The Washington times., 1909-12-22
ForeSterS AdherentS Fear
Investigation Will Be
Cut and Dried.
CLAWS APPEARANCE
WILL BE DEMANDED
Said That Former Employe Is Pre-
pared to Make Sensational State
ments-Heney May Assist.

Administration circles experienced a
sudden change Of heart concerning the
advisability OF a Congressional investi-
cation Of the BaHinger-Pinchot feud.
Sometime within week or Whereabouts
Of the Ballinger demand for investiga-
ton, the whole attitude OF the Admin
istration forces was changed
About a week ago Attorney General
Wickersham told caller in the most
positive terms that he was opposed TO an
Investigation. and that the President
was OF the same mind. At that time it
was stin hoped that the trouble would
blow over"
The supporters Of Forester Pinchot
are now wondering whether the change
OF front was caused by confidence that
the investigation could be so organized
as to insure a vindication for Mr.. Bal
fingers department, or whether IL was
due 10 conviction that investigation
was inevitble in any case, and that It
would be good policy to get 10 the
front early with demand for st.
Features Promised.
In general, the belief is that the IN
vestigation win be big affair. Among
the features promised are:
An insistent demand that Louis r.
Claws be put on the stand, and that
he be allowed to be represented by his
attorney in handling his side Of the
case
The appearance OF Francis J. Heney,
the San Francisco graft prosecutor. as
counsel for Claws.
The determination Of the investigat-
ing committee to take q. trip 20 Alaska
next summer and make a general
study OF conditions there.
The effort Of the Forest Service parti-
sans to force the investigation as much
as possible upon the questions Of Sec
rotary BalHnger's relations TO Alaska
lands. and to big interests charged with
trying 10 get the most valuable of them
The EFFORT OF the Interior Department
people, on the other hand, to concen-
trate attention upon the indiscretions5
OF some OF Forester Pinchot's official
family, who viii be charged with grave
indiscretions. in that they fOmented the
trouble by giving out information which
Il is charged ought TO have been kept
secret.
The charge against NJ Pinchot that
he assigned his own law officer to assist
Claws in preparing his case against
The question Is constantly asked by
the friends of PinChot, VIII they put
CLAWS on the stand2" A close friend
OF the forester said:
1--WE are exceedingly pleased that SEN
ator Flint introduced resolution call
ing for the CLAWS documents That was
very. important
Purpose a Whitewash.
But & would be most unfortunate If
an investigating committee should take
papers as the entire statement Of Gla-
Wis case. and decline 20 summon CLAWS
himself II the committee doesn't sum
mon CLAWS, it can be set down early
that the purpose OF the inquiry IS a
whitewash. Claws, Of course, can be
put down as discredited. on the ground
that he is a dismissed Government en-
ploye: but the fact remains that his
story Is Of the greatest Importance. and
the country VIII expect 20 see Il drawn
out on the committees witness stand"
II Mr. CLAWS Is summoned. he viii
come according TO report, prepared TO
make the biggest case he knows how.
He Is said 10 have some new infOrma-
tion-sOme Of IL sensattOnal-secured
since he went 10 Beverly last summer.
and the report is that Francis J. Heney
Will come with him, prepared TO press
the issue before tho committee. and TO
insist on a hearing Tor the late special
agent.
been busy for months preparing for
the investigation. II is known that
great deal OF information has been
placed at the disposal OF the critics Of
the Interior Department adrninistra-
ton. One remarkable piece Of cor
roborative evidence viii be offered from
a curious quarter.
Ii is the story Of a Western member
Of Congress. who recently came east
on the Northern Pacific road He fell
IN with a young engineer who had just
returned from Alaska, where he was
Investigating the mineral values OF an
anthracite deposit.
Became Confidential
ne was talking. became confidential
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