The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-05-15
VIGOROUS DENIAL
FROM PRESIDENT

CONTINUED From First PaSeo
nographer in the Office OF Richard A.
Ballinger. Secretary of the Interior. to
the effect that he and other stenog-
raphers in the Interior Department
wrote from the dictation of oscar Law
Ter. assistant attorney for the Interior
Department., letter which he alleges
to have been substantially the foun-
onerating Secretary Ballinger from
the charges of l.. +. CLAWS.
The Kerby statement further alleges
that the original drafts of the LAWYER
letter were burned in a CRATE In the
Interior Department at the suggestion
OF Don NJ Carr, Mr.. Ballinser's prl-
vate secretary.
The s.atement attributed to Ierby
says in part that after the visit of Sec
rotary Ballinger and Lawlcr TO the
Presidents summer residence at Bev-
erlv in. the week beginning Septembei
5, Lawler returned to Washington and
took" up his quarters In Ballinger,,
private Office. calling on Massey ana
me for dictation."
Kerby says that what LAWYER die
tated referred to Ballingcr as you"
in each case. and the personal pro-
noun ~" was used throughout. From
the context the 81" could he mo other
than Taft himself"
"There could be no no question:" says
the KERRY statement, that I,awler was
drafting n letter for Taft's signature.
reviewing the CLAWS charges and eN-
oncrating the secretary. It was writ
ten in such form that TAFT might nave
adopted it bodily.
Many Drafts Made.
''As I have said, the letter was die
tated In Ballinger's private office by
Lawler. Propably half n dozen drafts
were made before the final one was ac-
Time n Trash draft WAS
COMPLETED it would he taken I'M to
! Lawler. who would revise IT. For
two days Massey and I did nothing
hut help rush this work. Lawler fire.
! QutNtly consulted r. c.. Kinney. assist
ant to Ballinger.'
The statement goes on to say that
the draft was the subject OF severai
conferences, In which participated. the
statement says, Balllnser, LAWYER
nett, OF the Land ofice; Chief OF Field
4 Service Schwartz, and. l think First
Assistant Secretary Frank Pierce and
Private Secretary Carr
Kcrby Is quoted ms saying
without attempting to force my
own conclusions upon any reader o.
this statement, want " to he remem'
hcred that It was the draft OF IN
letter generating Ballinger In IN.
Tho statement says further: EarlS
! In the work Lawler bad given Masse!
\ md myself Instructions that all rouel
\ draft copies discarded In the COMPOST
ton OF the final drafts were to he re
tnined nv us. We all under
4 stand from the form of the letter thu
! It was to be the basis OF Taft's lette
covering the Claws charges. !
4 was understood by MS that this wor
was OF especial Importance,
. 1.-THE general arrangement OF tacIs
tho order in which they come IN IN
Presidents letter, is practically lden
| tical with tho arrangement of Facts J
tho final Lawler draft or so-calle
Memorandum"
identifies Portions.
Kerry Is quoted as SAYING IN COZ col
clnsion! Certain portions OF the Ta
letter I can Identity as being IN SUI
stance the thoughts Of LAWYER, Ft
Instance, there Is the following pa
sage in the Taft letter, which certain
emhodles LAWYERS Thoughts:
The general responsibility OF car
Iinet positions demands the selectio
i Therefore ofsmen of the highest cha,
1 arter and integrity. Possession z
. these qualities, az we'll MS an abillt
! land experience which specially fltte
you to direct the affairs. OF the De
nartment of TIE Interior, warrante
your appointment az Secretary,
I'm general Taft often saw Law
lsler's draft and doubtless Yer
materially changed tho wording, I
that he substituted for certain Lawle