The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-04-29
Boasts of RooSevelt's Re
marks Concerning His
Conduct As a Mayor.
DENIES KNOWLEDGE
OF ALASKAN MATTERS
Says Former President Turned
Down" Garfield Recommends
tions and Accepted His.

Secretary OF the Interior. Richard A
BallingeT, took the witness stand today
10 defend himself against the charges OF
Clifford Pinchot and Louis p Claws.
M Ballinger put the AnnInias Club
into active operation BY adding 70 its
membership Horace T Jones. q special
agent OF the Land OHce, who has al
ready testified in favor Of Claws. and
Claws himself He accused Claws Of
willful and deliberate Untruths-
There was not the sensation which had
been expected during the course Of Mr..
Bellinger's testimony.
The Secretary OF the Interior vas
quite emphatic in discussing many OF
the matters in connection with the Gun
ningham claim. and he was proud, al
most TO the point OF boastinE. Of the
manner in which he had administered
the various public offices. which he has
held
All Of Nj BauinEer,s time on the
stand was occupied by the direct ex-
animation BY J J. Vertrees. his council,
and 1t was not until the last hour and
q haf OF the session that the Secretary
was brought around 70 e discussion OF
his connections with the clear-Iistfug OF
the Cunningham claim while he was
commissioner Of the General Land Of
Nj Bauinger declared he based this
action on what he believed TO be 2 faz--
oEa5le report by Special Agent Love,
and said he would Go the same thing to-
day II the same evidence was brought
him
Il is believed that Mr. vertrees VIII
not conclude his direct examination W
III late this afternoon
Cross examination wiz first be begun
BY Louis Braudeis council fO- CIEris-
and he VIII be followed BY George
~ Anar1on Pepper, council for Piuchot-
Brandeis' New Tack
When the Piueh0t-BaIIinCer fnves1i-a-#
ton was resumed today Louis Braudeis.
counsel for Louis Claws, took a new
tack in hi effort TO ind out on what
date Attorney General Wickersham
prepared his opinion on which the
President was supposed 10 have based
mis- opinion IN discussing the Claws
charge
he asked in a modified form for the
production Of documents which the
committee refused 70 call for yesterday
For a moment II looked as though the
committee would again be divided. but
It was finally decided 10 have counsel
argue the case before the committee IN
executive session tomorrow morning
BaIIinger on Stand.
Secretary Bauinger was called 70 the
witness stand at 1925 o'clock by J. 7.
Nertrees. his counsel The Cabinet Of
hCer described in detail his public life.
II was while mayor OF Seattle. Secre-
tzry Ballinger said, that he became well
known 10 President Roosevelt and Sec
retary Garfield
Asked as TO his appointment as com
missioner Of the General Land Offce.
Secretary BaIIinser said he did not seek
the Office, and made strenuous efforts
20 avoid appointment He had declined.
Il once. he said. when Senator Piles
wired him he could have the place but
reconsidered his declination after Pres
ldent had wired him 70 take the place
from patriotic motives
Roosevelt Urged His Acceptance.
He read a telegram from President
Roosevelt urging him TO accept the Of
fee and expressing the opinion that the
President v As entitled 70 the support or.
men who believed in his policies. and
his acceptance would relieve an i'm
mense burden from his shoulders
Secretary BallluEer said he had L-7ov--
James R Garfield since they were at
" llilarnS' College together. Their friend
snip, he said was not Intimate.
Prior 10 coming 10 Washington his
acquaintance with President R0oseyeIt
was not intimate. II was agreed nv MS
law hrm, said Mr.. Ballinger. that II
would not handle any cases which would
II any way embarrass him as a public
official
What did you know Of the Cunning
ham claimants2 - asked Mr.. Vertrees
i did not know them" answered Mr.
Ballinger. emphaticaily Il did not
know of any such group After I be-
came Commissioner I found that knew
several men who were connected with
the Cunningham claims
What interests did you have in
Alaska27'
I had no interests in Alaska at that
time and have none today, either di-
rectIy or Indirectly.
Has No Alaskan Interests.
Asked what interests his law firm
had in Alaska, Secretary Bailinger said
that the only connection his firm had
was in representing Watson Allen He
personally drew the articles OF incor-
poratiCn for the Pioneer Mining Com
pany. These two cases. AIr- Baninger
said. was the extent OF his own OF his
firms interest in Alaska
I'm glad you're here IS the greet
ing given 10 him BY President ROOse-
welt, said Mr. BaIIinger- The President
continued
I don't offer any apologies for bring
ing you here because a. man who could
up the Land Office"
Mr Ballinger then told in detail Of the
reforms which he inaugurated In the
General Land Office.
Mr.. Ballinger spoke with pride of
the manner he administered the many
public offices ne held He spoke at
length of Seattle, and declared that
city TO oe wide open town" up 70