The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-02-27
DECLARES DALuNGER
UNTRUE TO HIS TRUST
Pfnchof Snaps Ont His Words Before
the Investigating Committee in n
Manner That Makes the Mem
bers sorely Amazed
By RALPH M. wHITEsrDE

Washington, February 26.-(Specia1.)
Alleging that Secretary Richard A..
Ballinger of the department of the in
terror of the United States government
entered the portfolio to tear down the
Roosevelt policies of conservation and
to aid moneyed monopolies in gaining
control of the great resources Of our
frontier sections, former Forester
Pinchot took the witness stand In the
investigation of the Ballinger- -Pinchot
controversy this afternoon and electri-
fled his audience by reciting state
ments of frank malfeasance against
Mr.. Bai1inger.
Mr.. Pinchot in his story backed up
the charges and counter charges Of
former Field Agent CLAWS, and he de-
clared in unequivocal language that
Secretary Ballinger has proved not in
discreet, but untrue, to the trust i'm
posed in him by the people. The for
mer forester bit off his words and
snapped out his language in a way
that evidenced his entire sincerity in
the business in hand. He called Mr..
Ballinger a dangerous enemy of con-
servation and said that he had mis-
represented his attitude to the Presi-
dent. Today's session of the investi-
eating committee was by far the most
lively and interesting held so far.
With Mr.. Pinchot the center Of the
controversy 1t merely remained for
him to take the stand to give a finish
Ing touch to the fabric of accusation
which is being constructed.
When Mr. Pinchot was called to the
witness stand he said that he had pre-
pared statement setting forth the
status of his relations with the in
terror department and Secretary Bal
linger. He asked permission to read
this statement and have 1t considered
as evidence coming from him.
Committee Is Amazed
There was no interruption to the
reading of the statement and some OF
the members listened in open-mouth
amusement at the boldness of the
charges 1t contained.
George w. Pepper of Philadelphia.
Pinchot's counsel commenced his ex-
animation by having Mr.. Pinchot recite
the history Of his public life. This he
did.
The statement which created such
furore is in part as follows:
What desire to lay before the
committee is a consecutive story of my
experience with Mr.. Ballinger in rela-
tion to the conservation of national re-
sources. Among several other notes
there are three of principal Importance
to be called to your attention.
"The first Of these concerns the pol
Icy, devised and inaugurated by the
last administration. of protecting
against moropolistic control the wa
ter power sites owned by the people
shall show you that Secretary Bal
linger entered his office with the clear
determination to make short work of
that policy; that he reversed 1t so far
as he was allowed to do so; that he
restored the power sites to entry with
out the remotest idea of ever with
drawing them; and that finally, when
/ charged him last autumn to the Pres
ident with being an enemy Of the pol
icy Of conservation, he capped the cli-
max by giving the President himself
an explanation of his conduct that was
essentially false.
THE second has to do with my con-
nection as a government officer with
the Cunningham coal cases and with
the CLAWS charges. shall show You
now Ine IOreSt SERVICE DcCdHle IN
volved In these cases and how Gla-
Wis submitted his facts to me. be-
iieved them as l believe now, that he
told the truth. I am convinced now
rs was when he came to me that Gla-
Wis Is a faithful public servant.
Dangerous Enemy
II shall show you that in pursuance
of that duty laid before the President
both by word and mouth and In let
ter statement of my conviction that
Secretary Ballinger has been danger
Gus enemy to conservation. shall show
you that this letter was submitted by
3 part OF his reply he laid before the
President a statement concerning the
; Cunningham coal cases, which state
ment is shown by undispufed documen-
tary evidence to be absolutely false IN
three essential places. 1t will then ap-
pear that Mr.. Ballinger wilfully de-
ceived tho President and was disloyal
to him.
Il desire to show you that the story
of CLAWS courageous and successful
dght to protect the property of the peo-
pie. which ended In his dismissal with
out a hearing, is but = single chapter
in the history of the public lands.
when rnis story has been told and
the witnesses whom shall ask you to
that the interests of the people are not
safe in Mr.. Ballinger's hands"
Testimony Of Clifford Pinchot
Washington. February 26.-With Clifford
Pinchot on the witness stand the Bal
linger- Pinchot inquiry entered its second
phase today. The dismissed chief of the
forest service before being sworn dra-
mAtically declared that when his story
(. lad been told the country would demand
= verdict in harmony with the general
conviction that the Secretary Of the In
terror has been unfaithful both to the
public whose property he has endangered
and to the President. whom he has de-
ceived.
L. r. CLAWS. the Cunningham coal
claims agent. and Colonel Brandeis stood
aside to make room for Mr.. Pinchot, for
Attorney George Wharton Pepper. his
personal counsel, and the story Of Secre-
tsry Pa|lipgsEis sdpaliRGe With ne water
Jo21er a366 ~ ffis public gomain. zsf
u. fia6Iiot accused Secretary Bal