Perth Amboy evening news., 1915-04-19
Word Corrupt" Which RooSe-
welt is Alleged to Have Used
on Political Alliance.
TRIAL JURY Is SELECTED
More Republicans on Panel
Than Progressives or DEM
ocrats, Aids Barnes.
Special by United Press Wire.

SpeCtub " OHlteu ETcSS VHe.
Syracuse, April 19.-During the
trial of the Barnes Roosevelt suit,
begun here today, Theodore Roose-
welt promises to open Republican
state organization closets and reveal
some political skeletons. William
Barnes is suing the former Republic
can president and present Progress
sive leader to recover $50, 900 dam
ages for alleged libel.
Preliminaries for the trial began
at 10 o'clock this morning. The
Roosevelt party arrived fifteen min
utes before the time scheduled for
the starting of the trial and took the
counsel table nearest the jurists. The
Barnes party arrived a few minutes
after. Barnes, his face wearing his
customary half scowl, took no
notice of the colonel sitting with his
back turned sideways toward him.
Roosevelt also ignored Barnes,
merely giving one glance at his back.
On the panel of seventy-six prospec-
tive jurors were forty-one Republi-
cans, fourteen Democrats, eleven
Prohibitionists and five Independ-
ents In this respect Barnes was be-
lieyed to have the advantage of a
jury composed mostly of Republi-
cans. Elaborate police preparations
were instituted, both litigants being
provided with a bodyguard to pre-
vent them being annoyed by curious
crowds. The colonel sat in full view
of the jurymen just few feet from
the jury box rail and also just in
front of s'newspape~ yoSr James
Grsto, farmSa g Republican. Was the
-.nrss-s ~ rssss-s-txffsman examined by William
l.. Barnum, local attorney for Barnes.
Questions to talismen indicated that
Barnes relied on Justice Andrews to
hold that the Roosevelt statement
was in itself libelous The talismen
were asked If political consideration
would influence them and if they
would try it gust as an ordinary
case"
Amidst his prediction activities
last year, Roosevelt declared a BIZ
partisan agreement existed in this
state between the Republican and
Democratic organizations. He spec1-
fically accused Barnes of being pollt-
ically leagued with Charles F. Muir
ply. Barnes, although no longer
Republican state committee chair
man, is regarded still as state Re
publican leader. Murphy, as head Of
Tammany hall, is looked on as state
Democratic leader. Following the
coloneTs cry of combination"
against Barnes. the Republican lead
er instituted his present libel action,
Barnes first petitioned the cases
trial in Albany county, his place Of
residence. Before Supreme Court
~ pnncnuoIt
some weeks ago moved for a change
of venue. The colonel alleged Barnes
controlled Albany county and an
Impartial trial" was impossible for
him there. Justice Chester denied
the motion by the appellate division
at Saratoga, upon Roosevelt's appeal
fixed Onondaga county as the place
of trial.
A prevailing impression is that the
present court proceedings is rich In
possible revelations, affecting not
only Albany county and New York
city politics, but also state and even
national politics. According to some
political observers the trial may tell
an interesting and Illuminating
story of all four. RooseVelt's friends
declare that he as New York's gov
ernor used his opportunity to learn
the Empire states inside politics"
and he stands ready to share his al
legged knowledge with the public.
That the defense will probe into
any possible political operations on
Barnes part in Albany county is GER
tain. Reports from Albany declare
that the defendants counsel has
scattered a number of subpoenas in
that district. The indication is that
the records of the Democratic probe
of several years into Albany's Re-
publican politics will undergo search
ing examination.
Owing to the prominence and the
well known political antagonism Of
the principal nationwide interest is
centered on today's trial Barnes
has for his counsel WINS, Wolff and
Hoguet, of New York, while Bowers
and Sanad, of the metropolis repre-
sent Colonel Roosevelt.