The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1910-09-08

piece OF politics We have seen for a
long time.
Although there was no evidence
adduced to show that Richard A.
Ballinger. as secretary of the in
terror. has violated his obligation of
Office, there was plenty of proof that
prior to his acceptance of the office
he had represented before the in
terror department interests, which
are under suspicion. and that he is
not at all in sympathy with the plan
to conserve the national resources in
the west. For this reason the senti-
ment of the country has been against
Ballinger. and In anticipation of the
! finding of the congressional investi-
eating committee, charges have been
made that Ballinger would be white
washed by the majority. This senti-
ment. however just the report might
be, initiated in favor of the minor
ity report. and so long as the four
members maintained semblance OF
sincerity, they possessed moral adj
vantage. which extended to their
party. So, II was to the interest of
these four members of the commit
tee to look to appearances and de-
pend upon popular feeling to en-
dorse their views.
There are twelve members of the
committee. invested with the powers
of a court to subpoena witnesses.
compel them to testify and to punish
them for contempt Amy member or
lgroup of members possessed the
right to dissent from the finding.
and 1t was known that the four
Democrats would return a minority
report, severely denouncing Balling-
ger. and that Representative Madi-
son. Republican. would make a re-
port of his own.
At Minneapolis yesterday four
members of the majority were alb
of the minority to take advantage
of their absence and overwhelm the
majority. left: and Senator Nelson.
chairman of the committee, declared
there was no quorum present to
transact further business. In this
he is sustained by the opinion of
Representative Madison, one of the
five.
However. in spite OF this ques-
tionable situation and disregarding
the obvious fact that, II the majority
had been present, a report exonerat-
ing Ballinger would have been made,
and will be made. no doubt. and ac-
cepted by congress; the minority,
not only insisted on its program. but
ately prepared opinion and adopted
that of Representative Madison.
The committee is not a parlia-
mentary body, as We mean It when
We refer to congress or a legisla-
ture; but a court finding a judgment
upon proof submitted according toI
the rules of evidence. Supposing this,
instead of a special committee of
twelve men, had been the supreme
court of the United States. consist
ing of nine men, four of whom held
an opinion contrary to that OF thel
majority, and these four, taking ad-
vantage of the absence OF the other
five. should prepare and publish an
opinion with all the solemnity of al
judicial decree, would not such con-
duct be reprehensible? And, sup-I
posing further, that three OF thel
four held one view and the other a
different view, and the three, more
anxious to forestall the majority |
than to perpetuate a chosen prin-
ciple. should agree to the opinion OF
the fourth. would they not be guilty
of insincerity?
That is where the minority on the
Ballinger committee lost its moral
advantage. No matter, now. II thel
majority is accused of whitewashing
the defendant. the minority has
proven itself insincere and shown an
inclination to play politics about a
grave matter, in which the people of
the country were DESTROYS OF learn
ing the truth.
In that section of the country.
where Democrats will have to make
gains II they expect to carry a nal
tional election. Republicans who dis
liked Ballinger will be driven back
into the ranks by the unfair, insin-
cere and partisan attitude OF theI
minority of the committee, which
will be made much OF, naturally, byI
Republican campaign orators. These
Democratic congressman come from
overwhelmingly Democratic districts.
in which, as long as they retain con-
troll of the district committee. they
are sure of nomination and election
They are not personally interested
In the success OF the national ticket.
|, and the broad-minded statesmanlike
position on public questions. which
would give prestige to their party