The Morning examiner. [volume] (Ogden, Utah) 1904-1910, 1910-04-24
TRY TO SHOW
P|NCHOT At
B 0 I 7 0 M
OF PLOT
Ballingcr Defense Alleges That
Forester Attempted Over
throw Of Secretary
GEORGE OTIS SMITH
ON WITNESS STAND
some Exciting Incidents Occur in
Examination OF Sensational Case
at Washington
Some Exciting Incidents Occur in
Examination OF Sensational Case
at Washington

WASHINGTON. April 23-An effort
was made by the defense" in the Bal.
linger-Pinchot investigation today 81
show that Clifford Pinchot and his
assistants had conspired 10 overthrow
Secretary BallInger because he oppos.
cd 'PinchotS way of conserving"
While the Ba!linger side OF the con.
troversy occupied the center of the
stage, the other side appeared prom
inently in the wings, Attorney BraIeis.
promising the newspapermen further
revelations regarding Attorney Gen
ersl Wickersbam's summary of tho
CLAWS charges which he intimated
yesterday had been written two
months after the date it bore Mr.
W!ckerSham would neither affirm nor
deny this when seen today.
Il have something else to do" he
said
There Is enough irrcvelcnt matter
going out now without my contribut-
ing to IT,"
Mr.. Bradeis said today ne could
not subpoena Mr.. Wickersham TO
question him about the summary so
he had to content himself with ques-
uoning Witnesses called by the Je-
itUct WHO hObW dDOul II.
Smith on Stand.
George OTIS Smith, director Of the
general survey occupied the stand
during practically the entire day. His
most interesting disclosure related 10
q conversation he had with Mr Pin
chot last July IN which the latter IS
said To have characterized Mr. Bal
EnGer as yellow dog and TO have
threatened TO lead fight against the
secretary II there was any crltism OF
former Secretary Garfield at the Spo-
kane irrigation congress Mr. Smith
oi0o told of talk with Associate For
ester Overton with Price last Sep
tember while the latter as acting for
ester Price Is alleged to have said
that we will get him (Balllnger) ono
wny or another"
Following this interview with Nh
Pinchot, Mr.. Smith said he went 10
attend the Spokane congress, where
the fight was precipitated over n
charge that Mr. Ballinger had allow
ed the Interests" TO grab a large num- |
Der Of valuable water power sites.
Mr, Smith excited great interest |
among members OF the committee by |
reading letter he wrote August l6, |
1909. to subordipates In his Office |
here while be was on the way back |
from the Spokane convention, describ
ing the fight
The whole conservation movement |
is now linked up with MIR. Pinchot's
views on the subject" wrote 'Mr
Smith, so that orthodoxy In the cause
means agreement with Mr.. Plnchot
AS I look at it, any issue Is to be
raised that can be against Secretary
Ballinger, not because OF that issue
but because Secretary Ballinger is TO
he overthrown because he opposes
Mr.. Pinohot's way of conserving
Now there was no criticism OF Gar
field at Spokane and yet the fight
came of as planned. The congress
was organized. the Issues were shap-
cd, the orntors chosen. the newspa-
pers primed. In short. all guns were
loaded. The result was that the pow !
cr site grab charge was defective
and the Alaskan coal charge went off
earlier than planned"
After commenting on the fact that
all the speeches made by those from
whom trouble had been expected were
in such good taste" Mr.. Smith whote
that Governor Pardee had started the
trouble by speaking on the sins of
instead OF Irrigation in
terest of the people" on which he was
10 speak.
Though he (Pardee) old me he in.
tended nothing personal" said Mr.
Smith in his letter. 'he insInuated
tnat Balllnger was either fool or
lgnave and rather intlmated the latter
rs his fayorite hypothesis"