Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-12-24
COMMITTEE HEARING ON INTER.
IoR DEPARTMENT ROW PROM
lsEs SENSATIONS.
PlNcHoT's FRIENDS DESIRE
THAT CLAWS BE HEARD
Heney, Of Graft Fame, May Appear as
Attorney For Discharged Government
EmpIoye-outIinue Of Case of OPP
posing Misunderstanding Will oc-
cupy Months.
Especial Correspondence

Washington. Dec. 24.-Administra-
ton circles experienced sudden
change Of heart concerning the ad-
visibility of a. congressional investiga-
-tion Of the Ballinger- -Pinchot feud
Sometime within week or thereabouts
of the Ballinger demand for investi-
cation, the whole attitude of the ad-
ministration forces was changed. About
week ago Attorney General Wicker
sham tod caller in the most positive
terms that he was opposed to an in
vestigation, and that the president was
of the same mind. At that time it was
still hoped that the trouble would
blow over"
The supporters of Forester Pinchot
IRE now wondering whether the change
Of front was caused by confidence that
the investigation could be so organized
rs to insure a vindication for Mr.. Bal
linger's department, or whether 1T was
due to conviction that investigation
was inevitable in any case, and that 1T
would be good policy to get to the front
early with a demand for it.
Heuey as Claws Counsel.
In general, the belief is that the in
vestigation will be big affair. Among
The features promised are:
An insistent demand that Louis r.
CLAWS be put on the stand, and that he
be allowed to be represented by his
attorney In handling his side of the
case.
The appearance of Francis j. Heney.
the San Francisco graft prosecutor, as
counsel for CLAWS.
The determination Of the dnvestigat-
ing committee to take a trip to Alaska
next summer and make general study
Of conditions there.
The effort of the forest service parti-
sans to force the investigation as much
as possible upon the questions of Sec
retary Ballinger's relations to Alaska
i lands. and to big interests charged
with irving to get the most valuable
of them.
The BaIIinger Side.
The effort of the interior DEPART
nlent people. on the other hand, to con-
rentrate attention upon the indiscret-
ions Of some of Forester Pinchot's Of
fetal family, who will be charged with
grave indiscretions, in that they
fomented the trouble by giving out IN
formation which it is charged ought to
have been kept secret.
The charge against Mr.. Pinchot Is
that he assigned his own law officer to
assist CLAWS in preparing his case
against Ballinger.
The question is constantly asked by
the friends of Pinchot, ''Will they put
CLAWS on the stand?" A close friend
Of the forester said:
1--WE are exceedingly pleasedl that
Senator Flint introduced resolution
calling for the CLAWS documents That
was very important. But it would be
most unfortunate if an investigating
committee should take those papers as
the entire statement of Claws case. and
decline to summon CLAWS himself Ii
the committee doesn't summon CLAWS
It can be set down early that the pur-
nose Of the inquiry is WhiteWash
CLAWS of course can be put down as
discredited, on the ground that he is
dismissed government employe; but the
fact remains that his story is of the
greatest Importance, and the country
will expect to see it drawn out on the
committees witness stand"
New information Promised.
IF Mr.. CLAWS is summoned, he will
come, according to report, prepared to
make the biggest case he knows how
He is said to have some new informa-
tion-some of 1t nsational-secured
since he went to. Beverly last sum-
nler; and the report is that Francis
]. Heney will come with him, prepared
to press the issue before the COM
- L. {,% hno efr,cr n
the late special agent.
Both sides in this controversy have
been busy for months preparing fol
the Investigation. 1t is known thai
since publicity began to attract inter
ested people to the controversy, a great
deal of information has been placed al
the disposal of the cities OF the inter
ior departments administration. One
remarkable piece of corroborative evil
dence will be offered from curious
quarter.
It is the story of a western member
lof congress-, who recently came eas1
on the Northern Pacific road. He fell
in with a young engineer who had just
returned from Alaska, where he was
investigating the mineral values of ar
anthracite deposit. The young man, moi
knowing to whom he was talking, be:
came confidential and told a remark
able story Of the tremendous value o.
coal he had located and tested, anG
!. then, with good deal of disgust, pro-
ceeded to tell what he knew of the
methods by which his clients were
working things to get It," This story
may prove q most important contri.
button to the hearing. 1t is understood
that the exact group Of claims to which
the engineer referred has been located
and that this information, thus acci'
4 dentaIly acquired, will supplement 9th.
er facts that will be introduced at tn,
right time.
One Of Two Committees.
A senator who has been strongly Ii
favor OF Investigation said:
This will probably be an investiga.
tion by either the senate public land'