The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-08-12
HOT FIGHT
BREAKS
TODAY
DEFENDER OF BALLINGER
DRAWS SOME WARM SHOTS
FROM EX-GOV. PARDEE BE-
FORE IRRIGATION CON-
GRESS.
fBy United Press Leased Wire. }

(By United Press Leased Wire.) }
SPOKANE, Aug. IA spec
tacular fight on the floor of the
National Irrigation congress to-
day fulfilled every prediction that
the seventeenth annual conven-
tion of the irrigationists would
prove the hottest in the history
of the organization.
George Otis Smith, director ot
the United States geological sur.
vey, rose to the defense of Secre-
tary Ballinger of the interior de-
partment and was replied to by
former Governor Pardee of Cali
fornia, who endeavored to meet
every argument put forth in de-
fense of the secretary.
Defends His Chief.
Smith defended his superior in
gallant style and endeavored to
convince the delegates that Bal
lfnger had been misrepresented.
He read kilograms from the gen.
eral land office and from the
Bozeman, Mont, land office which
he said showed that there had
been only one filing on forty acres
of land in the Bozeman district
and that filing had been protest
ed by the department of the n
terror.
He said in part:
ut has been charged that the
secretary Of the interior recently
failed in his stewardship, and II
is not my duty to discuss the mo-
tive. In April Secretary Ballin-
ger restored the land and again
withdrew lands containing power
sites. This concession was made
to the citizens of Montana be-
cause they wanted land for agri-
cultural purposes.
Refers to United Press Article.
1.-THE United Press carried a
story the other day in which IL
was charged that the water trust
had cinched a monopoly by filing
on land in the Bozeman district
on June II, and on all land
which we considered valuable for
power purposes but which was
not withdrawn.
Now, with regard ITO that en-
try of June II, it is shown by the
records that 1t is wide valley
and is not believed to be valuable
for power purposes. Collins de-
n;ae m, a L;po tho aptriac da mot
believe that the General Electric
company controls all the power
In Montana. If these lands were
restored April 10, why did the
power interests wait?
while writers have been fab
ricating fancies, we've been with
drawing lands. 1t is easy to criti-
rise public servants. and / believe
there has been too much criti-
cism at this congress-"
Pardee Comes Back Strong.
Former Governor Pardee of
California then followed with a
speech defending his position. He
said:
II said yesterday that I was
sorry Secretary Ballinger left the
convention hall when he did, and
! reiterate 1t today. have seen
other cabinet members always
ready to answer questions, but
am glad he has sent man to de-
fend him.
"I call your attention to the
fact that Ballinger restored all
lands. Why were not the agricul-
tural lands restored and the 9TH
er lands eliminatedf l have been
told that the reason why 1t was
not done was because of the pres
sure on the department OF the
interior by the agricultural In
terests. The names have not
been given to me.
There are various kinds Of
agricultural interests, some of
lawyers, and some Of power men.
The real agriculturists only want
ed agricultural lands. 1t Is not
I question Of percentage, but one
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