The Odanah star. [volume] (Odanah, Ashland Co., Wis.) 1912-1916, 1915-04-23
MIKES WAR AND POLITICS
Former President Leads Up to PoIiti-
cal Charges Made Against His
Accuser-lvins, Foes Coun-
ssi, Admires Roosevelt.


libel suit was well under way when
court recessed.
Boon after court reconvened Colonel
Roosevelt was called to the stand. In
reply to the first question asked he
said he, was "ffty-eight years old and
had wife and six children"
Roosevelt then went into details
about the public Offices he has held,
related how he became lieutenant
colonel Of the Rough Riders during
the Spanish-American war, and de-
tailed the lighting tn Cuba.
Smile In Evidence. =
The colonsls SMILE was In evil
dence while he was on the stand. Mr..
Barnes changed his seat SO he could
watch his opponent while he was tell
Ing Of the work of the Rough Riders IN
Cuba.
The witness then described his first
engagement with the Spanish, and Mp.
WINS objected, The court did not rule
and Colonel Roosevelt continued:
we then. moved forward toward
Santiago
Judge Warns Witness.
Il object to that" said Mt. WINS;
what difference does 1t make where
he moved to? I>want to shorten this
trial as much as possible"
Justice Andrews said the witness
had better confne himself to the
issue.
II was elected governor Of New
York In 1898. Then ! became vice.
president Of the United States. 1'be-
came president when President Nc
Kfnlsy died from gunshot wound.
At the time President Mckinley was
shot ! was in Vermont. went to
Buffalo and stayed there for some
time. Later left and was with my
family when President Mckinley,
died." ~,
Has Been Busy Writing. s,'
| Coming down to the time he left
for Africa, Colonel Roosevelt sketched
his movements for the benefit of the
jury. Since his return. he said, he
had been busy writing, and that at
times II was busy with politics"
II have BEEN he went on, "a citi-
zen. OF New York all my life. have
always lived In New York city OK
Oyster Bay, where first voted.
II do not remember just when I
first mot Mr.. Barnes, but l. think II
was during my campaign for gov
ernor: I was introduced toifhim by
the chairman of some committee IN
New York: Later, in Albany. saw
him many times. In 1889 I had 3
number of conferences with him.
had more with him than with any
other OF the leaders, except Mr.. Plat
and Mr.. Odell. ~
I'VE had many political discus
sions. For the most part they were
In regard to the relations between
myself and the leaders of the Repub-
Hcan Organization. especially Senator
Plat. There were certain issues be-
tween us two. Plat was known as
the boss of the organization which
controlled the majority OF the Re-
publican members OF the Legislature.
who sometimes co-operated with the
Democrats. We were at fodds prin-
cipally over legislative matters"
Judge Tells Colonel to Continue.
The witness added that he also
discussed executive action with MI.
Barnes.
"Did you discuss the proposed fran
chise tax7' asked Mr.. Bowers. ROose-
welt answered yes.
what did Mr.. Barnes say about the
railway franchise tax?' Mr.. Bowers
asked.
Colonel Roosevelt continued: :,
AT one point In the conversation
the question arose as to who was IL
tsrested In the bill. Mr.. Barnes said
there were large business interests
which had contributed to both parties
and were against the bin. :. In Albany
Mr.. Barnes said Robert Pruyn aud
Anthony Brady, both Interested II
rapid transit, were opposed to the bill.
"Mr. Barnes told ME the two men
contributed to both parties, not as q
matter Of politics, but ~ . matter Of
business
MIR. Barnes also told me cSat IL we
didn't treat big business right and IL
the Republican party became social
istic the Democrats would get all the
contributions and the Republican
party none. assured Hi. Barnes i
did not want to iniure any big bust
ness interest
Needed Their Orders. :,
Later I expressed establishment to
Mr.. Barnes that a special message ]
had sent to the legislature had been
torn up. + reply Nj. Barnes said |
was foolish to believe tina. the legis-
latuTe would do anything on so i'm
1 pO-tslnt matter until orders had
been received from the C-gsn.zation
| Colonel Roosevelt named j. P. siiiis-