Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-08
BaIIineer Says He viii Keen II
Up Until the Last Is Dead.
WANTS LOYAL EMPLOYEES
Announces Determination to Inves-
tigating Committee.
FOUR SESSIONS THIS WEEK
Secretary Reiterates That He Has
No Interest in Cunningham
Claims and Never Had. !,

!. !.
After having been dramatically. inter
rupted at the morning session by Spe
cial Agent ii. T. Jones, the intimate
friend of Louis r. CLAWS, who indirectly
questioned a statement made by the wit
ness. Secretary Ballinger at the after
noon sassion OF the Rallnger- Pincllot in
vestigating committee yesterday served
notice that il he continued as head OF the
Interior Department there was going to
be some more "snake-killing" and that it
would be kept up until the last snake was
dead ....
Attorney Brandeis, who has been cross
examining the Secretary for the past
three days, wanted to know just who was
to be dropped from the service, but Mr.
Ballinger said the enumerat ton would oc-
cur in good time.
IF / am to continue to conduct the
affairs of the department." said the Sec
retary, lit will be with the loyal support
Of every man in the department.
Mr.. Ballinger and Mr.. Brandeis 60;
along great deal better yesterday. There
We're fewer clashes than on Friday. This
probably was due to the fact that the
examination took a less interesting turn--
having to do largely with documents
ana also the fact that the attorney was
constantly interrupted by members OF the
committee. 1t was necessary for the
stenographers often to go back over
several pages of notes to recur to the
question last asked by the attorney.
At the beginning of the afternoon ses-
sion Chairman Nelson announced that
four sessions would be held this week
Tuesday. Thursday. Friday and Satur-
day.
Attorney Brandeis resumed his question
ing of Mr. Ballinger as to whether or not
the Cunningha>. claims were not fore
most in his mind when he appeared be-
fore Congress in behalf of the remedial
legislation. Mr.. BalNnger insisted they
were not a..
No Interest in Cunningham Claims.
And / want to reiterate right here
added the witness, that, had no inter-
est in the Cunningham claims then. now
or at any other time. The imputations in
your questions are unfounded and haven't
leg to stand upon. The Cunningham
claims had gone to entry and needed no
legislation
"And If I had wanted TO patent those
claims could have gone ahead ana done
SO. regardless OF the CLAWS report. But
when that report was received II was
mere matter Of prudence to hold up the
claims and wait to see II 9lavis had any
thing: to let him come through with
il, which he never did.
"As matters stand those claims were
suspended by me and still are suspended.
No harm has come to the government.
Yet IL / had wanted to act In bad faith
it would have been very easy Tor me TO
say there swas nothing in the charges
against the claim and to have them pat
ented."
A long discussion here ensued as to
whether special agents ever took view
oil claims other than the detectives
view.
Mr.. Ballinger said he was sorry to say
that that was true 1t was easier. he
declared, to do an injustice to the in
dividual than to do him justice.
Attorney Brandeis suggested. however.
that Mr.. Ballinger had control of these
agents.
Yes" snapped the Secretary. 'and
have found that the only way to control
some Of these chaps is to discharge
them.
Determined on Loyal Support.
when do you contemplate taking that
'snake-killing' step?" inquired Attorney
Brandeis.
Il want to say right now that if 1 am
to continue as head OF the Interior De-
partment they will be killed. every one
of them. If / am to administer the af-
fairs Of that department il will be with
the loyal support Of every man I'm it.
want to serve notice to that effect
"And will you kindly make that notice
specific and enumerate just who is to be
killedg'
They will be enumerated in due time:
it wouldn't help you now in what you
are trying to drag into the case
Mr.. Brandeis read several pages or
CLAWS testimony to Mr.. Ballinger and
asked him to interrupt whenever he con-
Sid a he
Secretary then declared that he had
never told CLAWS, when he put him in
charge of the Alaska cases, that he had
any friends who were interested in
Alaska. CLAWS mentioned II. c. Henry
and c. J. Smith as two of the friends to
whom Mr.. Ballinger referred.
Il did not know at that time that either
Henry or Smith had the slightest interest
in coal lands in Alaska" said the Secre-
tary.
Bitterly Denounces CLAWS. ss
Secretary Ballnger bitterly denounced
CLAWS for falling In with this conspiracy
of Mr.. Pinchot and the others in going
to the President with his complaint. He
should have gone to his superior. Mr..
Schwartz, in whom, he has testified, he
had the fullest confidence"
Mr.. Brandeis called Mr.. Ballinger's at
tention to the fact that just prior to the
time the Cunningham claims were clear
listed for patent, Cunningham had written
to Daniel Guggenheim that he was as
sured the matter Of the patents would be
cleared UP in ninety days: that Miles c.
Moore had visited Washington and that
the clear-listing quickly followed the &C
ceptance of the Guggenheim option
Ian you suggest anything that will
explain these coincidences?" asked the
attorney in the mildest sort of voice.
Il have no knowledge OF any CT these
transactions replied Secretary Balm
ger. Z knew nothing OF the Guagenheim
option until after this investigation be-
gan. / should not be called to explain
condolences that 1 know nothing at all
about. AS to Cunningham's letter to
Guggenheim. it looks like a pretty strong
statement he was making in trying to
get Guggenheim to come through on
some deal they had in mind
Mr. Ballinger said he knew Messrs.
Henry and Smith fairly well. but had
never been associated with them In busi-
ness. He knew Gov. Miles c. Moore less
still. The Secretary said that
q large number OF the Alaska claimants
were connected with companies with
which he had had professional relations.
Adjournment here was taken.
Yale Strong Man No Wife Deserter.
CHICAGO. May 1.-Charies A. Carver.
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