Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1915-04-29
ROOSEVELT TELLS
 HOW 'B0SS' AIDED He Consulted Platt Because Legislature Obeyed Sena-
 tors Orders.
OWED PLATT NOTHING
Former President Says Though Platt Insisted on Nominating Him for Vice Presidency, Delegates
 Were Unanimous.
(By James ]. Montague)

Syracuse, N. Y., April 2S.-In suc- cessful competition with a roaring thunder storm, Theodore Roosevelt today explained and sought to justify his subserVience to Boss" Platt, which subservience was clearly shown by the Rocsevelt-Platt cor respondence. It was the colonelss seventh day on the witness stand in the Barnes-Roosevelt libel suit.
 The ordeal of cross-examination ended early in the day. Most of the time he was in the hands of his own counsel, MT. Bowers. He re- stunned his speeches to the jury. The violence of his manner matched that of the storm which ragged without. The lightning glinted on his glasses, and at times the thunder drowned his voice. But although wholly on the defensive, he outflashed the lightning and outroared the thunder, in his efforts to show that the blows struck at him out of the grave of tho
 easy boss" had not hurt.
 On redirect examination, which he practically conducted himself, MT. Roosevelt declared: e.. .1-
 First, that he consulted Platt on all matters, because without Platt, he could do no affirmative right and was not content with negative good.
 Second, that he sent Platt a proof of his message as governor because he wanted to let Platt know clearly where he stood to get the benefit of any. Platt advice and to learn of any Platt objections, that they might be met. -.
 Third, that he took his nomination for governor from the hands of the boss without being pledged. in any way, either to Platt or the organiza- tion. ';..+@,.t
 Fourth, that though, Platt insisted on nominating him for. vice presi- dent, it was not Platt but the, un- animous voice of the .delegates.'to the Pennsylvania convention, ,whicn1 forced him. to accept, an 2 office he considered of less value than a pro- fessorship of history. :, 3,. <: ,.,s...,s}
 Fifth, that he appointed no man. on Platt's suggestion unless he consid- cred that man the best possible man for the place. -:*, ... s.. >
 Also, that all his meetings with Platt were with the distinct under standing that full publicity, should be given them. .~., x
 Went to Headquarters. l., While he was governor, the colo. nel declared, he discussed things with Senator 'Platt because he had found out that the legislature obeyed his orders. And the witness thought it best when thefe was any likelihood of that lawmaking body of the state with him to first go to headquarters and talk things over. Further, as governor, the colonel said, he did not want to run any chances of disrupting the Republican party.
 Colonel Roosevelt admitted saying in another speech that MT. Barnes and Murphy should be in the same party The speech was delivered in Saratoga. In it Colonel Roosevelt was also quoted as saying one con- trols New York and the other AL bany. The witness said the speech was substantially correct, but that part of what he said had been left out and part had been, shortened and incorrectly reported.
 In another speeseT Colonel Roose- welt was quoted as saying that MT. Whitman was one of the most "ef- ficient instruments of Tammany."