The Washington herald., 1915-05-02

interesting Zen VI
tiers in the political drama being enacted
in the court room at syracuse. where the
libel suit of William Barnes. jr.. against
Col Theodore Roosevelt is on trial ap-
pear in the New York Evening Post.
cont ributed by its special correspondent
II. G.. NJ He writes:
Mr.. WINS cross-examination mas Deen
Of a rapier-lke quality. and there are
only the slightest scars Oh the Colonel
seJf-assurance. Mr.. Wins SAITH cal shafts
directed at the witnesses confidence in
his heaven-sent power to be Inc Judge
Of righteousness only revealed the
Coloners willingness to discuss mat
power as long as the stenographer couId
records his remarks. Frankly. 'oi'
Roosevelt was righteous. he mad "ithm
him the root of righteousness. contribu-
lions from corporations and millionaires
to help him as a candidate were like
contributions to Y. VI. c. 4. building
fund. and any rascals with whom he as
sociated were men in whom nc WAS try
ing TO develop a better side. Mr.. WINS
could drive hcme thrust after thrust
such as would have added TO mis- repu-
tation in the Union League Club or tn"
Bar Association as a satirist and great
oss-examiner. but the volubiiity oil inc
~ itness could not even be ieavcncd ny
the brilliancy Of the attorney.
William Lincoln Barnum. the resident
counsel assisting Mr. WINS. apparently
carving out the plan Of trying different
methods of approaching the witness,
tried to hold the Colonel down to yes
and no" lie would take Il dont re-
member. but the Colonel did not deish
to take refuge in the answer OF so many
of Americas distinguished when under
cross-examination. He would say
don't rccollect" and then begin MS
searching of the memories OF lawyers at
both tables and even Of the court, un'i'
everybody began to reminiscc and piece
together political history rather than at
tend to the business of cross-eNamina-
ton.
Mr. Parnum resisted this sort OF thinG
pretty successfully for a time. tie asked
the court to instruct tho witness 10 an
swcr catesorcally. and also TO r"trhln
from repeating tho words Of counsel
question.
Tho Colonel showed a knaCk OF COM
rlcicly multiplying tho effect OF Hh"S-
ton He would he asked II II" consulted
Senator Plat in this or that. and h"
would reply that he had consulted Sem
ator Flat. in such tone of emphatic.
strenuous righteousness that courtroom
auditors sometimes wondered why the
iurv did not rise in their seats and civ"
three cheers so convincing was the
psychological effect.
For time Mr. Rarnum rufflSd tho
Colonel He was taken by surprise when
Mr. Rarnum hogan questioning. Answer
after answer was cut short and many
We're stricken out. Tho Colonels color
heightened Mr. Rsrnum would not re-
S.s'
wouldn't lot tho Colonel search his mem
ory and thus find the answer which the
ColoneTs own memory did not readily
disclose. Noon rscess came. with MT.
Barnum's tactics apparently winning.
But by the afternoon session the
Colonel had adapted himself to the new
mode of attack. He was the humble.
enthusiastically witness of the first DAYS
of the trial. He prefaced one remark
with Gould he allowed-would 1t be
proper for me to state in his best
apologetiC tone. and when told. in judi
cial language. to shut up. he put on the
rueful expression of last week. Toward
the end of the afternoon counsel and
court were wearied trying to hold the
witness within bounds. and once more
he was having his own way. getting
answers to questions from all about him.
though the session closed before stump
speaking was resumed. As fresh as a
daisy he stepped down from the witness
stand. unmindful OF the early spring
suItriness that so many found debili-
tating and ready for dinner party and
an evening given over to greeting people.
One ruling was delivered by witness
and court simultaneously today. Mr..
Barnum. cross-eXamininE. objected to the
reply. The Colonel. with his usual
ada ability. several days ago dropped
into the judicial mode. The objection
evoked from witness and court in the
same breath:
The reply is responsive
Justice Andrews face suffused with
smiles in his amusement at the witness
tenerity The witness himself gave the
Justice an approving nod. with Never a
smile to modify the assumption of au-
thoritv he had unconsciously and
enthusiastically perpetrated.
..TEere's old 40 Broadway. once again
in the talk, My. my. but IT seems long
time since | heard those mystic figures
in connection with that well-known thor
oughfare OF urban travel. And the Fifth
Avenue Hotel The old brown stone
building where the easy boss ruled on
week days and the hotel where he ruled
evenings and sundays have both been
DESTROYED. haven't they" This was all
the remark of an oldtime follower of
Thomas &. Plat. he SOsslped IN the |
hotel corridors last night about the let |
tiers that passed between governor ana |
boss and heard the familiar addresses
read by counsel. Forty-nine Broadway |
was the office OF the United states EN- |
press Company. Platt was president OF
the company and there was 10 parcel
post while he lived. He lived in the
Fifth Avenue Hotel. and the Republican |
state committee maintained hesdduar-
ters there. In the Amen Corner the Easy
Boss would preside over Sunday after
noon classes interested in practical |
politics.
col Roosevelt told the story of Il |
Vice Presidential nomination forced |
upon him. although Mr.. WINS said that.
while it was of great interest to the dis
tincuished witness. no one else cared. |
Roosevelt and Plat had talked OF his
for the 1900 Republican Vice
Presidential nomination from April to
the hour of the Philadelphia convention.
Platt became more urgent that he should
take the nomination. Finally in Platts |
room in Philadelphia there was show