The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1910-02-02
BALL|NCER PROBE
Alaska Goal Claimants
Boosted of Influence"
CLAWS AGAIN ON THE STAND.
He Says James R. Garfield Missed
Cabinet Position by His Hos
tility Toward Grabbers
of Land.
CLAWS AGAIN ON THE STAND.

Washington, Feb. IAN interesting
bit of testimony given before the CON
gress committee which is investigat-
ing the allegations involving Secre-
rary Richard a. Ballinger's admins
tration of the interior department was
that Donald Mckenzie of Seattle and
Nelson, Alaska, had boasted to Louis
X. CLAWS and II. d. Jones, special
agents of the general land office that
Alaska coal claimants had sufficient
influence through friends in congress
and in politics to diSsuade President
Taft from keeping james X. Garfield
in the cabinet as secretary of the inte-
rior.
CLAWS, who brought the charges that
resulted in the present inquiry. was
the witness who testified of McKen-
zie's boast. He said that Mckenzie
had told the story to Jones and him
self prior to CLAWS dismissal from
the land service for making what
President Taft and Attorney General
Wickersham regarded as false charges
against Secretary Ballinger.
Referring to Mckenzie, CLAWS tesu-
fed: HE said that because of Secre-
tary Garfeld's hostility toward the
Alaska coa claimants Mr.. Garfield
was not made secretary of the inte-
rior"
CLAWS went on to explain that he
and Jones had taken the affidavit of
Mckenzie, who was coal claimant,
and after this was finished Mckenzie
fell to talking of the history of the
Alaska elGiias. ln the course OF his
talk he made the boast, said CLAWS,
that the claimants had prevented Mr..
Garfield's retention in the cabinet.
CLAWS asserted that the disclosure
impressed him so forcibly that he and
Jones made joint affidavit tmme-
diately after leaving Mckenzie in
which they set out the main points in
McKenzies informal statement.
CLAWS was questioned closely by
members of the committee Of inquiry,
and this phase of the examination
brought from him repeated disclaim-
ers of any intention to imply that Nc
Kenzie meant that the Alaska coal
claimants had directly influenced Pres
ident Taft against Mr.. Garfield. He
said that, on the contrary, Mckenzie
made it clear that the Alaska coal
claimants through influences in Wash
ington had brought indirect pressure
TO bear upon the president.
CLAWS said that he reported the
Alaska cases first to A. G. Shaw, land
officer Of the forest bureau, July 16
1909, and defended his action in ignor-
Ing his superior officers.
He would have made public the
whole matter and resigned, he said
had not Clifford Pinchot advised him
to first lay the facts before President
Taft
Nothing in the testimony of the wit
ness created as much interest as his
statement concerning the alleged cause
for the elimination of Secretary Gar,
field from official life. The sharp ques-
tioning of the witness on this point
indicated the Importance attached to
this testimony.
Mr.. CLAWS, why did you think it
necessary to make this affidavit about
President Taft's cabinet" inquired
Senator Root
81 thought the president might like
TO see it," CLAWS replied.
Did you send it TO the PRESIDENT"
81 did not" replied CLAWS. II
thought ! would keep it until Mr.. Taft
came to Seattle and then show il TO
him"
Further questioning brought out that
the affidavit was sent in the usual way
of official correspondence to the chief
forester and not addressed TO Mr.. Pin
chot personally.
"Mr. Claws" said Mr.. Root, very
much in earnest. you swear that your
only motive in making that affidavit
concerning the makeup OF President
Taft's cabinet was for the information
of the president"
and also thought II would interest Mr.
Garfield" replied the witness.
"Do you swear that your motive was
not to injure President Taft's admin
istrationf" asked Mr.. Root
CLAWS said it was not Represents
tive DENLY volunteered the suggestion
that it was an imputation on President
Taft. CLAWS declared he had moi
meant il, and Representative Madison
defended the witness. saying that Gla
Wis was right.
The inquiry was then adjourned tC
Friday, and CLAWS was ordered TO be
present on that day for further cross
examination.