New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-04-24
Director Smith Testifies to
Movement Against Mr..
Balllnger. -
CHARGES WIDE INTRIGUE
Says the Object Was to Get Rid
of the Secretary, if Not in
One Way then by An
other Method.

istence of a conspiracy in the Forest
Service to force Secretary Ballingsrs
retirement from the Cabinet was pre-
sented at tO-day's session Of the Baliin-
ger PinchOt committee.
This testimony was furnished by
George Otis Smith. Director Of the Geo.
logical Survey, who was appointed oy
President Roosevelt. and who declared
that his bureau had received what was
tantamount to an invitation 10 join in
the anti-Bailinger crusade. When he
refused to become party TO any such
programme. and said he would remain
loyal to a chief whom he regarded as
efficient. earnest and hOnora Die. he was
threatened with the publicity club"
Mr.. Smith who has an international
reputation in the scientific world. was an
earnest witness. and his quick and can
did answers 10 all questions. coupled
with his wide knowledge of the many
topics on which he was interrogated.
made a deep impression on the commit
tee. He had not concluded his direct
testimony when adjournment until
Thursday was taken.
Then IN Intrigue.
Clifford PinchOt, former Chief Forester.
and Overton W. Price. former Chief
Assistant Forester. were named by Mr..
Smith as % of the men engaged in
an intrigue to force Mr.. Ballinger's re-
tirement 10 private life. Mr.. Smith
swore that both Of these men sought
70 prejudice him against Secretary Bal
Iinger. Mr.. Pinch0t told the witness
that Secretary Ballinger was a yellow
dog" that the way he had turned his
back on his old friend. James r. Car
field. was "contemptible. and that he
was ''the greatest enemy to the con-
servatiOn cause"
When Mr.. Smith asked for a bill OF
particulars and pointed out that the
charges made against Mr.. Ballinger were
based on erroneous assumptions. false
hoods and half truths Mr.. PinchOt ac-
cused him Of ''tOadying to Ballinger.
Mr. Smith told Mr.. PinchOt this was not
so. He explained that Mr.. Garfield was
his first choice for Secretary Of the In
terror. and Ballinger his second. Further
more he was convinced that MIR. Bal
Hnger was acting in good faith in pro-
noting the conservation policy OF the
former administration and was trying
to do everything in his power 10 safe
guard power sites on the public domain.
The only dffferen between Ballinger
and Garfield related 70 the interpreta-
tion of the laws enacted by Congress.
When MIR. Smith asked Mr. PinchOt
what he wanted him to do the former
forester said that he ought TO change
face. and intimated that il would be
well for him TO join those who were Op-
posing BaIInger. Mr.. Smith said that
inasmuch as he was faced the same way
as before Mr.. Ballinger became Secre-
tarv. he could not follow Mr. PinchOt's
suggestion. He told Mr.. PinchOt that
apparently the only thing he (PinchOD
had against him was that he was Mr.
BalIinger's friend. When he added that
he would give up his place in the gov
eminent service when he reached point
that he could not be loyal 70 his CHIEF
MIR. PinchOt told him il was nonsense
for him 10 talk about resigning- In the
same interview Mr. PinchOt told Mr.
Smith that he Smith was "a marked
man" and had better turn from his
course"
To Get 5aIIinger.
This interview took pI1ce in Mr.. Pin
chOt's private Office in the forest bureau
on July 23. 1909 Mr.. PinchOt charged
Mr.. Smith with downright disloyalty to
Mr.. Garfield. saying he had given out
newspaper interviews rejecting on the
former administration. Mr. smith told
Mr.. PinchOt ne had done nothing OF the
Kind ard that instead of "knifng Car
field in the back he was his friend. and
had sent him. with a personal letter.
copies Of all press articles given out oy
the Geological Survey. He said be in
formed Mr. Pinchot that he was abso-
mtely inconsistent. inasmuch as he
tSmith) was working with Mr.. Ballinger
along exactly the same lines as he had
worked with Mr. Garfield. He said he
believed in Mr.. BaIinger's conservation
Loucies and. Il anything. Mr.. Ball!nger
was working with greater speed than Mr.
Garfield to protect the public domain
from spoliation. Mr.. PinchOt told him
tnat if there was any criticism of Mr.
Garfield at the approaching irrigation
congress at Spokane he CPinchoD would
lead nght against Ballinger.
MIR Smith also told the COMMITTEES OF
an interview he had with Mr.. Price on
September Il. 1919 Mr.. Price being then
Acting Forester. in the absence OF Mr..
Pinchot. Mr. Price said that the Forest
Service officials liked him. but did not
ike his chief I'VE like you. but we
don't like your coat" Mr.. Price added.
and when Mr Smith said il he did not
ike Mr.. Balunger he would resign as
director of the Geological Survey, DIr.
Price said
Wei. We know you are tn an embar-
RAISING position, but II won't last much
longer. II we don't get him one way We
will get him another
Conferences at Spokane.
sir Smith told Of his various cons
ferences at Spokane with Mr. PinchOt.
lie said he explained 20 Mr.. PinChOe
that he was in error regarding water
power sites MIR PinchOt said he knew
what he was talking about. because he
sot his information from a newspaper
man by the name OF Evans who was
with the United Press Mr.. Piachot
introduced EVons n Nr smith and safi