The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-02-08
Empire Laundry
"Where Linen Lasts"
w. c. MACKEY, Mgr.
Phone a22.

his three days testimony and stepped
from the witness chair a new light
had been thrown upon the famous
"Ballinger-Pinchotc controversy" which
has not only reflected discredit upon
the Taft administration but has raised
a discussion in all parts of the coun-
try that for over two months has been
raging Hike a blizzard Of words.
Claws testimony and conduct before
the Nelson investigating committee
awakened the fighting blood and pa
triotism of every person within the
hearing of his voice, with the possible
exception of those having designs
upon government timber and coal
lands. Glavis's gentlemanly bearing
at all times while a witness, even
/ when attempts were made to place a
| false light upon his testimony. must
have explained to every student of
! human nature why the entire country
was backing up the position of this
young man in preference to that of his
powerful enemies.
| After CLAWS had completed his
straightforward and simple story, it
! was plain why Clifford Pinchot. a mil
! lionaire several times over, had SUD-
! ported with characteristic enthusiasm
| the cause Of CLAWS though it antagon-
lied the secretary of the interior and
even the president of the United
! States. After the three-day story OF
the special agent Of the land office had
! been heard, it was no longer strange
why Chief Forester Pinchot had sacri-
feed his position in order that he
| might in a measure pay tribute to
| CLAWS and the single handed and Sc.
cret fight that the latter had carried
on against land thieves and public
grafters.
Every word of GIavis's story was
supported and doubly strengthened by
official records. There was not a
single expression in all of Glavis's tes-
tlmony which carried the remotest
suggestion of .self-praise or self-import-
ance. The witness had no commit
ments for himself, and his perfect
candor at times seemed to arouse the
epmlty OF Chairman Nelson, who an.
peared bent upon breaking down
GlaVts's testimony that the general
Land office interfered in behalf of the
coal land thieves.
So far the investigation has made If
plain that the man behind the Bal.
linger-Pinchot controversy is CLAWS.
who is but rs years old. 1t appears
evident that the dismissal of Inchot
and others grew out of Glayis's clash
with the general land office while he
was working to prevent land frauds in
Washington Oregon and Alaska,
CLAWS is tall, greeable-looking man.
frank in speech but not inclined to he
over-talkative. He impresses one of
his sincerity even in short converse.
ton.
Some Deductions.
Stripped of technicalities. the peril
nent facts concerning CLAWS and his
dismissal are as follows:
l. He entered the government land
office in September, 1902, and in April
1904, was made chief special agent,
2. While in the government employ
he saved to the country some SO coal
claims in Alaska which by survey con
tain approximately 6, 100000 long tons
of coal He successfully prosecuted
many land fraud cases, for which he
received praise from his superior of
ficers.
5. He early discovered that R. A
Ballinger, now secretary Of the int.
4IoI' Was ADVISING, IN the capacity OF
attorney, some of the claimants how
to secure patent.
4. CLAWS next found that members
of congress were among those en-.
deav0ring to get possession of vain
able government lands
3. When in the midst Of fnvestiga
ton Of Alaska coal cases. CLAWS re-
ceived instruction to abandon investi
cation.
6. CLAWS appealed to the depart
ment Of justice.
I. He was arbitrarily, summarilv
and without hearing dismissed from
the service,