Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-27

friends do up in Albany ] shall stand
by them. ! have given them, includ-
ing you. my best judgment. Now
II you and those like you fear that l
snail ask YOU TO cut your threats, your
fear is groundless."
On August 81 Colonel Roosevelt
wrote to Mr. Parsons. then a New York
Congressman. from the White House as
follows:
II entirely agree with all you say
as to all your just reasons for COM
plant against Governor Hughes, and.
furthermore. with all you say as TO the
fact that many of those who desire
his denomination desire 1t chiefly for
tho purpose of hurting the Republican
party
Moreover. my dear Parsons, you can
hardly seriously suppose that. to quote
your own words. am trying TO treat
you as puppct-that is. If you mean
me when you say those in charge OF
the national campaign which, OF
course. / am not On the contrary, 1
have written again and again to Taft
and TO Hitchcock not TO make any open
statement, and haven't the slightest
intention Of telling YOU what to do
and never will tell the Newspapers
that you will be told what 10 do and
never have thought OF so telling
them.
"Of course. ! want the fullest and
most open expression OF preference at
the primaries, but I'll stand heartily
for whatever you. Fassetr and the rest
OF the leaders finally do"
LETTER TO BARNES
FROM WHITE HOUSE
On November 4. 1908. election day,
Colonel Roosevelt wrote Barnes from
the White House:
Good for you, We arc all to be
heartily congratulated on the whole
business. national and State"
Colonel Roosevelt identified all of
the letters and declared them 10 be
authentic.
a series of confidential letters from
the files OF the late Thomas c. Plat
were read to the jury. Some of the
letters were signed by Senator Plat.
while others were signed by Colonel
Roosevelt. In nearly all of them the
writer's discussed candidates for of
flee In the State government, and, in
reply TO question by Mr.. Barnes's
counsel. the former President said
without hesitation that he consulted
freely with Senator Platt about affairs
at Albany. realizing at all times that
he was the boss" Of the Republican
party in this State.
One of the letters read contained n
postscript, saying:
"All right. I'll change the whole
Board OF Tax Assessors"
The letters were brought to SYRIA cuse
by the former Senator's son, and
turned over TO counsel for Mr.. Barnes.
Although the Colonel. who occupied
the stand while the letters were being
read, could not say whether he ever
had made II known to the public that
he was comforting with Mr.. Plat over
appointments. he denied emphatically
that such conferences constituted in
visible government"
MY actions" the witness asserted
were as visible rs they could be-"
In one letter Colonel Roosevelt told
Plat mot TO wait lunch" for him in
New York City. and that he would
call late in tho afternoon.
Did you go there TO consult Senator
Plat as leader or boss Of the party
about affairs in Albany?"
Il did," replied the Colonel.
OF HIS BRoTHER-IS-LAw
In another letter Colonel Roosevelt
invited Senator Plat to breakfast at
the home of Douglas Robinson, his
brother law. The Colonel said he
wanted TO talk about n candidate for
State architect. and that he had a
bully letter from Ambassador White
about Priest"
Did YOU asked Mr.. Barnum, meet
the boss at your brother-in-law's be-
cause you desired 'secrecy?"
II did not"
cussed with Senator Plat the fran
chise tax law?"
II do not know. do not know
whether Mr.. Barnes was present. I
don't know who else, If any one. was
present"
In letter from Colonel Roosevelt to
Senator Plat, dated 1895, various per
sons suggested for surrogate, among
them Mr.. Beckett. were discussed. A
postscript read as follows:
"All right: I'll change the whole
board of tax assessors"
In reply to question, the witness
said he couldn't answer questions about
each specific appointment There were
10000 OF them, l believe" he added.
Were there times when you relied
entirely on Mr.. Platte" asked Mr.. Bar
mum.
Il relied on him unless there was
reason not to-"
Mr.. Barnum read letter in which
Senator Plat advised appointment to
office of New York jeweler named
Stern. as he had been a generous con-
tributor last fall"
Colonel Roosevelt wrote to Senator
Plat. "All right. | will annnint Stnrp -