The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1915-04-22
TRIES TO PROV:
HIS INTENTION.
Colonel Roosevelt Tastifies in.
$4,000. Libel. Suit.
FREELY QUOTES Mr.. BARNES

Freely QUOTES Mr.. BARNES
Former President Seeks to Justify the
Publication Of the Statement Upon
Which the Action Is Based-Talks
With Counsel for Both Sides and
Discusses Several Points With Trial
Judge.
Syracuse, N. Y, April 21.-Theo-
dore Roosevelt went upon the witness
stand in the supreme court here and
testified in an effort to prove his con.
tention that he was justified in caus-
ing the publication of the statement
upon which William Barnes sued him
to recover $4,000 for alleged libel.
Under oath he said the former
chairman, of the Republican state
committee had urged him not to an
tagonize men of large business, who
contributed to both the Democratic
and Republican parties so that they
would be protected.
Mr.. Barnes told him, Colonel
Roosevelt swore, that it was essential
to protect big business interests, be-
cause unless they were protected they
would not make contributions to the
party failing to protect them and that
without such contributions it was i'm
possible to carry on the organization.
Without organization leaders and
bosses, the former president quoted
Mr. Barnes as saying, party govern
ment would be impossible.
Colonel Roosevelt also quoted Mr..
Barnes as telling him that "the peo-
pie are not fit to govern themselves.
They have got to be governed by the
party organization and you cannot
run an organization, you cannot have
leaders, unless you have money
Colonel Roosevelt sketched his DO
litical career and with considerable
pride discussed the regiment OF
Rough Riders he organized for serv-
ice in the Spanish war. He told
where the recruits came from, where
they gathered, where they went and
just what they did. He even described
the first brush with the Spanish
forces and would have related or
ders he had given the men under him
had not counsel for the plaintiff oh.
jected. ---.~...
Relations With Senator Plat.
Then he gave detailed testimony
about his relations with the late Sen.
ator Thomas G.. Plat, with Mr..
Barnes and conversations he had with
both these men on various occasions.
Colonel Roosevelt talked OF the
counsel for both sides, offered sug-
gestions and entered into a discussion
of more than one point with Justice
William S. Andrews, presiding, whom
he addressed as Judge He was en-
tirely at his ease in the witness chair.
He stretched his arms over the back
of his chair, crossed first one leg and
then the other and adjusted and re-.
adjusted his glasses from time to
time +.
He cut all his words off shortly, ex-
cept when he mentioned the name of
Mr.. Barnes. He drew out the name
of his opponent and put peculiar
pronunciation upon the last syllable
Spectators said that every time he
mentioned the name of Mr. Barnes
they were reminded of the noise made
by a pebble dropping into pool of
still water.
Mr.. Barnes himself appeared to be
be much inter ested in the first part of
Colonel Roosevelt's testimony AS it
progressed, however, the plaintiff in
the action seemed to lose interest and
he first retired from a seat close to
the witness stand to one farther
away and then he left the room.
Mr.. Barnes attorneys had rested
before Colonel Roosevelt was called
to the stand. They completed presen-
tation of their case in twenty min
utes and called as their single wit
ness the defendants own private sec
rotary.
VOTE 500, 000,O 900 IN BONDS