Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-04
Conference at White House.


Announcement of Mr. Vertrees' accept
ance of the task was made this morning,
after his long conference with President
Taft and Secretary Ballinger.
Mr.. vertrees went to the White House
early this morning with Secretary D1ckin-
son, and shortly afterward Secretary
Ballinger arrived. The conference con-
tinued for nearly an hour after this, run
ming some time after the hour when the
regular cabinet meeting was to be held.
Then Secretary Ballinger and Mr.. Yer
tary's carriage. They were at once driven
to the Interior Department, where they
remained in conference long time.
Il have no statement to make said
Secretary Ballinger. Il will say nothing
until l give my testimony under oath.
I did contemplate making statement
earlier in the week. Conditions caused
me to change my mind.
What the relations of Mr.. Vertrees
will be to Commissioner bennett of the
Schwartz has not become known. 1t ie
generally understood that the Tennessee
lawyer is engaged as the counsel fol
Mr.. Ballinger alone.
AS close personal friend Of Pres,
ident Taft it is probable he will guard
carefully against further innuendoes in
tended to reflect up the executive. such
as made by l.. r. CLAWS in one part OF
his testimony.
Great Tennessee Lawyer.
Mr.. vertrees is ranked as the greatest
lawyer in Tennessee. having been con-
nected with many notable cases. He is
| an avowed and active democrat.
| He is to be assisted in the, case by
Carl Rasch of Montana, formerly United
States attorney in that state. and one
tod t1,o
| to land laws and their processes. Mr.
Rasch Is now on his way to Washing
| ton, and will Immediately go into con-
| sultation with Mr.. Ballinger
The newly engaged attorneys will app!
themselves as fast as possible to learn.
ing the details of the case. 1t is probable
| that a week or more will be consumed
| in doing this. Mr.. Ballinger will aid
them all he can. They will go into al
phases of the case.
counsel has been made only after the
| most earnest protests of his friends
against his policy Of being unrepresented
at the hearings. He has held that he Is
innocent of wrongdoing, and, therefore
needs no counsel.
| His friends, however. have told him
| that, If persisted in, this course would
| harm not only himself, but others. who
| would be shattered with insinuations
| intlmations and other methods of attack
Ballinger Asks Postponement.
| It developed at the brief public session
of the Ballinger-Pinchot investigating
committee today that under date OF
February , Senator Nelson. chairman OF
| the committee, wrote to Secretary Bal
| lnger, saving he had been directed by
the members to suggest to him the i'm
portance of being represented by counsel
| to examine and cross-eXamine witnesses
| orderly fashion, such evidence rs would
be material to the other side"
! Replying to this letter. under date OF
| February 3, Mr.. Ballinger said he hae
| followed the suggestion of the committee
but that il would require several day.
| for his attorney to reach Washington
and some additional time to familiar1zt
| himself with the case.
| Mr.. Ballinger said he had been of the
! opinion that by not having counsel pres
ent he would be assisting the committee
or at least would not be hampering 4
| In making full inquiry of Its own. In
| view of the suggestion by the chairman
! however, he could do nothing but follow
| the recommendation of the committee.
Mr.. Rallinger asked that the further
hearings be postponed until Monday, Feb
ruary IA.
Adjournment Until Next Friday.
Following an executive session of the
committee, which lasted nearly an hour
these letters were read to the public and
adjournment until February IL ordered.
1t was said that there had been pretty
lively discussion In the executive session
over the question of postponement. Some
members OF the committee strenuously
opposed any delay at this time. The ma
iority sentiment prevailed. however.
Louis r. CLAWS. star witness for the
"prosecution, Will be held In the city
until Secretary Ballinger's attorney shall
have opportunity to cross-examine him.
Attorney Brandeis, representing CLAWS,
made a somewhat heated complaint to
the committee over the delay of the In
terror Department in furnishing the com
mittee with documentary evidence called
for by the prosecution.
He said Mr. Bailinger might have good
and sufficient reasons for withholding
this evidence from examination by coun-
sci representing Mr. CLAWS. but in view
of his statements that he wanted free
and full investigation he thought 1t in
cumbent upon him to furnish the evidence
in instaIlments as fast as it could be
collected.
Chairman Nelson said il had been decid-
ed at the executive session to request
Secretary Ballinger to furnish the evil
dence in installments, and that he would
direct him a letter to that effect and
send it by special messenger today.
Paul Sleman, an attorney Of this city,
has been appointed secretary of the in
c1mIn1ffee