SECRET PAGES OF HISTORY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 303, 1 June 1915, Page 6

SECRET PAGES OF HISTORY.

TPJAfj iTAY TIAVK KAR-KKACIIING KI-FKCTS. Sun Francisco, April 27. A trial that lias brought to light some :nlcri"a.mg mt!'< t. pa;:.s in iiii> history 'if tin- Stnlu of >.'e\v Yuri;, and ilistt may jave far-reaching consequences (in fui - lira national politics, is proceeding in tlic city uf Syracuse. X.Y. Hcfore a jury, William Harm's, former chairman of tlic State Republican Committee, anil widely known as the "Imss" of the 1!"publican Tarty in New York, is endeavoring to olitain CMIO.OOI) damages for libel from Colonel Roosevelt, former President of the Uinleil Stale The alleged libel cons:: !s of a statement issued by Colonel !ioo-,e\elt I.'. Hi; 1 pros; last July, durin;,' the gubcriKr.npal election. in which h'. named H'tnies and

Cliarl.s [■'. llurphc. <!e iiotono m Taniiniiiiy leaders, as 'h- controller of " otten government" ill the State of New York. The colonel's answer to *„he complaint is that the statements are true, and he, pleads justification. Should Barnes be discredited by an adverse verdict, it probably would .settle the fate of the Progressive Tarty ill the United States, for, with Barnes eliminated from tlic Republican Tarty, the way would be left clear for the colonel to got back into that party. It is freely predicted that if the jury decides in favor of Roosevelt., negotiations are already under way for him to return to the Republican fold, which he left in order to run against Taft ai<s Wilson for the .Presidency in 11112, will be quickly brought to a. conclusion. For more than a woek Mr. Roosevelt lias been on the witness stand, telling all lie knows of Barnes in. justification of the alleged .libellous statement, and under grilling cross-examination ay to his own political past, it lias been established tlmt the colonel was not always so bitter against the "busses" as lie is to-day. Senator Tlatt was for years the absolute dictator in the political affairs in New York, and when Jlr. Roosevelt was Governor of that Stave he frequently and freely consulted with Tlatt. The latter apparently had hi* way in dictating appointments that Governor Roosevelt should, make. Many letters that passed between the two. supplied, it is said, by the son of tic late Senator Tlatt, have been road in Court, and tliey have been perused with delight by the many political enemies of Roosevelt. Most of tliem have to do with appointments. In a letter to Tlatt, discussing various candidates for the position of surrogate, Governor Roosevelt wrote ill a postscript:—"All right, I'll change the whole board of tax commissioners." Senator Tlatt wrote advising the appointment of a New York jeweller named Stern, as he had been " a generous contributor last fall.'" Roosevelt replied: "All right; T will appoint Stern." Asked if there were times when he relied entirely MP 0 " Tlatt, the colonel answered: "1 relied upon him unless there was a reason not to.". Again, ho admitti'd: "I consulted Senator Tlatt upon all matters lie wish"d j to be consulted about, and then did. what I I thought best,." Other letters reveal the I colonel writing to Senator Tlatt, tel!j ing liini he would like to be re-elected | Governor of New York, and protesting i against being nominated for Vice- Trosij deiii-y of the United States, as there ! was nothing to do in that position. In i the C'otirtroom, as everywhere else, Coli oni'l Roosevelt has dominated the scene. ' Frequently lie addresses counsel on both I sides and the Judge, and more than once ! ho had the entire Courtroom in an ut>- ! roar. Sometimes the Judge has had to 1 place his hand over his mouth to hide a ; smile. The trial is being followed in | this country with keener interest than j anything else, except the Kuropeau war. j It probably will last several weeks, as each side is said to have at least lifly I witnesses.