New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-01
WINS SAYS BARNES
WAS "OFFICE BOY"
Declares That Was Plaintiff S
Real Standing In State
Committee In 1908.
frrnn . s.,r Corre,pondcnt q me Tribun.

From . star Correspondent Of no Tribune
Syracuse, n. Y, April 90.-William
Barnes was virtually an "office boy" In
the Republican State Committee when
H. II. Vreeland, in 1908, sent q cam
paien contribution of $4,000 on behalf
of the Metropolitan Securities Com
pany, Of which he was president ac-
cordine to the statement made by VIII
lam NJ. Wins, counsel for Mr.. Barnes,
in Directing TO the introduction OF this
evidence for Colonel Roosevelt at the
trial of the libel suit here to-day. Mr.
yreeland said the money had been sent
through Lemuel E. Quigg, who was en-
ployed by the company at the time.
"Did you make contribution to
Charles F. Murphy that year," asked
William II. Van Benschoten, FOR the
Colonel, in an attempt to bring out the
defence's contention that big business
contributed equally to campaign funds
of both parties with the idea OF getting
protection, but the court did not per-
NIT the question to be answered.
Mr.. Vreeland acknowledged that con-
tributions had been made to Repub-
lican funds in other years, but he did
not know who transmitted them.
In arguing for the admission Of the
evidence counsel for the defence said
they wanted to show tn general rela-
ton Of crooked business and crooked
notifies. They pleaded that Colonel
Roosevelt had testified that both SEN
ator Piatt and Mr.. Barnes had stated
in their opposition to the franchise
tax bill that corporations contributed
to both parties.
Mr.. Barnes did not like the effort to
hook him up with the Metropolitan
contribution in 1903 because Of the
fact that he was chairman Of the ex-
ecutive committee Of the state com
mittee. He leaned over and talked
earnestly with Mr.. Wins, and when the
court asked for more information as to
lust what Mr.. Barnes's position in the
organization was at the time counsel
| said:
"He tells me he was virtually an
Office bow, byoking after the correspond
ence. and doing the best he could to
meet the newspapers that wanted ad-
vertisements."
When the judge smiled Mr.. Wins
added: "Mr. Barnes, like everybody
else. is older than he was, and he has
| grown"
Never Met Barnes.
On his cross-examination Mr.. Wins
asked Mr.. Vreeland, Did you ever give
any money directly or indirectly to Mr.
! Barnes"
81 don't know him." said the witness
az never met him in my life"
When the court asked Mr.. Van Ben
/ schoten whether counsel intended 10
try to show that the money was con-
| tributed to both parties under an
agreement that they would get pro-
! lection and TO show that Mr.. Barnes
had knowledge of it, the lawyer re-
Piled:
| frmative proof at this time that Mr.
| Barnes had knowledge of II. Agree
ments of that kind are not likely TO be
/ nut in black and white. When you find
/ contributions to both parties there is
a fair inference to be drawn"
That he would vote the "riffraff" in
the Democratic party in Albany at the
/ Republican primaries and vice versa
to show what joke direct primaries
were. was what Mr.. Barnes said to
Royal w. France, according to the lat
ter's testimony under oath.
Mr. France, who is lawyer, living
in Port Washington, said he had
conference with the Republican state
chairman in December, 1911. He was
chairman of the committee on state
politics Of the Brooklyn Young Re-
publican Club.
"Mr. Barnes told me-" Mr.. France
testified, chat our attitude was al
wrong; that the Human Greene bill
which we had backed, was bad; that II
exposed the candidates to too much
publicity, and that it made double
campaign for office. He said he could
ruin the reputation of any man IL he
threw enough limelight on IL. He said
he could get the riffraf of the Demo.
Gratis in Albany 10 vote in the Repub-
lican primaries and would vote the Re.
publican riffraff in the Democratic pri.
maries. and they would nominate such
rotten candidates as TO disgust the
voters with the entire proposition. lie
said the system of direct primaries
was subversive of party organization
which was necessary 70 maintain our
! institutions"
Printing Contracts Up.
Testimony as TO printing contracts
for the state and the city and county
Of Albany was not started until after
long argument on the part OF counsel
as TO its admissibility. For nearly an
hour Michael V. Dolan. director of the
Argus Printing Company, in Albany,
carefully cooled his heels and balanced
! his glasses on his right ear on the wit
ness stand. The jury had better luck.
Justice Andrews let them leave the
room while the legal bubbles were be-
ing thrashed out.
! "Tbe question to be settled" said