The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-03-09
bALLINGER A LIAR.
CLIFFORD PINCHOT USES STRONG
LANGUAGE CONCERNING
BALIINGER.
Members of Committee Show COnsid
cradle Impatience With Methods of
Attorney for Secretary.

Washington, March 4.-The Ballin-
ger-Pinchot investigation dragged
slowly along through two sessions to-
day. Mr. Vertrees, counsel for Secre-
tary Ballinger, continued his cross
examination of Clifford Pinchot.
He ELECTED some interesting facts
from the former forester, but FOR the
most part the day was taken up large
ly with wrangles between the attor-
ney and the witness and sometimes
between Mr.. Vertrees and counsel ior
the other side. Mr.. Pinchot complain
ed to the committee that it was diff
cult to explain forest service matters
to a man so little informed on the SUBJ
tcct as Mr.. Vertrees appeared to b..
The members of the committee
showed considerable impatience, and
Senator Flint repeatedly urged coun-
sci to stop wrangling and try to get
down to the facts.
Mr.. Pinchot admitted that his first
hand knowledge of Mr.. Ballinger's
acts was very limited, but he reiterat.
ed that the secretary of the interior
had deceived the president concerning
the Cunningham coal cases and had
made statement to the president
uyh icl, HoI
Mr.. Vertrees at the afternoon ses-
sion questioned Mr.. Pinchot closely
regarding the sending of forest rang
ers to agricultural colleges and
brought out the fact that Mr.. Pinchct
was under the impression that he had
informed the secretary of agriculture
Of what he was doing, but he was not
willing to swear to it. The attorney
sought to show that Mr.. Pinchot and
Former Secretary of the Interior Gar
fled were in the habit Of doing what
they thought best, regardless of the
law. and their antagonism to Mr.. Bel
linger was brought about by his de
termination to proceed wholly within
the law.
AS soon as Mr.. Pinchot took the
stand Attorney Vertrees for Mr.. BAL
linger asked him this question:
"Mr. Pinchot, please state one single
fact of your own knowledge that re-
fleets upon Mr.. Ballingers' conduct
either as commissioner of the land Of
flee or secretary Of the interior-not
hearsay, not what somebody else sail
or wrote-of your own knowledge"
The witness hesitated at first, bur
later said:
THE fact of my own knowledge =:
Mr.. Ballinger's letter to the president
Of November Is with which he in
closed the Ronald letter. These let
ters contain misstatements which /
have already shown and am prepared
further to show"
M. Eertrecs-"You have tcs.ili, d
here largely by Inference and innuen-
do. Now state what you personally
know Mr.. Ballinger said or did.
Mr.. PinchOt-"The letter of No
vember 15."
Mr.. Vertrees-"What else?'
Mr.. Pinchot-"I never discussed the
Cunningham cases with Mr.. Balling-
er. The only knowledge 1 have at
first hand is limited to writings that
are not disputed"
Mr.. Pirchot said that up to the
time he sent CLAWS to President Taft
the relations between himself and Mr..
Baliinger had been "fairly friendly,
not more than that
He was not more friendly because
he knew Mr.. Ballinger's views as to
conservation were different from his
own.
Then you were unfriendly?"
"No, I distrusted him."
you mean distrusted his policies ?"
Il distrusted his policies and what
he would do
Mr.. Pinchot was asked to read the
letter from Secretary Ballnger con-
Veying letter from his (Secretary
Ballinger's) law partner to President
Taft. When he had concluded, Mr..
Ncrtrces asked:
Does that letter indicate hostility
To the general policy of cOnSprvo-
tion?"
"In my judgment. it does"
Point out Il single statement to that
effect"
Mr.. Pinchot said it was impossible
TO make judgment on a single state
mcrt. The whole thing had to he