The Marietta journal and courier. (Marietta, Ga.) 1909-1918, 1915-06-04
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington d. G..
May 81. 1913.

NAoJ 81, IJIO.
That Col. Roosevelt won out in
the libel suit brought against him by
Williams Barnes is no surprise here
In the first place, there was not
enough in the case, in the estima-
ton of those who have given the
matter any attention, to justify the
finding of an ex-president of the
United States guilty of libel. This
observation does not imply the idea
that Col. Roosevelt would not have
been found guilty of libel, if the
facts established it the same as any
other, but it is agreed, however. that
the case would have to be a stronger
one with greater things at stake
than it would be in an ordinary suit
for libel against the average indi-
yidual.
1t was a question of veracity be-
tween Barnes and Roosevelt, the
court so charged Evidently this
was spontaneous view taken of it by
the jury, coupled with moral effect
an adverse verdict would have had
on the public good.
During the Coloners testimony
upon the witness stand he took op-
portunity to deliver several orations,
which he did to good effect. The
main point brought out during the
Colonels lengthy, interesting and
sensational testimony, was the man
ner in which he spared with the
big loss of New York RepuMicanism
to preserve the leaven of honest goo-
eminent
The general impression in Wash
ington is that the Colonel deported
himself superwell and succeeded
brilliantly in bringing himself ia
vorably before the country again.
You may put it down as one thing
most assuredly dead certain and that
is that Teddy Roosevelt will be in
the Hmelight with his boots on when
death overtakes him. | was talking
with former member of the White
House force not long ago who said
on one occasion when Roosevelt was
President, he was invited to deliver
an address to quite an aggregation
OF army officers and among other
things President Roosevelt said was
of Oh
for any emergency. Some of the Of
ficers replying said, Mr.. President,
we are ready IAN right" replied
the President, meet me tomorrow
morning at o'clock in Rock Creek
Park" The President was prompt
ly on hand at the hour to start and
lead the march. They put out on a
hike through the park, over hills
and plains, across smooth places and
rough places, through the woods and
over rocky cliffs, finally they came
to the creek, and had to cross by
wading, the creek being waist deep
and frozen over. There were sixty
officers with the President on the
march. Only two of them waded
the creek with the President, the
balance falling out.
This was no surprise, my inform
ant continued, to any one knowing
Teddy Roosevelt fairly well. 1t is
one of his natural characteristics
Many instances show that he still
has boyish disposition. He is i'm
petuous and always will be, when
you tell him that he cannot do a
thing, he is more than likely to dc
that thing or try to very hard In
many points he is a remarkable man
l think it can be conservatively said
OF him that he is a great man. He
is dynamo of energy and will be
actively and turbulently interested
in human affairs You can gener.
ally count on his being found with
the people on the side of honest pro.
gressive government
His indiscreetness in the times
like we are having now is the result
OF his impetuosity and not failure
OF patriotic regard for those in au.
thority. He is just simply one OF
our great wonders in more ways
than one and will loom up very fire.
quently to be reckoned with in ma.
tional issues.
In many things he is a typical ant
exemplary citizen, there is lots about
aim to be admired by us all, ant