Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-05-06
The Colonel, However, Accord
ing to His Evidence in Libel
Suit, Came Out SquareIy for
the People,
VISION is GIVEN OF
INVISIBLE GOVERN MENT
Comedy Again Crops Out in
Courtroom as Former Pres
ident Crosses His Legs and
ReCountS Political History,

lhf MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED wlRsl
Syracuse, n. Y, May 5.--The ethics
OF boss rule and machine politics as
Theodore Roosevelt claims William
Barnes expounded them, were related
by the former president upon the wit
ness stand in the supreme court late
today. Colonel Roosevelt swore that
Mr.. Barnes had told him that the
"riff-raff could not be trusted to han
die the political affairs without a
leader" and expressed himself as be-
ing in favor of the democratic and re-
publican organizations combining to.
defeat legislation providing for direct
primaries.
The colonel went upon the stand at
the end of day congested with testi-
mony about public printing and pub
lie money. EIe related what he al
legged to be the substance of conver-
sations he had with the former chair
man of the republican state commit
tee over a period of from 1898 until
he left the White House. In part it
follows:
Frequently Discussed Bossism.
Mr.. Barnes and | had many con-
versations upon the nature of the boss
and upon the power and the neces-
sity for the machine under our sys-
tenn Of party government.
MIR Barnes said It was necessary
that the head Of the organization
should have complete control and he
instanced Albany county. He said the
riff-raff could not be trusted TO ham
die political affairs without a leader.
He said they would misconduct them
selves at the expense Of property and
that the government could not so on.
He said Ii was not necessary for the
boss to issue orders TO executive Off
cials 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 renominated 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 H.
"Mr. Barnes said: You know the
senator (Plat0 does not bully. Hel
does not have to- He said it was
quite sufficient to have 1t understood
that If man did not stand by the or
ganization he got punished"
Roars of laughter came from the
spectators, interrupting the colonel
for a moment
Punished ahd Eliminated.
Then the witness said
He got punished and eliminated.
John NJ Bowers, chief counsel for |
the defendant. asked him this ques-
ton:
You say there we're similar con-
versations while You were president
Didn't ! say that?" asked the coli |
onel, pointing to the stenographer |
''iust read what | said there. Yes,
thought / did"
What else did Mr.. Barnes say?"
asked Mr.. Bowers.
The colonel crossed his legs and
turned to face the jury. He replied
MIR. Barnes said it was not neces- |
sary to ask business men for contri- !
buttons: that they were not coereed !
into II. Mr.. Barnes also told me
either at Oyster Bay or at the White
House after the election Of Governor
Hughes that the Organization had |
complete control of the legislature
He said that the effort to pass the
primary bin reported an effort TO
break down party government and
that the democratic and republican
organization should make common |
cause against the legislation. On an
other occasion he said that the people
could not govern themselves ana that
they had to have bosses.
Only the Organization
You mentioned democrats making
a common cause with republicans
Did you mean all democrats?' asked
Mr. Bowers.
The colonel with smile replied:
Il said the democratic organiza-
ton"
Colonel Roosevelt" said Mr.. Bow
ers. "I'l show you articles that ap-
peared in the New York Herald in
May, 1913, and ask YOU whether you
read them prior to the time you
caused the publication of the article
complained Off"
Il did. sir" replied the witness
Did you rely upon the statements
contained therein"
Il relied upon them after making
special inquiries about them"
The articles were read 10 the Jury
after they had been inspected by JUS
tice William S. Andrews, presiding
The first mentioned a perfect UNDER
standing between the Murphy boys
and the Barnes boys" in the state as
sembly 1t stated that the leaders IN
the legislature smiled smugly Mr..
Hinman was mentioned in the aftlele.
The colonel, after being asked about
the man. said There was no HIN
man in the assembly then.
Bipartisan Combination.
In the second article the capitol was
likened to war map; the allled
Barnes and Murphy forces were
mentioned as were promoters OF IN
visible government" and the "bipar-
tisan combination of two machines
-. .l.fx ted n .-t