The Oskaloosa herald., 1910-03-31
AATEBALL|NGER
PLOT IS CHARGED
Testimony Of Secretary's Foes
Called Grossly False
SEE FLING AT ROOSEVELT
Attorney Vertrees Scores Pinehot and
clavis-Committee Refuses Plea
to Force Cabinet otficIal
TO Testify.

mittee had twice decHned 10 grant Tue
request Of Attorney Brandeis, repre-
senting Louis r. Claws and others,
to compel the immediate attendance
Of Secretary Bsllinger as a witness,
John ]. Vertrees made the opening
statement in Mr.. Ballinger's behalf
and began the presentation of testi-
mony.
Testimony Grossly False"
Mr. Vertrees declared that the testi-
nony OF CLAWS and others would be
shown to be grossly false"
There is no act of Mr.. Ballinger,"
asserted the attorney, ito which it is
possible to ascribe an unworthy mo
tive or improper purpose otherwise
than through the suspicion Of a per-
veFted mind, or the resentment OF a
discharged public servant, or the pro-
gram of an INSCRIPTIONS political in
trigue"
Mr.. Vertrees statement sparkled
with epigrams. In one of these, re-
ferring to the acts of officers of the
last administration, the attorney said:
"There WAS the reign OF men.
March 4, 1909, came the reign of
law"
Fling at ROOSEVELT
Although Mr.. VeTtrees was particu.
larry referring to Messrs. Garfield and
Pinchot some members of the com.
mittee were inclined to construe the
statement as fling at Mr. Roosevelt,
and so expressed themselves.
Mr.. Vertrees also 6welt at length
upon CLIFFORD Pinehot and the Pinehot
service" as he chose to designate the
forestry.
Mr. Pinchot, vain and iattered by
his own publicity bureau"
"Pinchot ceased to be the depart
ment of agriculture"
He was exposed, and Mr. Ballinger
had committed the objectionable sin
OF defeating the ambition of a self
exaggerated man"
Gives Bsllinger Praise.
Here was the birthplace OF that
spirit of resentment and revenge
to assassinats the good name
Of Mr. Ballinger and bring reproach
on the president Of the United States
who had not retained Mr. GARFIELD and
had dismissed Mr.. Pinchot"
OF Mr.. Ballinger the attorney said:
Mr. Ballinger holds that conservation
is not thing Of caprice, but Of law"
True conservation has no sturdier
supporter than he" ..,.E
Development ought not to be exiled
nv ond
In restoring to entry vast areas of
the public domain which he believed
TO have been Wrongfully withdrawn
Mr.. Ballinger believes he was right,
but II he erred he denies that it was
an error for which the good faith OF
his official action should be ques-
toned by those who would substitute
opinion for law"
Not a site was lost"
Makes General Denial.
He could have transferred Mr..
CLAWS at any time and obviously
would have done so had he been mind
ed to bring about improper official ac-
ton, which Patriot CLAWS was pre-
venting and thwarting where he was"
Mr.. Vertrees' statement was a long
one, going into the details of practic-
ally every phase Of the case. He said
IL would be shown that as regards the
Cunningham claims and in all other
matters Mr.. Ballinger was clean
handed" and that his actions had
been those Of an honest and upright
citizen and official.
He denied that Secretary Ballinger
had ever drawn up an escrow agree
ment, or any other sort of agreement,
IN the u'sson coal land cases.
awyers in Clash.
adence now to be offered"
yertrees, will make all Of
these t4hngs so clear, so undeniable
and so plain that this committee will
east about to discover how it is that
men who knew as much OF the truth
as PinchOt and CLAWS and Garfield
and DAVIS and Newell knew could
have had the daring to present them
selves as sincere, honest harborers OF
suspicion, much less as persons
really believing that they had knowl.
edge Of inculpatory facts"
The growing bitterness between At
torneys yertrees and Brandeis mani.
tested itself in several sharp ex.
changes
The demands of Mr.. Brandeis, first.
that Mr.. Ballinger appear as witness
to be examined as part Of the case
for the prosecution" and later that he
be required to appear as the first
witness for the defense" called out
lively discussions between counsel
and among members OF the commit
tee. The irst request was unanimous
~ denied The second request was
considered In executive session for 40
minutes, at the end OF which time Il
likewise was denied.
Secretary Ballinger probably wiz
not testify until toward the end OF
the proceedings.
Mi4a Ewrlnnfny, Kflla Entfr