Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-03-02
DEMOCRATIC MEMBERS
LEAD EXAMINATION
When Cabinet OFFICIAL Takes Stand
He Plainly Shows That He Is AZ.
sitated-cross-fi firing Results Over
Disputed Letter TO Senator DOLL.
ver-causing Forester's Dismissal.
sBy Associated PressD

sbt Arsuriusfu tIrsH.t
WASHINGTON. d. C.. March l.
The expected clash between Clifford
Finchot and Secretary OF Agriculture
Wilson. over the disputed question as
TO whether or not the secretary had
given the former forester permission
TO write 10 Senator polllver. the let
ter which resulted In Mr.. Pinchot's
dismissal. came today before the Bal
Finger Pinchot investigating commit
tee.
Mr.. pinchot declared he had dis
cussed the matter at length with Sec
-etary Wilson and that he understood
his Superior officer had given him ex-
press permission to write to Senator
Dolliver.
Mr.. Wilson took the stand and as
serted that while he had given Mr..
Pinchot permission to write to Sena-
tor Dofver concerning departmental
AFFAIRS he never did. and never
would. have given his permission 20
write letter critic.zing the people
of the United States.
Witness Gets Mixed.
Under a cross-examination.. almost
wholly by the Democratic members
oi the committee. Secretary Wilson
was uncertain as to just what had
passed between himself and the for
ester and became somwhat mixed at
Tins as to just what letters the COM
rlitteemen were referring in their
rapid fire of questions.
The secretary reiterated again and
again that he never saw or heard OF
The letter Mr. Pinchot wrote until 1t
vas read in the senate
Secretary Wilson, who holds all re-
cords for cabinet service, was plainly
sgitated when he took the stand Mr..
Pinchot had been reluctant TO testify
20 anything that would bring him into
controversy with the chief under
y HON he had served twelve years.
But Chairman Nelson insisted that he
should go into the matter.
Mr.. Pinchot declared that he and
Secretary Wilson went so far as to
discuss the executive order issued
by President Taft forbidding subord.-
nate officers OF the various depart.
ments from giving information to
rotary said: You and viii have no
ttVUOft dDOul tlEt OIQtE.
Memory Not Good.
Admitting that his memory failed
him as to certain points. Secretary
Wilson always came back to the state
ment that he never under any CIR
cumstances. would have given Mr..
Pinchot permission to write the letter
which caused his separation from the
service.
The secretary said he urged Mr..
Pinchot not to carry out his purpose
to blanket" message from the
President generating Bsllinger. by
sending In a letter 10 Senator Dolli-
yer
But" persisted counsel for Mr..
Pnchot." IL Mr. Pinchot was only To
be permitted TO write about depart
mental matters. how could you have
thought his letter would blanket the
Presidents message"
4 don't know. That was Pinchots
idea.-
The day was replete with incidents.
The cross examination Of Mr.. Pinchos
was begun late IN the afternoon and
~iii be continued when the committee
meets again Friday
6a1tt0Scr JUS Enemy.
Mr.. Pinchot denied that he was en-
Uttered by a dismissal which he con-
Sidered was not justified. He denied,
also. that there was a specific move
ment to discredit Mr.. Ballinger He
added however. tia; he. and former
Secretary Garfield. Gilvis and Others
are concerned in a movement for the
conservat on Of the natural resources
and that they regard Sfr. Ralsiuger as
one Of the greatest enemies Of that
movement.
VIZ. Nertres. counsel for Secretary
r1llinger. read three statements from
letter addressed BY Mr.. Pin lot to
President TAFT ~ the time thu; CLAWS
was seeking an Interview with the
President
You statc that by caisiai actin Of
vour once the Issuance e patents &,
The Cunningham claimants was held
%. said Mr.. Vctres. - that frney~
That wa a mistake said Mr.
7inchof.
Secondly said Mr.. vertres. you
ftaied 10 the President that as a TO-
suit 81 Mr.. Bainngers action IN re-