The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-12-15

1dII ut beverly, GluVlS SCdCeU L0at
number of the Alaska coal claimants
are men prominent in the state of
Washington, and many of them are
personal friends Of Mr Ballinger'
Clarence Cunningham lived at Wal
lace, Ida, at the time he first became
interested in the Cunningham claims.
wallace is the chief town in the Occur
d'Alene mining region. The Guggen-
helms control the lead output Of the
Occur d'Alenes. Wallace is the resi-
dence Of Senator W. B. Hepburn of
Idaho. Cunningham and Hepburn are
and have been for years friends.
Another claimant is Charles Swee.
ney. Occur dAlene mine owner, who
fioated some Occur d'Alene mines and
sold them to Standard OIL interests.
Court records in Seattle show that Bal
linger's law firm represented the
Standard Oil company in three differ
ent suits.
Senator Hepburn was at the time Of
his election to the United States SEN
ate the leading attorney at Wallace for
some Of the large Occur d'Alene mine
interests. After the hearing on the
Gale bill Senator Hepburn on April %,
1908, introduced in the senate another
bill which would have legalized the
Cunningham claims and which would
have passed but for the Intervention
of Secretary Garfield.
"In Washington, Hepburn and Bal
linger appear to have acted in con-
cert. 1t is unlawful for a United
States senator to act as attorney for
persons interested in urging claims be-
fore the departments at Washington.
In Cunningham's books, under date of
September, 1903, nine months after
Heyburn's election as senator, there is
an entry which reads as follows:
Have agreed with w. B. Hepburn in
consideration for his services as attor.
ney to carry him for one claim of 16O
acres in the coal free of cost to him,
and he agrees to do all our legal work
in procuring titles, etc., free of expense
to u.s.
when Ballinger represented Cum
ningham he represented all the Gun
ningham claims. Not only this, but
the record is quick with the evidence
of his employment by other Alaska
coal claimants at different times. I'm
der date of Dec. %, 1908, little over
two months before he took Office as
secretary of the interior Ballinger
wrote to the register and receiver of
the United States land Office at Ju.
neaU, Alaska, saying that he repre-
sented w. G. Whorf, whose entry was
known as coal survey No. 315.
"On Jan. Z, 1909, less than sixty days
before Ballinger became secretary OF
the Interior M. A. Green, who repre-
sents another Alaska coal syndicate
wrote to John w. Dudley, register OF
the Juneau (Alaska) land office, 4 sub
mitted this scrip to Judge BallingeI
as my lawyer, and he has approved
the same, saying it was regular in ev
cry way, so l bought it and paid fol
it and am sending it forward to you al
this time
Under date of April 10, 1909, six
weeks after Ballinger took the oath
of office as secretary of the interior
Walter NJ. French of the law firm o1
Allen & French of Seattle wrote John
w. Dudley, register of the Juneau
land Office, Mr.. Hartman, whom
represent, has ON several occasions
taken the matter of sale up with Judge
Ballinger, whose firm represented the
purchasers, and with Mr.. Hartline, and
the parties have at all times seemed
to be in perfect accord
ION June 26, 1909, Donald r. Nc
Kenzie, Ballinger's intimate associate
and client, told Special Agents Jones
and CLAWS in Seattle that Secretary
Garfield's attitude toward the Alaska
coal claims, in which he and his
friends were interested, was such thai
they brought pressure to bear on sena
tors and representatives to prevent hii
remaining in the cabinet under Presi
dent Taft. Are the same influences
that kept Garfield out keeping Bal
linger in? viii the president consider
these facts in weighing the arguments
now being pressed upon him by mem
bers of his cabinet?"