Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-04-29
ROOSEVELT DEFENSE
SPRINGS A COUP

any one party"
| The re-cross- examination, redirect and
re-re-cross were matter of minutes.
Barnum attempted to refer to the Chi,
cago convention and was ruled out.
Bowers was allowed only to draw from
the Colonel that he started proceedings
| against the Hartman lines. The witness
was not allowed TO go into details
| WINS was not allowed to cross-examlne
! about the Hartman lines matter and the
| Colonel was excused.
on cross-examination, Colonel Roosevelt
had admitted his alliance with Platt, his
| approval of the II. G.. and 1. deal and
many other things that heretofore had
| been exploited by his political enemies,
! but when he had finished today he be-
| lleved he had turned the tables and had
explained all his actions on the ground
| that he always acted for the best inter
/ ests of the organization, the nation and
affirmative good action"
TELLS OF DEAL TO AVOID PANIC.
Colonel Roosevelt took on his shoulders
full responsibility for the Tennessee Coal
and Iron-Steel Corporation deal of 1907
when court convened this morning But
the Colonel stood by his guns in his con-
tentlon that he acted "in q pinch" to
save the country. 1.-THE panic stopped"
was his parting shot in this connection.
The Colonel explained the deal at the
invitation of John NJ. Bowers, his at
torney
"In 1907" began the Colonel "tIe Ten
nessee Coal and Iron Company was so
weak as not to he considered seriously
as a competitor by the Steel Corporation.
Its output was only 9-iO per cent. of
the entire output of the country.
"fhe whole commercial structure of
the country was tottering and swaying,
every citizen was demanding some action
be taken to stop the panic that threatened
II had. been appealed to by thousands
of citizens to take some measure to pre-
vent the frlghtful panic
"ln New York the situation was, | may
say. trembling on n hair MS to whether
all business would be stopped and all in
stltutions shut down.
II received word one night that early
the next morning two representatives
of the Steel Corporation, Mr.. Frick and
Judge Gary would call on me-
II notified the Attorney General to meet
them, but he was in Baltimore I then
asked Elihu Root, an astute lawyer, to
meet them with me.
"Mr. Frick and Judge Gary reported
to me that II the Steel Corporation
Mr.. Morgans company-took possession
at once of the Tennessee Coal and Iron
Company, 1t would add such value to the
Tennessee Coal and Iron stock that they
were sure the storm would be weathered
and the panic stopped This, they said.
was the general sentiment"
II object said fvins.
do not interrupt him." shouted Bow
ers.
'T will object" retortcd Wins. with
the courts permission and all the breath
the Lord has left me"
Justice Andrews said the whole sub
ject was a side issue, but the Colonel
might finish. briefly.
THE DEAL RATIFIED.
"on the advice of the Attorney General
and Mr.. Root" the Colonel resumed
land upon the statement by FricIl and
Gary, that they did not want the T. C.
and l. stock, but knew 1t to be the only
way to stop the panic, ratified the deal
They said 1t was the only way of get
ting rid Of the dangerous financial sit
uation"
WINS again tried to stop the Colonel.
but the court allowed him to proceed.
81 asked them if we could not defer
the action for further consultations"
Roosevelt continued. "Mr. Frick and
Judge Gary replied that If the action
were not taken and published before
the market opened that day it would be
too late and financial ruin would be
inevitable
81 acted. called in the newspaper
men. The action was published-and |
the panic of 1907 was stopped"
The Colonel then was led back over his
term as Governor and his relations then |
with Platt
In my administration there was never
any particle of invisible Government" he |
declared at one point. "Since ] became |
Governor in 1899, ! have made $4,000 |
speeches, signed appropriation bills for |
several billions of dollars, made 10000 APP |
pointments and written $4,000 letters"
<"Did you always consult Senator Platt |
for the good of the Organizations" asked |
Bowers.
81 did"
Did you ever disregard his advice?"
81 did, many times"
COLONEL APPLAUDED.
Colonel Roosevelt was applauded round
ly when he came to court this morning.
He entered the courtroom few minutes
before 10. The room already was crowded
to capacity Many women were in the
crowd.
When Roosevelt came in from the ante
room there was a loud clapping of
hands. The court attendants made no
effort to check the demonstration. The
jury was not yet in the box. The Col
onel bowed and smiled as he took his
seat.
Bowers, resumlng the redirect examlna.
tion, called attention to the letters be-
tween Plat and Roosevelt. of November, |
1901, about the appointment Of a collec-
tor of the port of New York, and asked
Roosevelt to explain them.
II was asked" said Roosevelt, ito re-
appoint Mr.. Bidwell. But in looking over
the matter, / made up my mind there
ought to be change. l named Senator
Stranahan. Mr.. Platt wanted Bidwell re-
appointed"
The witness was again asked about the
luncheon he arranged for Platt B. b.
Odell and Seth Low
seth Low had been elected Mayor on
an independent ticket" he said 1.-THE
Organization contributed handsomely to
mis- majority. l wanted him to have an
with Senator Platt and
iovernor-elect Odell,"
THE SAME