Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-27

After the Ballinger-P -Pinchot investigat-
tne committee had twice declined to
Grant the request of Attorney Brandeis.
representing Louis r. CLAWS and others,
10 compel the immediate attendance of
Secretary Ballinger as witness, John j..
vertrees late yesterday made the opening
statement in Mr.. Ballingers behalf and
aecan the presentation of testimony. Mr..
Vertrees declared that the testimony of
CLAWS and others would be shown TO be
grossly false"
There is no act of Mr. Ballingers.'
asserted the attorney. TO which 1t is
possible to ascribe an unworthy motive
or improper purpose otherwise than
through the suspicion of a perverted
mind or the resentment of a discharged
public servant. OF the program of an un-
scrupulous political intrigue"
A Maker of Epigrams.
NJ Ecrtrces' statement sparkled with
ep!.famS I'm one of these, referring to
the acts Of officers of the last administra
ton. the attorney said
There was the reign of men. March
1899. came the reign of law
Although Mr.. Nertrees was particularly
r.itrrine 10 Messrs Garfield and Pinchot,
some members of the committee, after
adjournment were inclined TO construe
tle statement as a fling at Mr. Roosevelt
ana 50 expressed themselves.
Patriot CLAWS came in for a large
share of Mr.. Fertrees attention. Some
of the attorneys thrusts were:
CLAWS. suspicious by nature. became
perverted by detective service
Claws. believed 10 be honest and
known to be capable.
'Giavis refusal TO speak ls TO be
ascribed to a vanity that brooks no suS-
gestlon.
Says Pinchot is Vain.
Mr. Nertrees also dwelt at length upon
Clifford Pinchot and the Pinchot serv-
ie as he chose 10 designate the forestry.
Her. are a few of the shots he fired at
the deposed forester:
Mr.. Pinchot. vain and fattered by his
oRn publicity bureau"
'Pincaot ceased to be the Department
O. agriculture.
.'se was exposed and Mr.. Ballinger had
committed tie objectionable sin of de-
itating the ambition OF a seif-exagSerat-
eI Ilan.
Here was the birthplace of that spirit
Of resentment and revenge to as
fasinate the good name OF MIR. Balllnger
and bring reproach on the President OF
lac United States. VINO had not retained
I1ir. Garfield and mad dismissed Mr.. Pin
'ehot
or Mr.. Bailinger. the attorney said:
Mr. Ralinger holds that conservation
not thing OF caprice. but of law.
True conservation has no sturdier sup
porter than he
hose who have already been born and
nov breathe have rights well as those
Jet TO be born and yet to breathe.
Development ought not to be exiled
v theorists and doctTinaires.
Still Believes It Right.
In restoring to entry vast areas OF
we public domain. which he believed 10
nave been wrongfully withdrawn. Mr..
Baiiinger stiIi believes he was right. but
ne erred he denies that it was an error
ior which the good faith of his official
acton should be questioned by those who
would substitute opinion for law"
Not site was lost
lie could have transferred Mr.. CLAWS
u any time, and obviously would have
done 50 had he been minded to bring
soout improper official action, which
pdlfiot CLAWS was preventing and
u!Warting where he was.
MI sertrees' statement was long one,
song into the details of practically every
Phase OF the case. He said 1t would
st'oWH thaI as regafuS the Cunning
nam nam claims and in all other matters Mr..
nSiAnger was clean handed and that
ts actions had been those of an honest
,So upright citizen and official He denied
@l Secretary Ballfnger had ever drawn
! ~ an escrow agreement or any other
IL OF agreement in the Wilson coal
i iialu cases. He said Mr.. Ballinger had
ga and moral right to do what he did
- Presenting The Cunningham affidavit
secretary Garfield.
Ballinger Not Responsible.
ne asserted that it would be shown that
bailinser was in no way responsible
LAT The request for an opinion on the
-" coal land act of 1908 had gone first
assistant Secretary Pierce rather than
Attorney General Wickersham All
atg the line a general denial of
,fses differences and insinuations"
vas entered
u ne evidence now TO be offered said
,bt Nertrees. will make all of these
ms 20 clear. SO undeniables and so
r. an mat this committee will cast about
A. asoover how IL is that men who knew
E,a.'atuch or the truth as Pirchot. and
Ms; and Garfield. and Davis. and
10 @ knew could have had the daring
tarSeseht themselves as sincere. honest
ner.arS rS OF suspicion much less as
Il bnou,a, iealiy believing that they had
IT, 5se OF inculpatory facts"
rro.;' NY Was replete with interest The
s~e bitterness between ATTORNEYS
Continued on Eirbth p.roN-~