Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-04-22
Cestifies to Prove His COnten.
ton That He Was Justified in
Statement about Barnes. For.
mer Party Leader.
PEOPLE UNFIT To RULE
s Substance of Alleged Remark
by Plaintiff. X. Sketches
His Career and Talks with
Pride about the Rough Riders
of '9S.

Syracuse, y. y. April 2o.-Thcodore
Roosevelt. former president Of the United
states went upon the witness stand in
The supreme court here to-day and testi-
fled in an effort to prove his contention
that he was justified in causing the pub
iication of the statement upon which Will
Nam Barnes sued him to recover $4,000
Tor alleged libel Under oath, he said
that the former CHAIRMAN of the republ-
ran State committee had urged him not
10 antagonize mon of large business in
terests who contributed to both the DEM
ccratic and Republican parties that
lhcv would be protected.
Mr. Barnes told him. Colonel Roose-
Welt swore. that ii was essential to pro-
tect business interests, because unless
they were protected they would not make
contributions to the party failing to pro-
tect them, and that without such contri
buttons it was impossible to carry on the
organization Without organization lead
trs and bosses. the former president
quoted Mr. Barnes as saying, party gov
eminent would he impossible
MONEY NEEDED IN POLITICS.
Colonel Roosevelt also quoted Mr.,
Barnes as telling him that the people
are not fit to govern themselves. They
have got to he governed by the party
organization, and YOU cannot run an
organization, YOU cannot have leaders,
unless YOU have money
Colonel Roosevelt was called to the
stand as witness for the plaintiff
after a technical question of proper
identification of the plaintiff and de-
PENDANT had been brought up by the
lawyers. lie was asked just one ques-
ton That was whether he was the
defendant in the action. He replied In
the affirmative and was then made a
witness in his own behalf.
lie sketched his political career and
With considerable pride discussed the
regiment of rough riders he organized
{or service in the Spanish war. He told
where the recruits came from, where
thev gathred, where they went and just
what they did He even described the
frst brush with the Spanish forces ana
would have related orders he had given
the men under him had not counsel
for the plaintiff objected.
Then he gave detailed testimony about
his relations with the late senator
Thomas G. Platt with Mr., Barnes ana
conversations he had with both these men
on various decisions. He will continue Ms
testimony tomorrow.
COLONEL QUITE At EASE.
Colonel Roosevelt talked to the counsel
for both sides. offered suggestions ana
entered into a discussion of more thar
one point with Justice William ;. An
drews. presiding whom he addressed AS
ti,.e1,- of
the witness chair. He stretched his arms
over the back of his chair crossed first
one leg and then the other and adjusted
and readjustcd his glasses from time to
time He cut all his words off shortly
except when he mentioned the name OF
Mr.. Barnes He drew out the name Of
his opponent and put a peculiar pronun-
,ia ton upon the last syllable. Spectator
said every time he mentioned the name
of Mr. Barnes they We're reminded Of the
noise made by pebble dropping into a
pool of still water.
Mr. Barnes. himself appeared to be
very much interested in the first part Of
Colonel Roosevelt's testimony AS 1t pro-
crossed, however the plaintiff in the
action seemed to lose interest and he
first retired from seat close to the wit
ness stand to one farther away and then
he left the room.
Mr., Barnes attorneys had rested be-
fore Colonel Roosevelt was called to th,
stand, They completed presentation OF
their case in twenty minutes and called
as their single witness the defendant 9
own private secretary.
COLONEL IS ON JOB EARLY
Colonel Roosevelt arrived at the
courthouse some time before his OPP
ponent, The crowd seeking admit
ance cheered him as he alighted from
an automobile and the colonel waved
reply with his hat. Mr. Barnes was
late. The jury roll was called and
then the proceedings halted while the
court waited for the plaintiff to APP
pear During the wait counsel for
both sides talked to Justice Andrews
The court decided not to wait for Mr.
Barnes and Mr. WINS was told he
might proceed. lie began by explain
ing to the jury the identity of the
principals.
The plaintiff" he said, lis William
Barnes of Albany and the defendant Is
Theodore Roosevelt of the United
States"
Mr., WINS then explained libel ant
the law pertaining thereto,
Mr., WINS continued in part as follows
I'VE must consider the occasion out OF
which the alleged llbelous matter arose
The occasion was antecedent to the pri
mary elections in this State last fall
Who We're the principals? The defend
ant while he was member of the As
sembly in the carly SOS established
reputa ton as an author He al tina
time had begun to make himself fac
tor in public affairs He had more innu
ence than any single newspaper"
Mr., Wins then sketched Colonel Roose
velt's political career
FLUENT WITH PEN.
During all this time" said Mr.. WINS
"he continued to be fluent with his pei
and he gradually became the creates
factor in American politics, Now Mr.
Barnes and Colonel Roosevelt were boil
trained at Harvard College, Mr. Barne
having been graduated about eight year
after Colonel Roosevelt"
Mr. WINS then discussed at length tn