The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1910-01-29
Tells About Difficulty Exper.
fenced in Securing Cam.
paien Funds, Because Of
Injured Feelings.

CLAWS resumed the stand today In the
Ballinger-Pinchot inquiry. Few spec
tators were present today. The ses-
sion began late because Pinchot.
Price and Shaw we're late in arriving
and the hearing waited for them.
The proceedings in the Ballinger-
Pinchot inquiry, which up to this
time have consisted largely OF read
ing into the record OF the inquiry the
various letters, kilograms. ETC.. which
heretofore have been made public in
message transmitted to the senate
by President Taft assumed a livelier
aspect. when Louis p. CLAWS, con-
tinuing his testimony against Secre-
tary Baliinger told Of various inter
views he had had with the secretary
of the interior at various times while
he was in ard out OF the government
service.
Mr.. CLAWS declared that in one of
these interviews, in October, 1908.
Mr.. Ballinger told him he was having
hard time trying to collect cam
paign contributions, and that two
men involved in the Cunningham
claims, who had been liberal contrib
utors in the past had declined to con-
tribute because they were angry at
not being granted patents for the
Alaska coal lands.
Representative James, of Kentucky.
lone of the Democratic members of
the committee pounced upon this
testimony and cross-examined the
witness about II at some length.
CLAWS said that Mr.. Ballinger asked
him to hold up on the Alaska cases
until after election. He agreed to do
this because he had his hands full
with another case.
All the members of the committee
were present at the opening of the
session. Mr.. Pinchot and his dis
missed assistants of the forest reserve
were early on hand. but Secretary
Ballinger again was absent.
He told of a visit to Washington in
December, 1907, when he told Mr..
Schwartz that people in Seattle were
saying there would be no further in
lvestigation of the claims in Alaska
and the patents would be granted.
After his interview with Mr.
Schwartz, CLAWS was conducted to
Mr.. Ballinger's Office, and as a result
of his visit to Washington and the
story he told, was Immediately placed
in charge of all the Alaska cases.
Ballinger Had Friends.
"what did you say to Commits
ls.oner Ballinge-?"
81 told him I thought we could
cancel all the Alaska claims: that a
lot of prominent people had formed
a POOL and that the evidence would
prove It,"
what did Mr.. Ballinger then say
to you?"
"He said a number of the claim
ants we're friends and former bust
ness associates of his, and that there
had been a lot OF talk, that they
would get their patents.
"'Now, Claws he said to me,
when you get back to Seattle, want
you to let il be publicly known that
you have started this investigation
and that | want it to be thorough.
No matter who il hurts. you are to
get right after them. whether they
are friends of mine or not
Ibid he mention the name OF his
friends?"
eyes. he spoke of H. C. Henry and
c. j. Smith, both of whom we're in
the Cunningham group"
CLAWS said he went back to work,
happy and satisfied.
CLAWS declared he had his inter
view with Commissioner Ballinger on
December 10, 1907 On January II.
COS. a letter was addressed to him
by Mr.. Ballinger stating that the
cunningham claims had been clear
listed" from the investigating division
lfor patent.
On January %. 1908. CLAWS sent a
Telegram and letter protesting against
this clear-listing, and the claims were
withdrawn and sent back to the In
vestigating division.
| MI Atetu AhANaNA AhNhA 80
printed record to show that the first
order to clear,list the Cunningham
claims was issued by the mineral d.
vision December 20. 1907,-just ID
days after the CLAWS interview with
Commissioner Ballinger. The order,
however, was held up by direction of
Schwartz. One order for clear-listing
so far as the mineral division was
concerned was issued December 6
1907. prior to CLAWS visit to Wash
lngton: but this, too, was held up by
MIR. Schwartz.
. Attorney Brandeis offered in evil
ldence the journal of Clarence Gun
bingham. of Wallace. Ida. the agent
in all the Cunningham claims, which
contained the entry:
'Have agreed with W. b. Hepburn
in consideration of HIS services as at
tcrney to carry him for one claim OF
100 acres in the coal, free OF cost to