The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-03-02
WILSON COMPUTES PINCHOT
DIDN'T GIVE PERMISSION T0
ITTlCk TINE PRESIDENT.
Secretary. showing Anger. says ~
Thought DsllI'rr Letter was About
Department Matters I'ln~hct's Wis
takes TaFtS Fatheriy T.-Itrr 10 IIlm


takes" Traits Fatheriy Better To II,"'
wAsuINdToN. March - Clifford Pinch"t
testified before the RalIinger- Pinchot
joint investigating committee of the
senate and Hous. to-day that he had the
consent 81 James Wilson. Secretary 90
Agriculture and his superior officer.
Ia write hts letter To senator Dnlliver.
This II the letter that resulted in Pin
chot's dismissal by President TAFT from
the forestry service un the ground ot
insuboTyiination. :
Secretary Wilson. who It ~ said favored
in Cabinet nesting tho dismissal Of
Pinchot. sat only few feet from pnchot
when he made this statement. Later
tbs veteran Cabinet member took IN"
witness chair and. angry clear through.
lcclareSI that he never had AUTHORISED
the sending of the hitter.
II was the most dramatic incident
that mas occurred m the Ballinger- Pinchot
investigation. The aged Secretary fairly
shouted his denial and brought his fist
down IN tho tabls with a hang. The
Secretary. IL - true. was Obliged to qualify
his denial. He admitted that he had
given Mr.. Pinchot permission 10 write
Ia senator Dolliver. To furnish Depart
mental information. hut he never in
tended the authorization To- cover a letter
which would insult the President %
the United States
Secretary Wilson seemed 20 he much
worked up over the incident and on
several occasions lost his patience and
got mixed up IN his answers.
The comparatively recent order issued
by the President forbidding subor,iinates
in the departments from giving out any
Information without the express authori-
Eation of tho Department heads was th..
subject Of difeFence between the Secre-
tary and Mr.. Pinchot. II was under tho
operation Of this order that Preslden,
Tan dismissed the forester. NJ. PInceos
holds that he had conform~d To the order
and that the Presidents action was uniVsi
u him.
Mr. Pinchot and the Secretary Of Agry'ul-
ulre have been friends for many year..
but when the Secretary left the witness
stand IL was apparent that they were
no longer on speaking terms Mr.. PIN
chot. pale and somewhat nervous, aross
from his seat 10 let the Secretary pass.
but Mr.. Wilson stepped 10y without giving
a sign Of recognition.
The day a. a whole wRs act favorable
20 Mr.. PinchOt. His attempt Ia prove that
ono Of Secretary BallinEer's letters 20 ths
President contained three statements that
were essentially false WAC Disappointing
10 the former inre-ter's friends.
The charge IN regard to IN" false state
ments Was on. 81 the moet important
contained an the bitter statement which
Mr. Pinchot made the other day Just
before taking the witness stand. IL
turns out now that these statements
were not made by Secretary Ballinger
at all hun hy Judge Ronald. the Secre-
tary's former law partner
MIR. Pinchot said that Mr Ballinger
hal sent this Ronald letter e. the Pre-'-
dent a. ana exhibit and thu- had stood
sponsor Tor al that 70 con. lined. u
wns brought out however. that Mr..
Ralling,tr had written a l"rr,.r 70 IN"
President two months before b." had
Submit I'd IN. Rouaid communication.
ana IN she former letter b" had set form
the very facts a. Mr. PinchUt says they
existed several manluer- ~ the coin
how Secretary Ballinger could have
INTENT JnElly sent th~-s. false statements
10 the Prs-Id.nf when b" had already
actually lard ths. real facts before him.
4 cannot explain th" processes II
Mr. Rallinger'S mind. was the onl'
explanation Mr. Piurhpt could rive.
ON cruS--..vanmat,on u was shown
also that Mr. Pincho, wits uncertain
whs.th,r he. had ever met Glavis whsu
h, wrote e. President rff introduc-
ing him ~ 90 man b" u.d known f.
several years NJ N"rtre---. couns'
for Secretary R,lling-r ais, compelled
Mr. Pinrhot - admit that b" - mo
taken when be- Wrut" ~ fl' PIesidsn'
that certain lands had r"en restored -
entry by Secretary kIlhugrr and that
patsnts in tn. Cunningham C.t-'-- had
b.-n defeated by reason II the IutsrtsT
enc" 1t The forestry bureau MIR Yer
trees .ns.-t,i up'n chara"teriZing thsss,
statement. a. -untril. " bile Mr.. Pin
chot compromised rs saying they were
mistakes
IN. committe.. room was crowded all
day with spectators. most nf them women
-vmIathizrrS ~ Mr.. Pinch"t. Ass o clock
IN the morning. two hours ls-fur" the hear
NC Is.Rlu. every seat was taken. AZ
times % gopl si1'd lin" ~ women wa-
standing 10 the corridor waiting Ia gain
admit -in's'
m" COMMITTEE" summoned Secretary
" -un from . cabinet meeting. OF TathsP
notified him that Mr.. Pnchot was about
t. testify ~ regard - M" Deliver letter.
SECRETARY Wilson had requested this COM
rnitt..a tp notify hiHr Il tins matter cams
M Mr Pinrhpi was not responsible Tor
the subject i--inK introduced ~ the hear
ing. chairman Nelson asked a question
about thu. DOlliV~r letter AMI Mr.. PinchOt
,a,d that ~. would r'.fu-.a a. testify ON that
-,,b i..ct unl.--s the committee instructed
hin, l,v a vot.. The vote Was delayed unit
the SECRETARY IT agriculture arrived. and
A. h.. -ald hs had no objection Mr.. PinchOt
was told 20 60 ahead
TIN January 3 said Mr. PinchOt. I
u,,.nt To- Secretary Wilson and told him