The National tribune., 1909-12-23
THE BALLNGER-
PINCHOT FEUD,
The Democrats Stirring Up The Embers
in the House.

A 'steenth revival of the Ballinger-
Pinchot controversy is on. Congress
sional proceedings We're tagging in in
terest The House had never had a
Balljnger-Pinchot controversy, but it
has one now. Representative Gilbert
NJ. Hitchcock, Democrat, of Omaha,
brought it to the fore, and in a sizzling
arraignment of the Secretary of the In
terror started tongues to wagging once
more He eulogized Special Agent l.
r CLAWS. who was dismissed the SER
vice for activities against Secretary Bal
Iinger growing out of the investigation
of the Cunningham coal claims in Alas
ka.
Washington grows aweary, but never
theless the Ballinger-Pinchot troubles
will not down. Perhaps the country
grows aweary, too; but the Democrats
in Congress do not think so, and they
are determined to make what political
capital there may be in it. The great
industry of the hour is getting every
thing of possible campaign utility into
the Congressional Record. Funds for
running campaigns come hard in these
publicity days. and postage is always a
big item in running any kind of pom
tical campaign. Any old kind of story
in the Congressional Record becomes
frankable. and fac-simile of a Con-
gressman's signature suftices for post
age stamps in the upper right-hand
corner.
The situation is unique. President
Taft has exonerated Secretary Ballin-
ger The Attorney-GeneraI is under
stood to have Investigated him twice,
especially to ascertain whether he has
preached any of the strict provisions of
the lawyers code of ethics in handling
the Alaskan cases. And twice Attorney
General Wickersham is said to have
exonerated his colleague OF the Cabinet.
The Rooseveltians are still firing
broadsides. Secretary Ballinger has re-
turned TO the fray with heavy ammuni-
ton. Apart from comprehensive state
ments he has outheroded Herod in
making radical recommendations for
conservation work in the tumultuous
West His recommendations for con-
serving water powers on the public do
main simply stagger the water-power
lobbyists, who are swarming down upon
Washington. He fayors about every
thing the irrigatiOnists want. but the
warfare continues. The Secretary says
he will welcome an investigation. And
Pinchot, too. He is willing to be in
vestigated. Democrats are demanding
Investigations of these two, exc of the
Sugar Trust situation, and of even other
public controversies.
The House leaders and the Sena te
leaders however, will not assent: neith-
er will the President assent. They do
not want the turmoil and the public
dEihdAloaL- IHtN KNOW, as everybody
familiar with Congressional inYestfga-
tion knows, that such Investigations Just
before a campaign mean tremendous
scramble for political advantage The
facts are secondary to a presenta tion
that viii make for the benefit of one or
the other party.
The Republicans who came to Con-
gress clamoring most loudly for inyes-
legations were chiefly from the West.
They have been called in for quiet con-
1erences and gradually have been sub
siding. The Attorney General is alert
to Instances and evidences of wrong
doing. So is the President. They pre-
Ter 10 take care of such matters them
selves thru the regular channels of in
Vestigation and prosecution. The poll
teal schemes of Congress for turning
on the searchlights generally embarra ss
prosecutions. Therefore the clamor in
Congress for special commissions OF inz
quiry is narrowing down to Democrats,
which means that no Congressional in
Yestigations will be held,
Ballinge-Pinchot has been the only
thrilling topic of debate in the House
for the entire period previous to the
holidays, and that came on an appro-
priation Dill Nicaragua has been the
only thriller for the orators of the SEN
ate, and that was treated almost excIu-
sively on the Democratic side, where
Senator Rayner, of Maryland q per-
fervid speaker Jared forth with de-
mands for speedy Government action
in punishment of the terrible Zelaya.
lie was chiefly responsible for an effort
OF the Foreign Relations Committee to
bring Secretary of State Knox to the
Capitol, and ascertain from him the
why's and whereforcs. But Secretary
Knox demurred, for he did not think it
wise to show his hand. on the heels
Of that Zelaya sent his cablegram to
President Taft, proclaiming his readi-
ness to get out"
the throweTs of firebrands in the two
Houses have had a hard time Their
opportunities have been restricted. and
tasS rave TO wait now till January for
Something new TO turn up.