The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-05-12
SENATOR PILES
ENTERS DENIAL
Explains What Part He Played
in appointment of Secre-
tary Ballinger.
DID NOT SELECT HIM
FOR POSITION RENDERED
BaIIinger First Declined Place,
but Accepted When Presi-
dent Insisted.

WASHINGTON. May 1t-Risins to a
question OF personal privilege, Senator
Piles of Washington today explained TO
the senate the circumstances under
which Secretary Ballinger had received
his appointment as secretary OF the into
rior, and also those under which he had
been appointed commissioner OF the gem
eral land office.
The explanation was called forth by the
intimation of Attorney Brandeis, coun-
sci for l.. r. Claws. at the Ballinger-
Pinchot investigation today that Mr..
had been influenced by Mr.. Piles at the
Instance of persons who wcro Interested
in the Cunningham coal cases.
mo man I'm the state of Washington
or elsewhere ever suggested to me that
/ should select Judge Ballinger for either
position" said AIR. Piles. He said that
some time before the appointment OF n
commissioner, President Roosevelts pri-
vate secretary telephoned him to come
TO the White house. lie said when he
arrived there the president asked him If
he knew Judge Bhlllnger well.
Backed by Garfield,
'T responded that I did" said Mr.,
Piles. "and he questioned me concerning
of him and he said that if Mr.: Bal
linger's appointment would not he OBJ
tectionable TO me he would be glad to
have me wire him, because, as he said,
Secretary Garfield, who had beon a
schoolmate OF Mr.. Ballinger, was most
anxious to obtain his services"
Mr. Piles said he had told the presi-
dent he would take pleasure in forward =
ing the telegram. but he did not believe
that Mr.. Ballingcr would abandon his law
business 10 accept the office
continued Mr.. Piios. because ne said he
really needed such a man In that office.
Comnlylng with the presidents request.
I sent q telegram strongly urging Mr..
%
ION the next day I received a mes
sage from Mr. Ballinger declining the
gram rpn,' TO the president. he said that Mr.,
Railinger's refusal was very resrettable;
because both nc and Mr.. Garfield wanted
him for the position He sddsd that ne ne
T understood that both he and Secretary
Ga rfield had sent teleerams pleading
With him to accept the appointment, al
though such an act mlShl cntoll IL per
sonal sacrifice.
Finally Takes Position.
r,,,o or three DAYS later, Mr.. Piles said.
bo rccciycd a message from Mr., BallingeT
unnouncinE his acceptance because oil the
urgency OF the president.
S,rbcee are the tactS. rne absolute
,.c,s and they would be verified by Mr..
Roosevelt under oath" asserted the sena-
tor. A., o,,,oi,tn,ont nf Mr.
pailIneer as secretary by President Tart
~ Piles said II WAS through the news
papers he had received his hrsl intimno mt ~
lion that such appointment might De
made. t,,I-D paIiIrror =,
he said, "and ! asked him II he desired
tbc appo!ntment Ho replied ne nld NOT
o~n,a hing he hoped his friend, Mr. Car
ood would be reappointcd. subsequently
heard Mr., Ballinger % was TO be Snofa ts''eo 10
Int' uaaene senator Jones. on the sun
mE 1eSt eJ1 I found he had not been consulted
,, J"r more than I had been. We came