The Hawaiian gazette., 1910-01-07
By Ernest G.. Walker.
(Mail Special to the Advertiser.)

hDDSNldl W lHt <AuNtTllStI.J
WASHINGTON, D. c., December 20.
"A steenth revival of the Ballinger.
Pinchot controversy is on. Congress
sional proceedings were tagging in in
terest. The house had never had a
Ballinger-P controversy but it has
one now. Representative Gilbert NJ.
Hitchcock, Democrat, of Omaha,
brought it to the fore and in sizzling
arraignment of the secretary of the
interior started tongues to wagging once
more. He eulogized Special Agent L.
r. CLAWS, who was dismissed from the
service for activities against Secretary
Ballinger, growing out of the investi.
CATION of the Cunningham coal claims in
Alaska.
Washington grows aweary, but never
theless the Ballinger- Pinchot troubles
will not down. Perhaps the country
grows aweary, too, but the Democrats
in congress do not think so and they
are determined to make what political
capital there may be in it. The great
industry of the hour is getting every
thing of possible campaign utility into
the Congressional Record. Funds for
running campaigns come hard in these
publicity days and postage is always
big item in running any kind of a
political campaign. Any old kind Of a
story in the Congressional Record be-
comes frankable and a facsimile of q
congressman signature suffices for
postage stamps in the upper right hand
corner.
The situation is unique. President
Taft has exonerated Secretary Balm
ger. The attorney general is understood
to have Investigated him twice, espe-
cially to ascertain whether he has
\ preached any of the strict provisions
. of the lawyers code of ethics inhandling
! the Alaskan cases. And twice Attor-
ney General Wickersham is said to have
& exonerated his colleague of the cabinet.
The -Rooseveltians are still firing
broadsides. Secretary Ballinger has
returned to the fray with heavy ammu-
I milton. Apart from comprehensive
statements, he has outheroded Herod in
making radical recommendations for
conservation work in the tumultuous
s West. His recommendations for con-
serving water powers on the public do
s main simply stagger the water power
lobbyists who are swarming down upon
Washington. He favors about every
thing the irrigationists want. But the
4 warfare continues. The secretary says
4 he will welcome an investigation. And
S Pinchot, too. He is willing to be in
s. vestigated. Democrats are demanding
investigations of these two, of the
s sugar trust situation, and of even other
public controversies.
The house leaders and the senate
neither will the President assent. They
do not want the turmoil and the pub
lie agitation. They know, as everybody
familiar with a congressional investi-
cation knows, that such Investigations
S just before a campaign mean tremen-
dous scramble for political advantage
The facts are secondary to presenta-
ton that will make for the benefit of
one or the other party.
No one has yet come to the defense
of the secretary of the interior, now
that the Ballinger. Pinchot topic has
come into house debate. There is prob
ably much to be said in his favor, hui
congressman are averse to rushing tc
the defense of members of the cabinet
who are attacked. That is develop
ment of these latter days, since Presi
dents have not been slow about attack
ing congress, if congress would not give
81 Presidents what was asked for. In the
earlier and better { y days of the Re
= public it was otherwise. When the
spirit of party loyalty and party fealty
ran high, there were always defenders
ON the Republican side eager for the
S championship of official brethren who
had been surrounded by the enemy
Now it is every man take care of him
self. That attitude is no reflection
upon the Taft administration. 1t i:
5 simply an outgrowth of the Roosevelt
times.
The Republicans who came to con
gress clamoring most loudly for inves
legations were chiefly from the West
They have been called in for quiet con
ferences and gradually have been sub
siding. The attorney general is aler
to instances and evidences of wrong
doing. So is the President. They pre-
fer to take care of such matters them
selves through the regular channels o.
investigation and prosecution. The pc
litical schemes of congress for turning
on the searchlights generally embarras
E prosecutions. Therefore the clamor II
congress for special commissions Of in
quiry is narrowing down to Democrats
which means that no congressional in
vestigations will be held.
Ballinger Pinehot has been the onl
thrilling topic of debate In the house TO
the entire period previous TO the holi
days aud that came on an appropriation
bill Nicaragua has been the only Thrill
Ter for the orators Of tho senate an
that was treated almost exclusively O
: the Democratic side, where Senator Ray
neT, OF Maryland, a perferyld speake 81
Jared forth with demands for speed
government action la punishment OF Oh
= terrible Zelayn. lilo WAS chiefly ~
- sponsible for an effort OF the foTeig
e relations committee 90 bring keeretar
OF stats knaK 60 tbs Capitol aad aseel
tain from him the Why's aud NheFef0Tei
hut Secretary knox demuTred, for b
did moi think u Wise 10 shaw bis han,
Ga the hsels 81 that, Yelaya seat n
eabiegfam 20 President TAFT, pFoelAhI
lag BIZ readiness 20 i'gel out. -