Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-05-06

"Other conversations were held in the
reception room and probably other per-
sons were there. One Of the converse
lions was just prior to the appointment
OF successor to Payn (who had been
removed from the Office of state super
Mr. Barnes conversation l had with
Senator Plat. He told me-
An Objection
An objection by Mr. Barnes counsel to
what Mr.. Plat told the colonel was sus-
tanned. The colonel continued:
We'll, the substance of our CONVEX
sation was this: MIR. Barnes said it
was necessary that the head of the or
ganization should have complete con-
troll and he inStanced Albany county.
He said the iff-raff could not be trust
ed to handle political affairs without
a leader. He said they would miscon-
duct themselves at the expense Of
could not go on.
He said 1t was not necessary for
the boss to issue orders to executive
officials and legislators and that they
found out for themselves that if they
did not support the organization they
could not get bills through, they
would not be renomnated, and they
could not secure funds with which to
carry on campaigns. He said it was to
their interests to find out what they
should do and then do it.
Mr.. Barnes said: You know the
senator does not bully. He does not
have to- He said it was quite sufficient
to have it understood that if a man
did not stand by the organization lie
got punished
Laughter from the spectators inter
rupted the Colonel. Then the witness
said: ''
He got punished and was elim;nut-
ed
John M. Bowers
John NJ. Bowers, chief counsel for
the defendant. asked him:
You say there were similar CONVEX
sations while you were President"
Didn't / say that?" asked the Col
onel, pointing to the stenographer
Just read what l said there. Yes,
thought did
What else did Mr.. Barnes say?"
asked Mr.. Bowers.
The Colonel replied:
MIR. Barnes said it was not necessary
to ask business men for contributions,
that they were not coerced into it, Mr..
Barnes also told me either at Oyster Bay
OF at the White House. after the elevtion
OF Gov. Hughes, that the organization
had complete control of the legislature
He said that the effort to pass the pri-
mary bill represented an effort to break
down party government and that the
Democratic and Republican organizations
should make common cause against the
legislation. On another occasion he said
that the people could not govern them
selves and that they had to have bosses"
You mentioned Democrats making a
common cause with Republicans. Did
you mean all Democrats" asked Mr..
Bowers.
1he colonel with smile replied:
II said the Democratic organization"
Colonel Roosevelt said Mr.. Bowers,
Il show you articles that appeared In the
New York World in May, 1913, and ask
you whether you read them prior to the
time you caused the publication Of the
article complained of"
II did, SIR" replied the witness.
did you rely upon the statements
contained therein?'
Il relied upon them after making spe-
cial inquiries about them"
The articles were read to the jury. The
first mentioned perfect understanding
between the Murphy boys and the Barnes
boys" in the state assembly. In the sec
ond article the capitol was likened to a
war map. 1.-THE allied Barnes and Muir
ply forces were mentioned, as were
promoters of invisible government, :"
which had, it was said, defeated direct
primary legislation favored by Gov.
Hughes
At this point dispute between coun-
sci arose concerning the admission of tes-
timony by Col Roosevelt relating to "a
man named McCabe, at one time leader
of the Democratic party In Albany"
William M. WINS being out of court
this afternoon, his assistants thought 1t
well to request an adjournment until to-
morrow, when the chief counsel would
be on hand to present arguments against
those that might be offered by Mr.. Bow
ers. The request for an adjournment was
granted. So Colonel Roosevelt undoubt-
eddy will resume the stand in the morn
ing.