The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1909-09-10
z INTEND TO KILL
SOME SNAKES" SAYS
SEC'TY. BALLINGER
TO LATE UNPLEAS-
ANTNESs WITH PIN
cHOT.
THEN RELATES EXPERT Noes
Intimates That a Full Statement May
Be Prepared And Given to
Public Within The Next Fe"
Days.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 4.-~Incident-
ally." said Secretary Ballinger, at the
close of the first day after his hurried
trim from the Pacific coast, Il intend
TO kill some snakes"
The remark was made In response
to questions relative to the Ballinger-
Pinchot controversy regarding water
power plants, the Cunningham-AlaS-
kan coal entries and other conserva-
ton matters. and the illustration used
bv the Secretary was drawn from an
incident in his own life when some
twenty odd years ago, as cowboy at
Medicine Lodge. he found the night
camp infested with rattlers. He then
said: Boys, before l sleep propose
to kill some snakes" and the fact IS
recorded that he did kill dozen of
the venomous reptiles before stretch
ing his blanket over the buffalo grass
for nights rest.
Mr.. Ballinger refused to explain the
purport of his remarks, and declined
to further discuss the matters in con-
troversy between his department and
the Forestry Bureau.
"Manifestly," he said, ''it would be
improper for me to talk on this SUD-
iect. The heads of the various divis-
ions of the department which are In
volved in this controversy have all
prepared their reports and | expect
tn submit the whole question to the
President at an early day. | could
not, therefore, properly go into the
subject at this time further than to
say that my previous knowledge OF
the situation, together with the infor-
nation | have derived from the peru
sal of the reports of Messrs. Pierce,
bennett and Schwartz, justifies the
statement that this department has
nothing to fear from the closest scruti-
nv of the conduct of it's officials"
Mr.. Balliuger said that he did not
know Just when he would go to BeV-
erly. but presumed that he would be
there early next week. He spent
most of the day in conference with
Assistant Secretary Pierce, Commits
sioner bennett, Mr. Schwartz and AS
sistant Attorney General Lawler. The
remainder of the time was given to
the reading of the reports of his sub
ordinates. Mr. Ballinger intimated
that he might prepare report OF MS
own for the public, but said that his
course in that respect would depend
entirely upon the wishes of the Pres
ident. He had no doubt however,
that a full statement of the entire
matter would be given to the public
at an early day
Secretary Ballinger has been absent
srom the CITY for more than two
months the greater part Of which has
been spent in tour of inspection
through the West. He gave very
careful attention to conditions In Vel
lowstone Park, and went over a large
number of irrigation projects and In
dian reservations. In order 10 per
form these duties he was compelled
to ride much on horseback and or
one occasion covered eighty miles il
one day while inspecting the Grow
Indian reservation in Montana.
After seeing the President, Mr.. Bal
linger will return to the West to con
tinue his labors. He probably vii
, ioin the President at Denver on the
latter's Western tour, and proceed
with him to Seattle.