The San Francisco call., 1909-11-10

delivered an opinion on the question
ii is long. and / shall not quote 1t.
Suffice to say it overruled the Pierce
decision on every point, upheld my con-
tention and saved the Alaska coal
cases.
INVESTIGATION OPPOSED
One other fact arose on my visit to
Washington (and of this / have no
documentary evidence)
In my conference with Mr. Ballinger
I stated to him that was going to see
one of the congressman, regarding
whose participation in the Alaska coal
cases l had sworn testimony. He re-
piled that there had been too much
of this sort of thing and that was
matter for congressional investigation.
In consequence, after consultation with
other government officials, 1 decided
not to see any congressman, but ] aft
erward found out-from sworn testi-
mony obtained by me and now in the
land off1ce-that Mr.. Ballinger had.
about a year before, represented con-
gressman in Alaska coal matters.
"On July II, 1909. Mr.. Sheridan super
seded me in charge of the Alaska land
cases. and within four days after reach
ing Seattle reported, concurring in my
recomm endations and suggesting that
the cases be postponed to allow the
field examination to be made. In this
period Commissioner bennett frequent
ly communicated with Secretary Bal
linger on the subject of the postpone
ment. In one of his letters to the chief
of field service at this time Commis
sioner bennett said:
sheridan has gone over the cases
thoroughly and thinks that the evil
denee which it is hoped to gain from
Kennedy's visit to Alaska will be very
material, and therefore it is the best
to postpone until October Is. | have
concurred, anticipating your acquies-
cence by the character of your tele-
gram to me. The forestry can be
blamed for the action in the matter.
Sheridan has taken charge of the
Cunningham case, and impresses me
very favorably. / think he can handle
it against any rival they may bring
against him. The rest of the Alaska
cases are in a bad mess. CLAWS is very
much enthused the proposition of
canceling them all and getting the
lands back I'm cold storage, and this In
just what Will happen unless congress
helps OUT
"COAL CASES ON BRAIN
I'm another letter to the chief of the
field service Mr.. bennett wrote:
"Glavis has these coal cases on the
brain and can not see anything but just
one line 1 have told him how it looks
to us. and have reminded him of
everything we have done for him, and
it looks as if he were returning our
favors by MT standing by us as he
ought
ION July % Mr. bennett telegraphed
from Seattle to Secretary. Ballinger
Advise telegraphing Schwartz author
izing him to delay issuing notices in
important cases subject our talk here
until Sheridan can examine evidence
collected.
'On July % Mr. Ballinger tele-
graphed Mr.. bennett: Considering. my
personal reluctance to direct proceed
ings in Alaska coal cases you should
make necessary directions to Schwartz
1T was at this time that / laid the
facts in my possession regarding the
Cunningham cases before the president
The president has chosen to treat my
report as a charge of criminality. I
made no such charge nor do i make 1t
now. The presidents letter is a de-
fense of Mr.. Ballnger and Mr. bennett
from charges not made in my report
to him. I was not Investigating either
Mr. Ballinger or Mr. bennett, but the
Alaska coal cases. Because I knew
that these cases were to come before
Mr.. bennett and that there was no
appeal from his decision save to Sec
retary Ballinger, because Secretary
Ballinger had stated he would not act
in these cases and because the next
ranking officer of the department was
Assistant Secretary Pierce who had
signed the decision which Mr.. Wicker
sham had overruled, / believed the
Alaska coal cases were in danger. The
president has seen in this nothing but
overzeal and insubordination on nv
part and an opportunity to praise the
secretary of the interior. 1 have not
been informed what answer the de-
partment of the interior has made to
my statement, but the public will Judge
I am right In thinking the
Alaska coal claims are still in danger,
BaIIinger Issues Statement
WASHINGTON, Nov Secretary Ral-
linger of the department of the interior,
today issued the following statement.
My attention has been directed TO the
text of an article purporting to have |
been written by L. r. CLAWS which is |
to appear in Golfers Weekly. and adj |
vance copies Of which have been fur- |
nished by that weekly to the press.
The CLAWS story is a tissue of
falsehoods and insinuations utterly nm /
in view of the facts easily |
by anybody who wants them. |
1t is not surprising that publications
which could in pursuit of this same
recklessly, under date of I
october 80. reproduce a view appea ring |
On a familiar railroad folder of the
Grand River c3nyon In (solaradn oc :, 1