El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-11-26

ent the claims when CLAWS maze
vigorous protest. Several more efforts
were made to have the claims validat-
ed, but each time CLAWS thwarted the
plans of the claimants. Following
Ballinger's resignation from the land
office in March, 1908, the activity ii
this direction ceased, but when he was
appointed to the office of secretary0of
interior by president Taft, the Ques-
ton of patenting the claims again
came up and messages were sent to
CLAWS urging haste in the investiga-
ton.
On account of the fact that the Bal
Iinger law firm had acted as attorney
for the Cunninghams, the secretary OF
the interior refused to have anything
more to do with the matter and passed
it over to assistant secretary Pierce, OF
the indian department, who issued an
order setting aside the charges OF
conspiracy brought against the claim
ants of these coal lands. This was on
May 10, 1909, and Immediately on re-
CENT OF assistant secretary Prices
decision, inspector CLAWS left Seattle
and hurried TO Washington, where he
laid the whole case before attorney
general Wickersham, who reversed the
order of the interior department on
June &c and held that the charges OF
conspiracy should stand in the Cum
ningham case.
CLAWS Goes To Taft.
The interior department now urged
that the matter should be quickly
brought to trial, but CLAWS asked for
a postponement until he could collect
sufficient evidence to insure the gov
eminent against the loss of the case
His protest against a speedy trial
CLAWS in desperation brought the
whole matter to the attention Of Gift
ford Pinchot, chief forester, on Aug.
10, 1909, and Pinchot advised him to
lay it before the president.
On Aug. IS, CLAWS made the journey
to Beverly, the presidents summer
home, and made a personal appeal. to
the chief executive, asking him to in
terfere in the prosecution of the gov
ernment's side of the Alaska coal land
cases. In his report he severely criti-
cised the actions of secretary Ballinger,
assistant secretary Price, commissioner
of the general land office bennett, and
chief of the field service Schwartz in
connection with the Cunningham
claims.
CLAWS Beheaded
The charges were sent to the secre-
tary of the interior by president Taft,
and on Sept. 6, Mr. Ballinger visited
the president at Beverly and presented
his side Of the case. a week later the
president started on his famous trip
over the country and on the 18th Of
September made public a letter which
absolving him from all suspicion Of
wrong doing in connection with the
Cunningham coal claims in Alaska and
authorizing him to dismiss CLAWS.
The enmity existing between chief
forester Pinchot and secretary Ballin-
ger became very evident.
1t soon became apparent that either
Pinchot or Ballinger would have to be
eliminated from the administration
family. Articles in various magazines
and periodicals attacking the secretary
OF the interior added fuel to the flames
On Nov. Is Ballinger issued the an
nua1 report Of the interior department
in which he denounced the land, rail-
way, water power and other pirates,
who have robbed the government of oil
and coal lands and urged the enact
ment of additional legislation to prop
erly look after the safety of our public
lands. When congress met it soon be-
came evident that the fight in presi-
dent Taft's official family was becom-
ing worse instead Of better.
Pfnchot Feels the Axe.
Following the holiday recess senator
Jones and representative Humphrey of
Washington, both friends OF secretary
Ballinger, introduced a resolution in
their respective houses on Jan call
ing for an inquiry into the administra-
ton of the interior department The
following day in response to resolu-
ton adopted by the senate prior to the
holiday vacation, president Taft sent
to the senate mass of reports bear
ing on the controversy.
The same day a bomb shell exploded
when senator Dolliver read a letter
from Clifford Pinchot in the senate at
lacking Ballinger and declaring that
the secretary of the interior had vio-
lated public trust in his administration
Of the affairs in the interior depart
ment He defended Price and Shaw,
two Of his subordinates, for aiding Mr..
CLAWS in his attack on Mr.. Ballinger
and called CLAWS 1.-The most vigorous
defendant of the peoples interests"
Pinchot's head fell the following day.
On Jan. 10 the resolution providing
for an inquiry into the affairs of the
interior department and forestry serv-
ice was passed by congress-
1t was at this juncture that trouble
IHl1uoOAdleIy developed. Tno senate
resolution provided that the members
should be appointed by the vice presi-
dent, while the house resolution gave
speaker Cannon that power. The in
surgent members, however, objected.
and by uniting with the Democrats
they succeeded in depriving Cannon Of
this authority and giving it to the
house
CLAWS a Strong Witness.
The first public hearing of the com.
mittee was held on jan 26 Louis r
CLAWS, the chief accuser of Ballinger
being the first witness TO take the
stand. He presented such a maze Of
facts to substantiate his charges that
when he left the stand after testifying
several days, his testimony was con-
sidered so strong that the Investigating
committee called upon secretary Balm
ger to secure the services Of an at
torney to defend him.
The hearings of the committee were
on the whole very dull, and it is
doubtful that the testimony, with the
exception Of that furnished by several