The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-29
BallingerH Hard Time
Making Contributors
"Come Across. !"
HEARING IA KESON
LIVELIER ASPECT
CLAWS Gives Evidence Far From
Favorable to Secretary of In
tcrior-Tells How Govern
ment Land Cases Are Jug
glcd for Political
Purposes.

Washington. D. c.. January 2s.-.rhe
proceedings In the Ballinger- Pinchot
inquiry took on a lIveier aspect this
afternoon. when Louis II. Claws con-
tinued his testimony against Secretary
Baliinger, told of various interviews
he had had with the Secretary of the
Interior at various times while he was
In and out of the government scrvice.
Mr. CLAWS declared that in one OF
these interviews, in October, 1908. Mr..
Ballinger told him he was having q
hard time trying TO collect campaign
contributions. and that two men in
volvsd in the Cunningham claims. who
had been liberal contributors In the
past. had declined to contribute be-
cause they were angry at not being
granted patents for the Alaska coal
landa.
CLAWS said that Mr.. Ballinser asked
him to hold UP on the Alaska cases
untl latter election. He agreed to do
this because he had his hands full with
another case.
Press Matter Appears.
One of the most interesting develop
fnents of the day was the distribution
at both the morning and afternoon
sessions OF a quantity OF press matter
which purpo-ted TO interpret and point
out the significance of the testimony
thus far given at the inquiry. The
morning matter came in an envelope
of the American Conservation Asso-
citation. of which Clifford Pinchot re-
Gently was chosen president. The sf-
ternoon mater began;
Tho important developments of the
morning session to-day were" and
then went on TO recite that the pro-
cAedings had placed Secretary Bal
lingcr in an adverse light. 1t was said
that this service would continue
throughout The investigation.
Tie morning session was devoted to
an endcavor by the prosecution TO
show the haste In which Mr.. Ballinger.
as Commissioner OF the Land Office,
had urged the Cunningham, Alaska
Claims TO clear listing for patent. Aside
from the documentary evidence read.
the afternoon session was taken up
almost wholly with Glavis's story of
his various interviews with Mr.. Bal
linser, IN which the Cunningham land
cases always formed the topic OF dis.
eussion. The inquiry Will be resumed
at 10 4. NJ. Tomorrow.
plnced In Charge.
AS a result of Glavis's visit 10 Wash.
ington in December. 1907, and the story
he tUe INen tt<O!ilillISSloHtE cl iHo
General Land Office and other officials
regarding the coal land cases In
Alaska, he was placed in charge OF
all such cases.
What did you say to Commissioner
Balinger?" asked member of the
committee.
u told him thought we could can
eel all the Alaska claims; that lot
of prominent people had formed pool
and that the evidence would prove it,"
What did Mr.. Ballinger say to
your?
lie said number OF the claimants
were friends and former business as.
sociates of his and that there had beer
lot of talk that they would get theil
patents.
Now Claws he said to me. 'wher
you get back to Seattle, want you tc
let 1t be publicly known that you hav.
started this investigation. and that
want ii tn be thorough. No matter
who ii hurts. you are to go right after
them, whether they are friends OF
mine or not"
..Did he mention any names of his
friends?"
Yes, he spoke of II. c. Henry ant
; C.. ]. Smith. both of whom were II
the Cunningham group"
CLAWS said he Went back to worl
happy and satisfied that there was t
be a thorough investigation, and tina
he had worried unnecessarily about
possible scandal.
Claims "Clcar-Listcd."
CLAWS declared that 1t was Decem
bcr 13. 1907, that he had his inter
view with Commissioner Ballinger. Ol
January Z, 1908, less than a month ar
ter he had been directed to make tn
Investigation, a letter was addressed
to him by Mr.. Ballinger stating tha
tho Cunningham claims had bee
'clear-listed" from the investigating
division for patent
On January %, 1905, CLAWS sent
telegram and latter protesting agains
the clear-listing of the claims an
they were withdrawn and sent oac
To the investigating division.
AT q conference he had With MI
Ballinger in Portland, Ore, in Octo
Der, 1908, in connection with the Gun
ningham coal cases in Alaska. Claw
said that Mr.. Ballinger spoke of tn
difficulty he was having in securin
campaign contributions.
"lIe said,'' declared the witness
"that II. C. Henry and "a. Smith. tw
Of the Cunningham claimants, had ust
ally been liberal contributors, but the
were mad because they hadn't 81
patents TO their lands and would nc
give anything.
II told Mr.. Ballinger ! was unde
orders to investigate the claims hcl
by. these men. He said he wished
Wouldn't act OH them until after II
election. told him / wouldn't. and
didn't was in the midst of bi
conspiracy case in Oregon, and coul
not have given any attention to Il
other matter IL I had wanted to. Al
then IT was u favor to Mr. Balling.
as well,''
CLAWS said he next saw Mr., Ballir
ger in Seattle In February, 1909, afte
4 had been announced that the latt'
Aad been selected as Secretary of. II
Interior In President Taffs Cabine
1Gontinllaf on Second Page,l