New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-27
COLONEL SURE
PLATT WAS OK.
Can't Remember Whether
He Filled Any Office
Without Senator's Aid.
WITNESS IS HOBBLED
Pinned Down TO Plain Answers
10 Singing Questions in
CrOSS-EXamination.
-r-ou a star CO-rsspCnd.ut q m. Tribun.

Syracuse, y. Y, April 26.-Hamp-
ered by strict application of the rules
Of evidence and hsrassed by his cross
examiners, Theodore Roosevelt beamed
A. the close Of to-day's session Of the
Barnes $4,000 libel case when his
views on the Presidency were
read. Here are some Of them, just as
he wrote them to Senator Platt on
February !, 1900:
81 can't help feeling that it is not
81 ofice where 7 can do much
"l have thoroughly enjoyed being
Governor"
"I should like TO be Governor an
other term"
As Governor ! could achieve some
.f7c. but As Vice President | should
scnieye nothing"
81 am by no means sure that | ought
60 .o on in public life"
The only reason that ! should like
90 70 on IS that as I have never been
q money maker / feel rather in honor
bound 10 leave my children the equiva-
len. in a way Of a substantial sum By
actual achievement in politics or let
t.rs'
Nor were the sentiments Of Colonel
Roosevelt months before the conYen-
ION. which nominated him as Vice
President the only bit of past political
history illuminated to-day. Letters
written by Herbert Parsons were
uar. Of the documentary evidence IN
reduced. and they showed that the
New York County leader was the foe
and not the friend of Hughes in 1908.
So strongly did Mr.. Parsons feel
abou. the denomination Of a man who
had Aouted the organization that he
wrote: 1T is the man or the party,
and Il decline to he responsible for
,he denomination of Hughes
Roosevelt on Hughes.
Colonel Roosevelt's attitude, shown
bv mis- own letters of 1908, was that 1t
would be worse for the party not TO
renominate Hughes than it would be
20 refuse him the nomination. Never
,heless, he purposed 20 stand by ms
friends in Albany.
William Barnes declared in his let
ters that there was nothing like good
ernt TO clear the atmosphere, and the
bigger the row in the convention the
t, fall
D.. was a dismal day for the Colonel,
and the only bit Of explanatory testi-
rocv he got upon the record TO stay
was concerning the squaOblc over the
rerom,uation of Governor Hughes. 1t
was before ne had met Mr.. Davenport,
Mr Hirman and Mr. Newcomb TO hear
the Hughes side Of the dispute, he said,
and f, was only natural that his SYM
pa,h.es should be with his older
friends. Mr. Barnes and Mr.. Parsons.
They put the hobbies on the Colonel
after that. William NJ. Iyins, who had
been giving him free hand in the
cross examination apparently with the
idea Of making MY. Roosevelt Of the
United States" exhibit No. for the
plaintiff. handed the Colonel over to
William l.. Barnum. Mr.. Barnum, for
merry District Attorney Of Onondaga
County, is the prize wrangler Of SYRIA
cuse. and the knots he put in the Colo
nels hobbies were enough to astonish
rancner of the Little Missouri.
Singing Little Questions.
Nr Barnum began 10 read from a
bulky volume Of letters which passed
between Colonel Roosevelt and Senator
Platt As they occurred 10 him IN the
course Of his reading, he ficked the
witness with stinging little questions.
And not a question that was not framed
20 limit the answer 10 "Yes," NO" or
81 don't know" For the most part the
Colonel shuiIled along at the 81 don't
know gait
As to the appointment of Mr.. Hunt
as District Attorney Of Erie County" "
asked Mr.. Barnum smoothly, chad SEN
ator Platt asked you to consult him
-bou, that?"
My recollection" began the Colonel,
r the assured manner gained by days
D. immunity under cross-examination,
Is that Senator Platt had protested
against some" -
- move that me answer be stricken
oU,' Mr.. Barnu.n calmly interrupted,
and continued his perusal OF the letter.
Did you appoint Mr.. HiNT the at
torney asked.
II did" was the reply
Did the recommendation Of Senator
Platt influence you ?" The Colonel re-
torted: at did not Mr. Hill was my
friend, and"
"Moye that the latter part of the
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