The Hawaiian gazette., 1910-05-31
ADMINISTRATION DEFENSE
BLUNDERED TO THE LIMIT
Pinchot Advocates Place BaIInger in Some
Embarrassing POsitons---Writing of
Generating Letter

Z
Mr.. Brandeis did not obtain the in
formation he wanted, he gradually al
lowed il TO leak to the public that At.
torney-General Wickersham s statement,
reviewing the CLAWS charges, which WAS
given to the public soon after the Presi-
dent gave out his letter generating
Secretary Ballinger, was falsely dated.
This met with indignant denials, al
though the Encouragement iReorpo.
rated into that review certain papers
or later date than the date of the re.
view itself.
Blundered to Limit.
Finally it was acknowledged that the
attoRRey-gen had, made verbal re-
port to the President on the CLAWS
charges, and as the President was anx-
ious to have the letter of exoneration
written, he gave orders to 90 ahead
with it, and also directed that Attor-
ney- General Wickersham should put his
views in writing for future reference.
That was an entirely natural procedure
and one that could merit no eensure
| under the circumstances, but the people
who had charge of the management of
/ the Ballinger. Piuthot investigation for
the administration simply blundered to
| the limit. If they had admitted at the
beginning what the facts really were
there probably would have been no un-
favorable comment. But the denials
| and tergiversations regarding the date
of the attorney general g review had to
be followed by Acknowledgements that
the representations of Attorney Bran
deis were true. This accumulated an
attitude of suspicion and encouraged
the public to believe that the interior
department was not proceeding with
entire franSness.
And right upon the heels of that un.
toward incident, came the confession
of Stenographer Kerby. The very
afternoon that it appeared in Wash
ington newspaper, Secretary Ballinger
rushed to the White House to see the
President, who happened to be away
playing golf. A qualified denial was
issued from the White House, which
! denial the President sanctioned over
the telephone from the golf links. But
the denial was hardly four square
with some of the statements made in
the letter to Senator Nelson, which
| was given out after there had been a
long conference at the White House
with Secretaries Dickinson and Nagel
anu AIUorney-UeneIdl NlcheISudh
Nothing Very Wicked,
| However, it is quite generally con-
coded that there was nothing very
wicked in the President commissioning
an assistant attorney general to frame
up reply generating the secretary
| of the interior from the CLAWS charges,
! even if the President had actually
| signed the letter which that official
prepared. That sort of thing is done
4 much in Washington. Many important
papers of state are prepared by sub
ordinate officials, and are instructed,
as was Attorney Lawlol, along what
lines to build the language and the
argument of the communication.
Therefore, while the critics of Presi-
dent Taft are already laundering that
| he was willing an assistant attorney
4 general, virtually the official subordi-
nate of Secretary Ballinger, should
write the opinion generating Secre-
tary Ballinger of charges, the CRITICISM
is not entirely just. The situation has
been made especially irritating be-
cause the secretary of tie interior and
the attorney-general sought to with
hold that information from the special
investigation committee. OF course
that procedure, when it became known,
encouraged the opinion that Secretary
Ballinger and Acknowledgement Wick
ersham thought the information might
not be entirely favorable to them.
President Was Frank.
The President, as is customary with
him, was entirely frank in coming
promptly forward with the entire story.
If the secretary of the interior and
Attorney-General Wickersham had done
so at the beginning it would have been
much better for them and would have
saved the President no little emIbar-
rassment. But the damage has been
done and makes the task of the spe-
cial investigating committee unusually
; difficult. No one expects the Repub
licans of that committee to return a
verdict against Secretary Ballinger
, differ the President and his attorney
general have Investigated and found
him guiltless,
But the country is made suspicious
, of the conduct of the department OF
the interior by the evasions and the
prosecution, which Attorney Bran
deis is conducting, scores a tremen
! dous advantage.
: The Republican leaders in congress:
l have been very anxious of late to see
the investigation concluded. Senator
Root, one of the members of the in
! vestigating committee, sails for Europe
late this week. 1t was hoped the in
l vestigation would be concluded before
: he sails so that he could subsequently
' attach his signature to the report
: Whether this Can be done is now opel
! to question. Attorney Brandeis viii
follow up his advantages very natural
ly and make things as embarrassing
, as possible for the secretary of tn,
Z interior and the attorney general.
? Some believe the developments o
2 recent days win make it more Difficult
). for Secretary Ballinger to remain il
! the cabinet, although that is not ye
! assured. 1t is certain that the con
tilual laundering of those in charg
, of the administration IS interests be
! fore the joint committee have brough
. about a serious muddle. They hav
! embroiled the President and done muc
toward making hard problem for hi
A..