The Washington times., 1915-04-19
Charges and Answers
Made by Principals in
Now Famous Libel Suit

Mr.. Barnes bases his case on a state
ment made by Colonel Roosevelt on
July 22. 1914, prior to the direct primar-
les held to select candidates for State
offices. The colonel said on that occa-
sion:
"Tn New York State we see at its
worst the development of the system
of bipartisan boss rule. The outcome Of
this system Is necessarily that invisible
government which the Progressive party
1t is impossible to secure the economic,
social, and Industrial reforms to which
We are pledged until this invisible gov
ernment Of the party bosses working
business and crooked pclitics is rooted
out of our governmental system
Mr.. Roosevelt stated also that tho
two older political parties were COM
Mr. Murphy and that the State gov
ernment is rotten throughout in most
Of Its departments,
He asserted that this rottenncss was
due to the cooperation of Mr. Murphy
and Mr.. Barnes. acting through Gov
ernors Dix and Glynn; that tho inter-
ests of Mr.. Barnes and Mr.. Murphy
are fundamentally Identical and that
when the issue between popular rights
and corrupt and machine ruled govern
ment Is clearly drawn tho two bosses
will always be found fighting on the
same side openly or covcrtly, giving one
another such support as can with safety
he rendered. - They really form the
all powerful. invisible government which
is responsible for the maladminstration
and corruption In the public Offices IF
the State"
Mr.. Barnes complaint asserts that
Colonel Roosevelt's references to Mr.
Barnes were libelous. false, and un-
true. and were published maliciously and
with intent to injure the plaintiff. and
for the purpose Of defam'ng and fniur-
Ing the legitimate political influence and
activity Of the plaintif in the perform
ance of his duty of citizenship For the
alleged libel he demands $4,000
Colonel RooseYelts answer i'm de-
fence Is a document of 1l3 printed pa ges
and goes bacg into political history as
far as 1896
One of the big problems of the case
ls whether or not Justice Andrews %in
permit either side to go into political
happenings so far back. If he does. the
case is likely to run for many weeks
Each side Is ready to produce score, uf
witnesses and to offer literally bales or
The answer repeats that ~nncrHl ,",.
ruptton existed in the state fo0r-.-
ments. 1t asserts that Mr Ra~" ",
posed the franchise tax law thr'
supported Lou Payn for reapnoi0'.,, . ..
as superintendent of Insurance. tNa. ..-
opposed the Hughes primarV hi>I,,: -. :
he supported POtham Aida fo~ %.
porary president of the senate; thu -
conspired with Mr.. Murphy TO ~ Z
William F. Sheehan rs United sat ''
Senator and opposed the election oI
Franklin d. Roosevelt
1t goes on to recite that there +: go =
an organization in Albany ." tho Ifl-
coin League. and that tho l"'cuC 81
corrupt political organization T,~
Roosevelt answer questions apa"d; 0r
State printing. 1t states that Johu \.
Hennessy accumulated an imnoue"
amount of material relating to inCfri-
Client and corrupt government.
Colonel Roosevelt further contends
that he had a right to criticise individ-
uals and events and that his comment
and criticisms were fair and privileged