Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-02-27
SECRETARY BALliNGER
WILlFULLY DECEIVED
Ex.cabinet Member Hurles Charge OF
Bad Faith With the Chief Executive
OF the Nation and Says Interior
Official Has Grossly Falsifed-oh-
lection to Hot Fire.
(By Associated press.)

(By Associated Press.)
WASHINGTON. ID. c.. Feb. 26.--
with Clifford Pinchot en- the witness
stand the Ballinger- Pincho; inquiry
entered its second phase today. The
dismissed chief Of the forest service,
before being sworn. dramatically de-
clared. that when his story has been
told the country would demand YER
dict in harmony with the general
conviction that the secretary of the
interior had been unfaithful both 10
the public, whose property he has en-
dangered. and to the President, wnom
he has deceived"
l.. II. CLAWS, the Cunningham ccal
claims and Attorney Brandeis all
stood aside to make room fer Mr..
Pinchot. for Attorney George Wharton
Pepper. his personal cSunsel and the
story of Secretary Ballinger's dealing
with the water power sites OF the pub
lie domain.
Mr. Pinchot accused Secretary Bal
finger of having made an explanation
of his conduct to the President that
was essentially false" He charged
him with being IA dangerous enemy
to conservation He charged him
with having made a statement, shown
by undisputed documentary evidence.
10 be absolutely false in three essen
tial particulars He charged him
with having. "wilfully deceived the
President and of icing disloyal 10
the President.
Replete With Sensations.
Mr.. Pinchots first hours On the wit
ness stand were as replete with SEN
sations as had been promised.
His recital had net progressed very
far, however. when there came an OBJ
lection from Mr.. Ballingefs attorney
as to the witness repeating conve;sa-
tons he had with President Taft. 1t
was contended that the relation OF
these conversations would either have
TO remain silent or else appear before
the committee as witness, which II
was declared would be undesirable.
The question was argued and dur
ing the coW Sc of his statement OF the
matter. attorney for Mr.. Pinchot ad-
mitted that Mr. Taft. in letter writ
ten subsequent 10 the conversation,
had declared that his recollection Of
what transpirsd at the interview dif-
fered in some particulars from that or
the committee in executive session.
Mr.. Pinchct followed up the vieor-
Gus attack upon Secretary Ballinger
in his opening statement By announc-
ing that he fully believed in Special
Agent CLAWS and was convinced that
al. CLAWS had said was true lie
char acteTized CLAWS as a faithful
public servant" and declared that the
facts which he presented proved that
Mr.. Ballinger had been unfaithful to
his trust as the guardian of public
property Of enormous value
CrippIes Conservation.
The conservation movement begun
under the administration OF President
Roosevelt was progr, ssins splendid'y
I'd to the time that President rait
and Secretary Ballinger came into Of
fee. dclard Mr. Pinchot. he charged
that in less than m nth tht reafter
Secretary Bailinger had practically
broken the backbone OF the central
idea Of the conservation movement
by restoring previously Withdrawn va
teTpower sites TO the public domain
and laying them open 70 private ap-
preparation and monopoli@tic control
Nj Pinchct charged that when the
restorati5ns were made Mr.. Ballinger
gave no hiatt that he wOdld re-vith-
draw the power sit = and that he did
not re-withdrSw any Of them until
after Pinchot had zone 10 the PreSi-
dent and Rad made a vigorous pro
test
The resforati rs BY NJ. Ballingcr
were made without euy investigation
Of the subject. whatever. said Mt
Pinchoi. and he charged the secretary
With having deliberately ordered the
ofictrs Of the reclamation service.
sxa nsi their ~ili. 20 recommend that
some 81 the reservations should be
made
Mr. Pinchct declared that Director
Newell. Of the reclamation service
uould b. calicd ~ one Of his Wit.
nesses 70 prove bis charge against