Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-05-20
Tn1Es-REPI s11cAN dARsHAI1nowN. IOWA. NAY 60 1910

. Wickersham.J Failing. in this, Glavfs
wanted to know whether the attorney
general wanted him to come to Wash
ington 70 undertake further investiga-
ton. Mr. Wiokersham informed Claws
thatahe must act on hfs own judgment,
Shaw advised CLAWS to go west, and
On Aug. "a Shaw came 10 Washington,
Upon his arrival here that night Shaw
found that Price had given the story
Of the Cunningham claims to the
newspapers, and the coal-land sensa-
ton was sprung the following morning.
Defense Sent the President.
The record shows that on Aug 81
three days after CLAWS visited Bev-
erly, President Taft sent a. letter to
Acting Secretary of the Interior Frank
Pierce transmitting the CLAWS state
ment and asking for written state
ment whether the facts so far as
you know them, are different i'm any
regard from the version" of. CLAWS
President Taft on Aug % addressed .
letter ito Secretary Ballinger at Seattle
askig for a full statement. especially
concerning your relation as counsel to
Ipersons interested in the Cunningham
coal claims" Ballinger cut his west
lern tour Of irrigation projects short
and FASTENED back to Washington, ar
irving Sept. 8. Under directions given
/ Schwartz. bennett and Pierce had
gotten material for the defense of the
department together and on Sept. a
| long statement was sent to the presi-
dent by Ballinger.
| The Lawler memorandum was pre-
pared at the direction of President Taft
and was finished the night OF Sept. IL.
1t was taken to Beverly by Assistant
Attorney General LaWler, Secretary
Ballinger accom- panying him as far as
New York, President Taft had the rec
ord before him from Sept. to Sept. 13
He announced his decision in letter
! dated Sept. 10 to Secretary Ballinger.
generating him. On the same day
President Taft sent letter to Mr.
Pinchot, inclosing the letter to Balm
ger. In this letter the president points
out that he made no reference to Pin
chot in the letter of Ballinger, saying:
IGhave advised Mr., Ballinger and his
subordinates I wish your name left
out of the matter" also 81 write this
to urge you that you do not make
CLAWS cause yours"
Couldn't Have Disested the Record.
Attic the president had Ballinger's
letter Of defense before him, with other
records, from Sept. 6 to 10, Attorney
Brandeis showed, during the cross ex-
animation OF Ballinger last week, that
the president could have given not
more than about six hours consdera-
ton to. the record of something like
900 printed pages, which had been
submitted in this case. Current news
paper accounts of the daily life OF
President Taft at Beverly We're sub
mitted to show that he spent many
hours during this period in motoring.
golfng, and other occupations. Attorney
Brandeis asserts that the time OF the
president was then so occupied that he
could not have in that limited time
have carefully weighed the voluminous
evidence. On Sept. 6, the day Balm
ger and Lawler arrived at Beverly
with their reply, the president put in
the day at the Myopia Hunt Club.
where a gymkhana was held. The Yale
Field Club, of Boston; held its annual
field day at Brookline Sept s. Most
Of his hours were. taken up In this
way during this particular period, and
he was also preparing to leave on his
western tour on Sept IA.
When he reached Salt Lake City
President Taft met Clifford Pinchot
Sept. %. Both issued statements that
day, Mr.. Taft denying that his letter
to Ballinger was to be considered a
reflection on MIR. Pinchot." the latter
making public. extracts from the presi-
dents letter Of Sept. Is defining his
attitude toward Pinchot aand conser-
walton. Taft's letter to Ballinger re-
ferred to the decision OF Comptroller
Tracewell abrogating the cooperative
agreement between the departments of
the interior and OF agriculture for
handling forests on Indian reserva-
tons.
Continued Fight On Ballineer.
Mr. Pinchot on Oct.7 wrote to In
dian Commissioner Valentine disclaim-
ing knowledge Of this ruling and want
ed to know why Valentine had not
mentioned it in conferences. Valentine
replied Oct. 8 that he knew Of the de-
cision, but had not been informed it
had affected the legality ofDthe CO.
operative agreements. Pinchot on Nov.
wrote to Taft replying to his letter
Of Sept l3. In this letter Pinchot cited
numerous instances, saying "the effect
of Bauinger's action In these instances
was, actively haSmful to the public in
terest" On Nov. 6 former Secretary
Garfield from Cleveland wrote Mr. Taft
taking issue with certain statements in
the presidents letter OF generation to
Ballinger. Taft referred both the Gar
field and Pinchot letters. to Ballinger,
and on Nov Is Ballinger replied to
them, especially criticising the views
of Mr. Garfield.
Meanwhile Mr.. Taft had returned to
Washington from his western tour, and
on Nov. "a he replied to the Pinchot
letter in criticism of Ballinger. In this
letter the president expressed 1.-THE
anxiety to compose all differences be-
tween Pinchot and Ballinger. On the
same day president Taft wrote Mr..
Garfield differing with him regarding
Ballingers strict construction \of the