Omaha daily bee., 1910-01-29
CHARGES AGAINST SECRETARY
Says Alaska Cases Were Held Until
After Election at His Request.
CAMPAIGN FUNDS MENTIONED
Two of Entrymen Refused to Make
ANY Contributions.
'REss AGENT IS ACTIVE
PRESS
Quantity of Matter said to Interpret
Significance of Testimony 10
Distributed at Opening of
Each Session.


Each session.
WASHINGTON Jan. 2S.-The proceed
ings in the Ballinger-P Pinchot inquiry,
which up to this time have consisted
largely Of reading into the record the
various letters, kilograms. ETC., which here
! tofore have been made In a message trans
mitted to the senate by President Taft
took a livelier aspect this afternoon
when Louis r. CLAWS, continuing his testi-
mony against Secretary Ballinger told of
various interviews he had had with the
secretary OF the interior at various times
while he was in and out fthe government
service. Mr. CLAWS declared that in one
Of these interviews In October, lees, Mr..
Ballinger told him he was having a hard
time trying to collect campaign contrlbu-
tions and that two men involved In the
Cunningham claims who had been liberal
contributors in the past had declined to
contribute because they were angry at not
being granted patents for the Alaska coal
lands.
Representative James of Kentucky, one
Of the democratic members of the COM
mittee, pounced upon this testimony and
cross-examined the witness about It at
sunni lSHBtA 1lhNlS 6alu lildl bhl-
linger asked him to hold up on the Alaska
cases until after election. He agreed to
do this because he had his hands full with
aonther case.
Press Agent IL Active.
One Of the most interesting DEVELOPMENTS
OF the day was the distribution at both
morning and afternoon sessions of a guam
tity of press matter which purported to in
terpret and point out the significance Of
the testimony thus far given at the in
quiry The morning matter came in an en-
velope of the American Conservation as
ISOLATION. of which Clifford Plnchot recently
was chosen president.
The afternoon matter began: THE i'm
portant developments OF the morning ses-
sion today WERE" and then went on to re-
cite that the proceedings had placed Secre-
tary Ballinger in adverse light 1t was
said that this service would continue
throughout the investigation.
Thomas r. Shipp former secretary to
Senator Beveridge of Indiana, who re-
signed that position to become press agent
for the bureau Of forestry under Mr.. Pln-
chot, and who became officer OF the
Conservation association when it was
formed, is one of the constant attendants
at the hearing.
lue morning session was devoted TO an
endeavor by the prosecution" TO show the
haste in which Mr.. Ballinger, as commits
sloner Of the land office, had urged the
Cunningham-Alaskac claims to clear listing
for patent Aside from the documentary
evidence read. the afternoon session was
taken up almost wholly with CLAWS story
OF his various interviews with Mr.. Bal
linger in which the Cunningham land cases
always formed the topic OF discussion. The
Inquiry will resume at 10 a.. m. tomorrow.
CLAWS Again on stand.
An executive session of the committee
delayed the opening of todays proceedings
until lO:55 a, m, at which hour Louis h
CLAWS again took tbs witness stand
All the members OF the committee were
present at the opening of the session. Mr..
Plnchot and his dismissed assistants of
the forest service were early on hand. but
Secretary Ballinger again was absent.
Attorney Brandeis, representing CLAWS,
presented to the committee long list of
witnesses to be summoned.
The witness chair was placed on a dias,
and CLAWS. when he took the stand. sat
well above the heads OF the committee
members. He took the story where he
left it Wednesday afternoon, giving his
testimony in response to questions from
his attorney.
CLAWS said that United States Attorney
Hoyt had suggested 10 him in 1907 that he
should take up the matter of the Alaska
coal lands direct with Secretary OF the
Interior Garfield.
But did not think 1t would look we'll
to go over the head of my immediate su-
pcrlors." he added
CLAWS said he did write to II. II.
c.
saying he was worried about the Alaskan
situation and would like to conflde in him.
COnfides in Chief schwartE.
1T win pain you as much as 1t has
pained me-" the letter ran. but am sure
you will want to learn the true situation
What Alaskan claims did you refer to
In that letter." asked Representative Ohm
stead.
"Ali of them" replied the witness.
Some 800 in all?'
Yea"
At this time Mr.. Banlnger was com
missioner Of the land office
Attorney Brandels next took up the
printed document in the case, which con.
slsts OF s0 pages and spent some time in
calling the attention of the committee to
various letters. kilograms. etc., tending to
The attorney said he also wanted TO call
attention to certain letters which showed
the part Mr.. Ballnger played as comm.s-
sioner IN directing tho inquiry.
His purpose in this, ne said was TO indl-
cate that President Taft and Attorney GEN
eral Wickersham were mistaken when they
reached the stated conclusion that Mr..
Ballinger's participation in the matter had
been merely formaL1
CLAWS Not First ObjectOF.
Among the letters read was one from
Special Agent II. I. Jones. calling atten.
tion 20 the alleged fraudulent character Of
tho ALASKAN claims.
That the letter waE written befors
CLAWS came into the matter in any way7'
questioned Senator Nelson.
Yes" replied Mr. Brandeis.
Then you don't claim CLAWS originally