The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-03-04
Ballinger's Attorney Tries to
Pin PinchOt Down
To Matters Within His Own
Personal knowledge.
THE LETTER TO TAFT
Is Cited as an Instance Of Max
ing Misstatements.
Expects to Prove His Other
Charge by Witnesses.

Washington, March Awhile in
terest in the Rallinger-Pinchot investi-
cation had already been attested by
large crowds at all of the sessions
of the committee, the crush to get in
the hearing room since Clifford Pinchot
took the stand has been such that even
the handling 0f newspaper copy out or
the room at times has been impossible.
Ninety-nine out of the hundred specta-
tors crowded about the committee
table daily are women.
Louis r. CLAWS was the hero of the
throng while he was on the stand ac-
cusing Secretary Ballinger, but he has
gone into eclinse now that Mr.. Pinchot,
the deposed forester and friend of con-
servation, is holding the center of the
stage.
The Pinehot family has long been
prominent in the exclusive social cir
cles of the capital and since Mr.. Pin
chot took the stand, many of the lead
ers of their set have been present. Mrs.
Pinchot, the mother of the former
forester, has peen at the hearings al
most daily. She usually is surround
ed by half score of friends.
When the committee adjourned
Tuesday afternoon last, the cross ex-
animation of Mr.. Pinchot had just
been started by Attorney John ]. Yer
trees, representing Mr.. sBallinger and
the other accused afficlals of the inter
ior department. Upon the resumption
of the hearing this morning, there was
ever indication that Mr.. Pinchot
would be on the stand all day.
Asks Pinchot for Facts.
AS soon as Mr.. Pinchot took the
stand this morning Attorney Vertrees
for Mr.. Ballinger asked him this ques-
ton:
~'Mr. Pinchct, please state one single
fact of your own knowledge that re-
fleets upon Mr.. Ballinger's conduct,
either as commissioner of the land Of
fee or secretary of the interior-not
hearsay; not what somebody else said
or wrote-of your own Knowledge
The witness hesitated. Then he ad-
dressed Senator Nelson:
sMr. Chairman: In order to answer
that question because of the nice dis
elimination it involves, I must ask
your permission to refer to a list have
here of things Mr.. Ballinger has done.e
The permission was granted and
after a perusa1 of the list Mr.. Pinchot
said:
'sThe fact of my own knowledgeis is Mr..
Ballinger's letter to the president Of
November Is, with which he enclosed
RonaId's letter
..These letters contain misstatements
which I have already shown and am
prepared further to show
Mr.. Vertrees: You have testified
here largely by inference and innuendo.
Now state what you personally know
Mr.. Ballinger said or did"
Mr.. Pinchot: "The letter of Novem-
Der IS"
What eIse?"
'I never discussed the Cunningham
cases with Mr.. Bal1inger. The only
knowledge [ have at first hand is linn
tied to writings that are not disputed"
Approved the Motives.
Questioned as to the reprimand he gave
Assistant Law Officer Shaw and As
sistant Forester Price, Mr.. Pinchot ad-
mitted that "at heart he approved Of
the motives of the two in doing what
they did, but did not approve of their
method of doing it. He denied that
either he or any of his people owned
stock in the Pocahontus Coal company.
1.-THE family has some stock in a coal