The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-03-02
BY Associated Press.

Washington, March 1.-The expect
ed clash between Pinchot and Sec
retary of Agriculture Wilson over the
disputed question whether the secre-
tary had given the forester permis-
sion to write to Senator DolliVer the
letter which resulted in Pinchot's dis
missal, came today before the inves-
tigating committee. Pinchot declar-
ed he discussed the matter with Will
son and Wilson gave him permis-
sion to write the letter. Wilson i'm
mediately took the stand and assert
ed while he had given Pinchot per-
mission to write to Dolliver concern
ing departmental affairs" he did not
give him permission to write a let
ter criticising Taft.
Under cross-examination, wholly by
Democratic members of the commit
tee, Wilson was uncertain just what
passed between himself and Pinchot
and became somewhat mixed at
times. The secretary reiterated again
and again that he never heard of the
letter Pinchot. wrote until it was read
in the senate.
Wilson was plainly agitated when
he took the stand Pinchot was re-
luctant to testify to anything to bring
hihl ihlO a Will IHb CultI
under whom he served for twelve
years, but Chairman Nelson insisted
on getting into the matter Pinchot
declared he and Wilson discussed
Taft's order forbidding subordinate
officers of the various departments
from giving information to congress
and added Wilson said: You and
have no trouble about that order"
The day was replete with interest.
The cross-examination of Pinchot was
begun late this afternoon and will be
continued when the committee meets
Friday.
Pinchot denied he was embittered
by his dismissal, and denied there
is any specific movement to discredit
Ballinger. adding he and former Sec
retary Garfield CLAWS and others are
concerned in conversation and they
regarded Ballinger as one of the
greatest enemies to the movement.
SURPRISING DEVELOPMENTS.
There was surprising develop
ment in the Ballinger-Pinchot inves-
tigation when Clifford Pinchot stated
to the committee that he based his
charge that Secretary Ballinger had
been guilty of making statements TO
the president that were absolutely
false in three essential particulars
not upon letter from Ballinger him
self, but upon a letter written by j.
T. Ronald, a former law partner of
Mr.. Ballinger, to DR.. Lyman Abbott.
Mr.. Pinchot said a copy of this let
ter, with annotations, was forwarded
by Mr.. Ballinger to the president.
Mr.. Pinchot admitted that the three
alleged false statements in the Ron
aid letter had previously been cover
ed. by letter written by Mr.. Balling-
er himself to the president, in which
Mr.. Ballinger had made the witness
admitted was a true statement of the
facts.
OPENING OF HEARING.
When the public hearing opened,
Attorney Pepper began to question
Mr.. Pinchot as to the sequence of
events following July /. 1909, when
the former forester said he first heard
of the Cunningham claims through
forest officials in the west. When
he heard what his subordinates in
Washington had done at Glaviss re-
quest, looking to poStponement OF
the hearings of the Cunningham
claims. he approved thoroughly. Ask
ed If there was anything unusual in
the Interference of the forest ser
vice, MT. BluSHOL Tedu a IeLIr SlSH-
ed by President Roosevelt on May II,
1908, directing the secretary OF the
interior To cooperate wi-h the for
estry service as to lands in forest re
serves and to adopt the service S
findings as far as possible.
The witness next told of his inter
view with CLAWS at Spokane on Aug.
8. 1909. The meeting was not by ap-
pointment and Mr.. Pinchot said he
possibly had met CLAWS once before
he was not sure. CLAWS laid all his
evidence before him, MIR. Pinchot
(continued on Page Two.)