Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1909-11-17

1ueu sQmetnlHS wakes her-the room
is dark,
And vanished the sunset glow;
And grandmother wakes, with a sad
surprise,
From the dreams of long ago.
fearless agent" On Aug. 2, 1907,
Love made report favorable to the
issuance of patents to the Cunning
ham claims.
My first connection with these cas-
es was when in the fall of 1907
discovered in Seattle, while investi-
eating other matters, that some or
all of the coal claims were not bona
fide. My report of this matter to
Mr.. Ballinger stated that one claim
ant had refused me an affidavit on
the ground that Mr.. Ballinger him
self had told some of the claimants
to make no statement until the
charges We're made, in order that
they might know what they had to
meet, but that could not believe
this statement. Mr.. Ballinger never
commented to me on this phase OF
my report. In December, 1907, l was
called to Washington, and explain
ed to Mr.. iBallinger, then land COM
missioner, what l had found out
| about all the claims, including the
Cunningham claims. also stated
that the department of justice would
know these facts and would investi-
| gate them if the land office did not.
Mr.. Ballinger told me he was friend
Of many of the claimants, but that
l was authorized to go ahead and
Investigate all these claims, no mat
| ter what the result. He then wrote
me a letter, putting me in charge OF
the investigation of all the Alaska
coal claims. 1t was agreed by Mr..
Baltinger that inasmuch as Special
Agent Love was candidate for
United States marshal in Alaska, he
was not in position to make an i'm
partial investigation. At our con-
ference in December, 1907, the good
faith of the Alaska entries was dis
cussed by Mr.. Ballinger. On Jan.7,
1908, ten days afterward, Mr.. Den
nett, assistant commissioner, notified
me as Investigator of the whole field,
that the Cunningham claims had been
approved for patent on the Love re-
port.
| Three days before this telegram,
signed "R. A. Ballinger," was sent
to Love in Alaska, directing him to
forward the plats which the land Of
flee would require in issuing patents
to the Cunningham claims. Again, or
Jan. IL, 1909, telegram was sent
signed with Mr.. Ballinger's name, to
Love, asking him whether he had
acted on the previous telegram. Love
telegraphed that he had sent the
plats. The envelope of this telegram
in the land office was indorsed "Hant
to Carr, o. X. Carr Carr was ther
private secretary to Mr.. Ballinger.
Il Leak in the Land Office.
On Jan Is, 1908, Cunningham, ag
en-. for the claimants, wrote lettel
to the Juneau land office, in which
he said:
The commissioner (Nlr. Ballinger
has furnished us with copies of al
the correspondence and kilograms re
lating to our entries between thu
various special agents and also will
your office. Up to date everythin:
seems to have been approved b.
each department chief, SO now GU
: only delay will be occasioned through
: failure to receive plats according t,
Judge Ballinger's advice"
If the Cunningham claims ha,
then gone to patent, 5000 acre
. of coal land, containing. according t.
: Mr.. Cunningham's expert, 100000
tons of coal, would have gone to tn
Cunningham group without adequat
I investigation of title. When tn
Cunningham claims were ordered t
patent, Mr.. Ballinger and his as
sistants must have known, from tn
D reports of Special Agent Jones an
: myself, the suspicious character c
:. these claims.
Here was my first dilemma l di
not wish to protest to Secretary {
the Interior Garfield against the a,
ton of the commissioner, and di
not like to see 5000 acres of co;
lands go to the Cunningham grou
20 when believed the claims fraud
1t lent. did protest Immediately, /
al telegram and letter, direct to Cor
" missioner Ballinger, against the
r, suance of the patents. The ord'
nj clear listing the Cunningham CLAIM
r. to patent was almost Immediately r
n voked, and. on March 1, 1908, 1 aga
e. took up the work on these claim
vi Special Agent Jones and l, at WI
by lace. Idaho, procured affidavits
Cunningham claimants showing the
On intention to consolidate their claim
IN Then we went to see cunningham
nd Cunningham stated, that he hi