The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-09-16
UPHELD BY TAFT.
PresidOntExhoneratesSecretary
Ballinger in Long Letter.
Holds That the CLAWS Charges
Are UnfOunded.
ACTED JUDICIOUSLY.
Finds No Fault With Action in
Cunningham Cases.
Approves the Dismissal OF man
Who Made Charges.
ACTED JUDICIOUSLY.

ALBANY. Sept. ia statement in
which President Taft announced his
findings upon the charges against the
conduct of the interior department oil
the government made by L. r. Claws
chief of the field division of the general
land office. in connection with the cum
nIngham coal land claims in Alaska
yinoicates Secretary Ballinger OF the
interior department. observing Inat MI
Glavis's case embraced only shredS Oh
suspicion without substantial evidence
'for uu1ustly impeaching the ohlclal IN
teerity of his superior officer" and takes
occasion to review evidence IN tne So
called water power trust ana othet
cases and to refute the charges that
the secretary of the interior is out OF
sympathy with the policy OF the ad-
ninistration in favor of the conserVa-
ton of natural resources.
The statement is in the form or let
ter to Secretary Ballinger, written be-
fore President Taft left his summer
home at Beverly, Mass.
The Taft Letter.
The litter follows in part:
Beverly. Mass. Sept. IL, l9O9.
my Dear Sir:-On the 18th day OF
August last Mr.. L. r. CLAWS, ch1ef OF
the field division of the general land
office. called upon me here and submit
ted a statement or report relating 10
the conduct of the interior department
and particularly to the action of your
self. Assistant Secretary Pierce. Com
missioner of the General Land once
Denett and Chief of Field Service
Schwartz in reference to the so-caled
C1Irningham group of coal lands in
Alaska Mr.. Glaviss report does not
formulate his charges against you and
the others, but by insinuation and in
runendo as we'll as by direct averment,
he does charge that each one of you
off ha
to aid the Cunningham claimants to
secure patents based on claims that
you know or have reason to believe
fraudulent and unlawful.
The report which is Voluminous and
contains exhibits of kilograms, letters
and public documents. directed to be
copied and sent to you and to the other
officers involved. You and each of the
other gentlemen named have now made
pritten answers to the statement of
Mr. CLAWS and accompanied them by
additional exhibits taken from the rec
ords of the interior department, as well
as by private letters.
Examined the Record.
81 have examined the whole record
most carefully and have reached very
Oifinite conclusion.
1T is impossible for me in annunc-
ing this conclusions to accompany it |
with review of the charges and the |
evidence on both sides.
1t is sufficient 10 say that the case
to be made by Mr.. CLAWS |
only specters of suspicion
without any substantial evidence to SuS-
tain his attack.
THE whole record shows that Mr.. |
CLAWS was honestly convinced of the !
illegal character of the claims in the /
Cunningham group and that he was |
seeking evidence to defeat the claims. |
But it also shows that there was delay |
on his part in preparing the evidence
with which to bring this, with other
claims. to hearing, and that justice to
the claimants required more speedy
Mr.. CLAWS, seems to have taken. Mr.
CLAWS seeks, by quoting from a sin
gle telegram, to show that at one
time the department wished to delay
him in his investigation of the Alaska
claims and at another time unduIy to |
hurry him and he attempts to prove
these two circumstances by citing tel
egrams and correspondence without
disclosing other circumstances and
correspondence which he knew or had
under his control and which do show
an entirely proper reason for the ac-
ton which, in each case was directed
to be taken.
CLAWS Too Anxious.
In other words, the reading of the
whole record leaves no doubt that in
his zeal to convict yourself Acting
Secretary Pierce. Commissioner Dem
nett and Mr.. Schwartz, he did not give
me the penent OF information which
he had that would have thrown light
on the transactions. showing them to
be consistent with an impartial atti-
tude on your part toward the claims
In question.
The great responsibility of cabinet
positions demands the selection there
Of men of highest character and in
tegrity. Possession of these qualities,
as we'll as an ability and experience
which especially fitted you to direct
the affairs of the department of the
Interior warranted your appointment
rs secretary. Duty to the country, to
you and to myself, requires that any
aspersions upon the propriety of your
acts or those of your subordinates be
promptly met and carefully consider
ID, to the end that If justified, proper ,
-emedy may be applied and if not. it
nay be publicly refuted. By appoint
nent OF President Roosevelt you be- !
anne commissioner OF the general
and office in March, 1907, and re-
signed the position in March. 1908, {
md then returned to Seattle, YOUR
rome, to practice law. In March,
900, appointed you secretary of the '