The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1910-01-05

in explanation OF certain passages In
a private journal secured by CLAWS
from Cunningham which is alleged to
have shown that the Alaskan CLAIMS
were taken out by the Cunningnams
in the names of dummy entrymen.
The book is alleged to have shown the
substitution of responsible persons for
the dummies" later on.
Assistant Secretary Pierce in May.
1909, signed a decision holding that
the Hepburn law allowed the co-sol-
idation of certain character or coar
claims in Alaska. which would have
included the Cunningham claims. A
copy of this decision went to CLAWS.
and he was directed to make a report
in accordance with it.
On June II Attorney General Wick
ersham overruled the Pierce decision.
The Cunninghams then preferred TO
stand under the old law. and Claws
received orders from the land office
to hurry his investigation. Later, Spe-
cial Land Agent Sheridan was placed
on the cases, syperseding Claws.
CLAWS had protested and asked for
time in which to complete his investi-
CATION. and when he found his pro-
. tests unavailing he telegraphed to
Acting Law Officer Shaw, of the forest
service, stating that there were about
700 claims in the Chugach National
forest reserve, including the Cunning
ham group, which were about to pro-
coed to trial, and asking the coopera-
ton of the forest service.
| On July 81, Secretary of Agriculture
Wilson requested Secretary Ballinger
not to fix dates for the hearing of these
claims until he could find out, from the
local forestry officers, the full reasons
for the request for postponement A
day later Law Officer Shaw of the for
est service, called at the general land
lowed to examine the record in the
cases. which was refused. He report
ed the refusal to Associate Forester
Price, who with Shaw then called on
Chief of Field Service Schwartz, of
the general land office. 1t was IN this
occasion that the statement "Pinchot
is trying to run the interior depart
ment" was made. The forest service
officers were finally allowed to ssee the
record-after certain papers were
taken out.
Special Agent Sheridan. after look
ing over Claws record of the cases at
Seattle, endorsed the recommendation
for delay, and later acting secretary of
the Interior Pierce granted the request
of the secretary of agriculture for a
suspension of the hearing, but urged
claims be fastened as much as pos
sil,le
in this situation that CLAWS journeyed
from Seattle TO Beverly, Mass, last
summer and laid the case before Pres
ident Taft The whole west by this
time was ablaZc with the discussion
of the Baiiinger- PinchOt controversy
Both of the principals We're attending
rival conservation congresses in the
west. Pinchot making speeches de-
manding the preservation of the land
for the people, and Ballinger declar-
ing that ''Pinchot is trying to run the
interior department"
Then came the open letter from the
president to Secretary Ballinger COM
pletely generating him, and charac-
terizing the CLAWS charges as mere
shreds Of suspicion CLAWS was dis
charged and the administration waited
for the unpleasant incident to be for
gotten. But this is just what did not
happen. CLAWS carried his charges
! into the public prints and the battle
was renewed with vigor. Finally the
situation became so acute, that Bal
linger, just before the Christmas holi-
days wrote a letter to Senator Jones.
Of Washington demanding a congress
sional investigation, not only of his
own conduct, but of that of the forest
G U-hn no III ms
ing the attacks upon his admin1stra-
ton This letter was read to the. SEN
ate, and arrangements were made for
the Introduction Immediately after the
reconve irg of congress of a resolution
providing for an investigatkonA