letters
we're signed by Colonel Roosevelt. In
nearly all Of them the writer's discussed
candidates for office in the state gov
eminent and in reply to a question by
Mr.. Barnes counsel, the former presi-
lent said without the slightest hesita-
ton that he consulted freely with Sen
Ltor PIatt about affairs at Albany,
moving and realizing at All times mat
ne was the boss" of the republican
oarty in this state. One OF the letters
read during the forenoon session con-
tained a postscript which read: Al
tight. I'll change the whole board of
tax assessors"
The colonel denied emphatically hat
such conferences constituted invisible
yoyernment." NV actions" the wit
ness asserted. were as visible as they
.ould be-"
When court opened, a stipulation be-
tween counsel that dispositions of four
unnamed witnesses outside the state
would have the same effect as If the
witnesses appeared on the stand, was
.ead into the record. Mr.. WINS, Mr..
Barnes attorney, then put into the
.ecord letters written by Mr.. Barnes
70 Colonel Roosevelt and by Colonel
Roosevelt to Mr.. Barnes and to Her
bert Parsons. The letters, dated Au-
gust Fl, 1908. were nearly identical In
contents and phraseOlogy. In one let
Ter Mr.. Barnes discussed Governor
aughes. He said that should Hughes
Sc elected he would set up a political
machine and that all politicians who
opposed him would a v to sneak in
the back door or get out of politics"
Thought Hughes Erred.
The reply Of Colonel Roosevelt, writ
ZEN At Oyster Bay, read:
My Dear Mr.. Barnes: Yesterday |
Jaw Sherman Bennett, George Smith,
Mike Dady, Cocks and Hitchcock,
chairman of the national committee,
here. / have been carefully going into
the Hughes matter since | saw you:
[ appreciate to the full the force OF
the arguments you urged against ms
denomination. 1t is not pleasant for
me to support q man who a wan
tonly behaved badly to the very men
who did most in securing his selec-
tion-I would approve ms turning
hem down in he public interest, put
: object to its being done wantonly'
Moreover, / appreciate that he has
alienated quite needlessly very many
voters, and If we had the right man
20 put in his place (the right man
from the standpoint Of getting Votes).
: should say that 1t was certainly. wise
90 nominate such a man. But no such
nan is in sight, and there does not
seem to be the slightest chance OF his
Arising. Under the conditions, 1t seems
20 me that while il will do damage TO
renominate Hughes, it will do more
damage not to renominate him, and
that this damage will extend outside
of the state. "h
while, therefore, l want most en-
2hatically to disclaim any OF
seeming to dictate the nomination, /
think l ought to tell you that my 1udg-
ment is that the convention ought 10
renominate him. I am sure that the
delegates from this district will be Tor
him. Bennett, Sherman and Dady in
sist HI there Is no alternative TO MS
denomination. Hitchcock says that not
10 renominate him would be a harm TO
he anvas outside of New York. as
well as, in his Judgment, in New YORK
Even Smith finally that ne
was inclined to take the same view. |
may add that every one present agreed
20 keep absolutely quiet in this matter
md to consult with you, among Others
before any kind of conclusion was an
1ounced; but from tte papers Irshouid
Judge some one a talked. IL was NOT
for no man communicated
With me directly or indirectly, and !
was as much surprised as any n when
= saw the statements in the papers
A copy of the above letter was SEN
m Mr PIG rSOnS.