New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-19
THE DAyFNWA.SHI.N GTOV

part L, y. BTandeis. attorney for the con-
spirators. issued numerous dragnet requests
for papers. etc, and the President failed
ia notice them. That constitutes his most
heinous offence. Not noticing Brandeiss
needs. he did not supply them, and he shall
never, never be forgiven for not noticing
Brandeis and his requests. The conduct
of the President is beyond expression.
Words are not adequate to describe il.
THE CRIME OF BALLINGER.-on De
cember .2e. 1907, the legal representative of
the Cunningham claimants to certain
Alaska coal lands, Ex-Governor Moore of
Washington. called on Judge Ballinger,
then Commissioner of the General Land
Office. and asked the status of the claims
he represented Mr.. Ballinger sent for
Mr. Schwartz, chief Of special agents, and
asked the status. On looking over the
papers brought him by Schwartz Mr.. Bal
linger said: We'll, it looks as though
these can go to patent all right Il told
him | concurred with that" said Mr..
Schwartz on the witness stand. adding:
And ! said would notify Mr.. Claws He
said All right: notify CLAWS l was in
there proba bly, with the judge about two
or three minutes That is the sworn tes-
tinony of Schwartz which Brandeis re-
fused to challenge He did not cross-ex-
anime Schwartz at all. CLAWS telegraphed
back that the patents should not be issued,
and the order to Clearlst was coultermand-
ed by Judge Rallinger Schwartz preparing
that order also, and the order stands coun-
fernandez to this day. Moreover. the tes-
timony of Schwartz has been amply GER
tilted by Fred bennett. Commissioner Of
the General Land Office, and by Secretary
Baliinger himself. These statements are
not among the many undisputed. They are
all testimony regarding which there is 80
difference of opinion.
THE INDICTMENT one word re-
garding the charges against Secretary Bal
finger: When put on the stand i. r.
CLAWS. the chief accuser of the Secretary,
carefully refrained from charging any cor
ruption. He said on the stand: AS to the
corruptness, have never made any charge
Of cTiminality or corrupt practice. because
IL I had sufficient evidence that warranted
me in making such charge l would have
presel ted 1t TO grand jury, and never
would have gone to the President The
most direct statement CLAWS would make
was that his information proved 10 me
didn't think the Interior Department was
in safe hands, Clifford Pinchot made
clear-cut charge that Secretary Ballinger
had wilfulfy deceived the President before
he (PinchoO took the oath, but after taking
il he gradually retracted until there was
nothing left of his original statement. EX-
Secretary Garfield knew nothing of the
Alaska coal lands, but charged that Secre-
tary Ballinger was not in sympathy with
his conception of the conservation policy.
And these, as shown by the record, consu-
tute the only charges which the investl-
eating committee actually has before it.
THE VERDICT.-The Republican mem
bers of the Ballinger- Pinchot Investigating
committee had an informal and brief con-
ference to-day, at which they discussed the
possibility of bringing the affair TO close.
Tomorrow will be Senator Roots last ap-
pearance at the sessions, as he sails on
Saturday for The Hague. The Republican
members of the committee expect to hold an
other conference tomorrow noon, at which
there will he al effort to devise some
method whereby Mr.. Roots vote on the
final verdict may be counted. The indica-
tons arc that the verdict will be largely
partisan. although it is quite possible that
some of the Democrats Will vote with the
Republicans. If is sincerely hoped that the
proceedings may be brought 10 a close
next week. G.. q. II.