The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-05-16
TAFT NOW ADMITS
LAWLER WROTE
LETTER
Sensational Expose Of Whitewash Of
Secretary Ballinger by Lattsr's
stenographer Draws Reply
From President.
Taft Says He Used Only Part q
Lawler Document Because He
Was Pressed for Time.

WASHINGTON, May 16.-The SEN
sational expose OF President 'Taft's "a.
nous whitewash letter in the Balling-
er case. which was given exclusively
by the United Press Saturday, has
caused great stir in Washington. The
president has taken hand IN person
In the latest phase OF the sQuabble
He has addressed long letter, over
his own signature, to Senator Knute
Nelson, chairman of the Ballinger-Pin-
chot investigating committee, setting
forth in minute detail the sequence
of the events following his receipt at
Beverly on Aug. IL last OF the charges
made by L. r. CLAWS.
The president makes no direct men,
ton OF the statement OF Frederick M.
Kerby, the young stenographer in Mr..
Ballinger's Office, In which the stenog-
rapher declared that the presidents
letter OF exoneration was prepared In
Mr.. Ballinger's ONCE by Oscar Law
Ter, assistant encouragement for the
interior department Last nights ut
terance of Mr.. Taft was, however. OBJ
viously provoked by Mr.. Kerby's state !
ment
Mr.. Taft's letter is as follows:
I'm the hearings before the commits
tee to investigate the interior depart
ment and forestry service. reference
has been made 10 my decision on the
complaint and charges OF L. r. Gla-
ust, last. against Secretary Ballinger
and certain other officials OF the In
terror department. The majority OF the
in this regard was not within the jur-
isdiction of the committee to invests
gate. In spite of this ruling. refer
ences to the matter have crept Into
proper to write you and state with
such accuracy rs my memory permits.
| what the facts are.
CLAWS statement and charges were
left with me by him on August IS.
1909. turned them over. to the attor-
ney- general, who happened TO be I'm
the neighborhood. and he made notes
on his reading. We both had personal
knowledge In respect to Secretary Bali
fingers attitude toward the Alaska
Local claims. which was the chief subs
mfr Baliinger had very early In the
administration consulted us both In re-
gard TO them. 1872
Believed Jealousy Was Caase.
within two or three days after the
lng Of the charge n ns meeting a.
the attorney-general and the secretary
of the navy were present. a full dis
| eussion Of the CLAWS statement was
had. IL resulted I'm general conclu-
sion that jealousy between the bur-
! eaus OF the interior department and the
forestry bureau probably explained the
! attitude OF the interior department.
officials, but that the limitations OF
| bad faith by CLAWS against Mr.. Bal
| llnger and the others required that
the statement be submitted TO them
| for answer. Accordingly, copies OF the
statement were sent to Secretary Ball
niger. TO Assistant Secretary Pierce. TO
Commissioner bennett and TO Chief or
| Field Service Schwartz.
'Mr BalIinger was at Seattle, but
! on receipt OF the charges he came 10
| Washington to prepare his answer On
Monday, Sept. 8, Mr. Ballinger reach
| ed Beverly. accompanied by Mr.. Law
Ter. the assistant attorney-general OF
the department of justice, assigned to
the interior department..
How Conclusion Was Reached.
MIR. Ballinger sent TO my house on
| that day the answers of the various
persons concerned, together with
lvoluminous record of exhibits. I had
| a conference with him the evening or
the day he came, Sept. 8. and then on
! the following evening, Sept. q talk
ed over the charges with Mr.. Bale
niger the frst evening and then asked
such questions as suggested themselves.
without intimating any conclusion, and
| said I would examine the answers and
the record and would see him the next
day. / sat up until o'clock that night
! reading the answers and exhibits; SO
that at my next conference | was adj
vised OF the contents OF the entire rec
ord and had made up my mind that
there was nothing I'm the charges up
on which Mr.. Balllnger or the others
accused could he found guilty of either
| incompetency inefhciency, disloyalty
to the interests OF the government, or
dishonesty.
"In the discussions of the second
evening, Mr.. Lawler, who was present
\ at my suggestion. discussed the EVIL
dence at some length l said TO Mr..
Lawler that / was very anxious TO
write a full statement OF the case and
set out the reasons for my decision.
but that the time for my departure on
a long western trip. occupying two
months. was Just one week from that
day; that I had some six or seven set
speeches TO deliver at the beginning
| OF that journey, and that could not
give the time TO the preparation OF
such o detailed statement and opinion
as I would like to render In the mat
ter.
LAWYER Asked For Opinion.
"I therefore requested Mr.. Lawier
no prepare an opinion as II he were