Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-09-14
SHARP REbukE
From Republicans Of The
Ba|inger Committee
To Democrats and Insurgents
Who Displayed Nerve
In Making Their Minority Report
Represent Committee.

the following statement upon The ac-
ton of the four Democratic members
and th@ one Republican insuI gent
member WHO delivered a report at
Minneapolis las Wednesday. demand
rotary RallinScr.
The hearings Of the committee af-
ter proceeding for months. were end
ed in the closing days of the last SEES
sion Of Congress. There was no OPP
portunitY and 10 attempt on the part
of any body to have the committee
NEE for purposes OF consultation up
on the evidence. or to report its ind
ingS 10 Congress prior to the adjuorn-
mcnt of the session. Under the cir
cumstanccs that course was mani
testify impossible.
"A great mass Of testimony has been
taken. making Il direct and collateral
record of about 1000 closely written
pages. The issues involved We're
full of moment to the cause of pure
administration. to the conservation
of our natural resources, to the inter-
to the regulations of some of it's
tA\'7Niit ctliSi ltI ilitI DlIlCtS. L lie WORK,
therefore. of deliberation and decision
was of great importance as well as
of great difficulty. The committee de-
termined to devote some of the time
during the recess of Congress to this
work and decided to meet in Mime
apolis on Sept. 5.
The day OF the meeting found the
membership widely scattered and only
seven Of the l. present. Three ether
members We're detained by brief but
peremptorT engagements. Upon re-
assembling two days later, eight gen.
tlemcn were present and two more
reported on the way.
'Ihe eighth member to appear hap
pened to be Il Democrat and the mem
bers Of that party found themselves in
temporary majority. In advance of any
consultation whether upon the evil
dence which had never been weighed
and discussed in committee. they de-
mandeG the passage of resolutions of
the most sweeping character, formally
finding Secretary Ballinger guilty, not
merely of charges that had been made,
but of charges that only had been I'M
pied and of things which never have
been charged, but which persons APP
pearing at the hearing had alleged
against him.
"Qther members of the committee
present protested against such pro-
ceedincs. which would dispose CT the
case in the absence of four of the Il
members, making it possible for a ma
iorty Of tho committee to find the com
mittee's verdict and this, too, without
any consultation or discussion.
But the partisan political "nI to be
gained by the Democratic minority be
came all the more urgent in proper
tor as the railway trains bearing 9TH
or members of the comittce were ap-
proa ching Minneapolis. The minority
refused even to take recess. and the
other members. protesting against the
evident determination to take a snap
judgment by a minority in the alb
sence of third of the whole tribunal
and declining to bear any RESPONSE
bilitF for thus converting the inves.
tigation into travosty, and for vio-
iaticn of the fundamental principle
which should govern the proceedings
withdrew from the meeting. and thus
deprived the Democrats of their tenn
porary control of the committee.
"Tho meeting being left without q
quorum, any attempted decision OF
tho case would have To moro validity
than would like action of similar
nurnber of mon collected at 1dHdon
in the streets. but the spectacle was
of five gentlemen out OF tribunal
of l., created ny the Congress of the
United states. assuming to act as the
tribunal itself TIL SC five gentle
men continued their proceedings TO the
end. according to the worst method OF
ard politics; and. after pretending
to adopt a report of 50 pages which
they brought with them already pre-
pared and which was never the sub
icct of consideration or discussion
or even read in committee. they gave
it to tho newspapers although the
law required it to be rendered to Con-
gress; and they completed their per-
version of tn" purpose of the meet
ing by adjourning to Dec. $. SO as to
foreclose, if possible, any discussion
of evidence by the committee in the
meantime and by solemn vote they
grtciously extended to the majority
the leave to file minority report.
1T does not need to be said that
such action in both form and sub
stance is wholly laWless. and it
leaves it entirely unnecessary 20 ask
What sort of justice any public could
look for whose character was on trial
in such n proceeding in the existence
of n political campaign. If there IS
any relation between laWleSS methods
ana The character of the results " hicIl
they accomplish. this so-called YER
dict condemns its authors rather than
the official unGer inve stigation.
This action Of the minority in no
way relieves us from our responsible
ity under the law.
Every effort was made to induce
the minority members to agree to q
meeting on some early day at Mime
apolis or Chicago, as might suit their
convenience, but without avail The
chairman called the present meeting.
The members whose names are hereto
attached have spent the day reviewing
the case. but. being without quorum.
are powerless to act and have adjourn
ed subject TO the call of the chairman.
The report of the committee cannot
be made until Dec. > when Congress
meets and the meeting called for Sept.
was for the purpose of considering
and discussing what the report. to be
j