Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-12-27
CABINET INVOLVED
N FORESTRY. ROW
DEPARTMENTS OF BALL,NeEH
AND WILSON CLASH OVER
Mr.. PINcHoT.
WILSON FIRST TO RAISE
ISSUE OVER JURISDICTION
Long List of People of Note to Be
Drawn Into Controversy When Con.
sress Begins Airins-Former Sec
retary Garfield Gets Into the Game
CLAWS to Be on Hand.
Especial Correspondence

Especial Correspondence.1
Washington, Dec. 27.-Two members
of the present cabinet, and one member
of the Roosevelt cabinet, are likely to
be mixed up to their necks in the in
vestigation Of the Ballinger-P Pinchot
affair, before it shall have proceeded
far.
These are Secretaries Ballinger and
Wilson, and former Secretary Garfield.
MIR. Wilson is involved because he is
the superior Of Mr.. Pinchot, nominally,
at least. responsible for the policy and
proceedings of his subordinate: and
commonly understood to be disposed to
stand vigorously by the general policy
Of the forest service.
Now that investigation seems as
sured, it is recalled that the very first
symptom of disturbance in the new adj
ministration came to light when Sec
retaries Wilson and Ballinger sharply
disagreed about the matter of with
drawing from entry certain public
lands for which the forest service
asked, for administrative uses. Sec
retary Ballinger, replying to the re-
quest, demanded to be assured specif-
ically that these lands were needed
for the express purpose named, or
whether in fact that purpose was given
as pretext to get them withdrawn.
When he got that letter, which he
thought inttmated that his good faith
wasn't accepted by fellow member
of the cabineet, Secretary Wilson 'blew
up" without delay. He made an is
sue, the matter went up to President
Taft, and there was talk right away
about the possibility of somebody re-
signing. President Taft smoothed ii
all out; but it was the first hint OF
trouble. The big feud between the two
departments has grown up since then
and people who recollect how hopping
mad Secretary Wilson was at a certain
cabinet meeting early in the career OF
this administration. have latterly
opined that Mr.. Wilson was likely tc
Pinchot.
Wilson is circumspect.
The attitude of Mr.. Wilson, how
Yesterday he and the forester held a
stood the whole situation was gone
over in detail and with care; but
neither Of them wanted to talk about
the matters transpiring between them
However, the understanding is that the
secretary has not forgotten the origir
of the differences between his own anc
the interior department.
That long list of people of more
feud now about to be investigated, an6
will play important roles in the inquiry
is recognized as inevitable. George C
Woodruff, who was assistant attorney
general for the interior department
under the last administration, has JUS
resigned the federal judgeship ir
Hawaii to which President Roosevelt
appointed him, and will soon be bacl
in Washington. He is expected to be
dragged very early into the investiga.
tion, because of his intimate knowledge
o. tie policy and precedent oe the de.
partment under Secretary Garfield. Mr.
Woodruff was fully in sympathy witt
the Garfield methods, and his intimate
knowledge of the law concerning tn,
public domain is expected to becom
q factor in the organization of thu
forthcoming case for the forest service
and the anti-Ballinger side of the con
troyersy.
Secretary Garfields recent publica
ton of an article on La Follettes Mag
azine, which without mentioning thi
name of Secretary Ballinger criticized
his administration severely, is account
ed most significant development. H
will be- made a witness, in all prob
ability, in the investigation; and hi
analysis of the differences between hi
own and the Ballinger policies is ex
pected to be highly Illuminating He i
q firm friend OF the Pinchot cause an,
Of Mr.. Pinchot personally.
CLAWS Asks to Be Heard.
Louis B. CLAWS is likely to come t.
Washington before the resumption o
the sessions Of Congress. CLAWS will
be represented by counsel, and will
make a strong demand to be heard b,
the Investigating committee.
]. M. Sheridan, special agent of tn
general landoffice who has recentl
been conducting, at Seattle, a hearing
in the matter of the Cunningham Ian,
claims in Alaska, has come to Wash
ington and Is understood to be givin
sible information concerning that phas
of the difficulty. The cunningham
hearing has been adjourned indefinite
lyly and It is understood that it vii
not be concluded till after the investi
CATION In Washington shall hav
ended.
Much interest is displayed in tn
forthcoming presentation in the sen
ate of the documents in the Claw
matter, which has been asked by tn
Fling resolution. It is expected tha
resolution will pass. and the questio
is, what documents will be sent in re
Spouse to 1t. The entire array of these
and of correspondence bearing on then
would make great volume Of printe
matter, containing much of the great
est importance which has not yet bee
4 given to the public.
ON both sides, law officers and ex