The Washington herald., 1910-03-27

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Secretary BaIlinger. through his law
yer. J. J. vertrees. describes the Pinchot-
Glavis~Garfeld attack upon him as the
resentment of a discharged public sery-
ant or the programme of an unscrupu-
ious political intrigue
Mr.. Yertrees had some other hard
things 10 say about Clifford Pinchot N
= long statement which he read before
the joint investigating committee at the
opening OF Secretary Bailingers defense
yesterday afternoon
He held M. Pinehot Up TO view ss
vain and fattered by his own pub
licity bureau He described the Pinchot-
Garfield rule on conservation questions
as one OF caprice 1t was the reign Of
men as compared with the reign Of
Jaw inaugurafed when Secretary Balm
ger assumed Office on March 4. 1903
The Reign of Law
March 4, 1909. there came the reign Of
law" was the significant way in which
Mr. Ballinger's counsel put his state
ment. and whether this intended TO IN
elude any one higher than Plnchot and
Garfield apparently is left for the COM
mittee to surmse.
Mr. Ballinger's counsel declared bluntly
that the present Secretary OF The Interior
had exposed Mr.. Pinchot and his methods.
and in 50 doing had committed the un-
pardonable sin CT defeating the ambition
OF a self-exaggerated man.
or CLAWS and others who testified in
support OF the PInchot charges against
Secretary BaIHnger. AIr vertrees said.
The testimony Of Claws. Jones. Barr
and some others. with respect TO certain
specific collateral facts. wiU be shown "a
be so grossly false as TO convince tas
eo4nnitiee That in theSe respects ii VAS
deliberately fabricated. and Ras CON
seiorsly false
For example. the evidence Of the Wit
ness Jones. as 10 the manner in which
Mr. Sheridan conducted the hearings in
the Cunningham cases and exposed his
case TO his adversaries. IS suen per
version OF the truth as 20 leave no doubt
il was deliberate; and the evidence Of
CLAWS as TO the relations and conduct
OF Mr. Behrends and Mr.. Denno;t is
equally false
Blame on CLAWS.
1T also viii be shown that Mr. CLAWS
endes vored 10 have an accounting agent
Of the government. Mr.. Spalding. DELHI
erately faIsify the account he (Glavisl
had rendered. in order 10 restore So ex-
pended as stenographsrss Zee for prspar-
ing the report to :he President, which
he and Shaw. as the agent Of Mr.. Pin
chot. prepared-the first open attack upon
Mr. Ballinger's good name
The formal statement said further that
Mr.. Ballinger viii show that CLAWS ia
September, 1909, surreptitiously and cor
ruptly concealed among his own private
belongings papers the property Of the
United States government. which he knew
really we're not injurious 10 Mr. Bsilin-
gers name. but which. being hidden.
could be made the foundation OF a ma
Hgnant and slanderous accusation, and
that "conceiying this TO be the situs-
tiou. he called upon this committee to
require Mr Bsllinger to produce these
papers. with a view OF falsely asserting
that they were not produced because
they would ineulpats him
BaiItnSer's Actions.
Mr.. Vertrees said that the truth In re-
spect to Mr.. BaIlingers action relative TO
the Cunningham coal claims and his
official conduct in all respects will be
shown by the evidence OF competent wit
lesses. The statement reviewed in detail
he facts as Secretary Baninger's attor-
leys will present them and as have been
previously set forth
In conclusion. Mr.. Vertrees said,
Mr.. BanInger ordered the Cunningham
,Iaims 10 be clear-Iisted on December 2s.
Seg. on the record then presented-a
record that not only justified bur de-
nanded the order be then made As
stated when he made the order he direct
d Mr.. CLAWS, then in the field. to be
notified. and he was notified.
January y. 1896, upon receipt of Mr..
CLAWS telegram. Mr.. BsHinger promptly
-escinded the order, put the claims back
N chsRcery. and neither he nor any
has ever sought or attempted
to restore that order to this day. The
sole effect has been IN the direction of
investigation and trial
Not Interested In Coal.
"Mr. BalHngeT has not al any time been.
Interested in Alaska coal. or Alaska
ands, directly or indirectly He was
never the counsel for the Cunningham
claimants, nor has he represented them
n any matter since September, 1908. HIS
connection was temporary.
till. It was enough to cause him 10 re-
rain from taking action Of any kind with
'espect to these claims after he as Sec
'etary re-entered public life. he kept
Mr. CLAWS in charge. and no word ever
ELI from his lips as to Mr.. CLAWS except
words of commendation and defense
He could have transferred Mr. CLAWS
It any time and obviously would have
lone 50 had he been minded Ia bring
bout improper Official action, which pe
riot CLAWS Was preventing and thwart-
hg where he was.
Moreover. this evidence which we win
iow offer Will prove that Mr. BaIlinger's
assistants and subordnates, one and all,
Continued On PAGE Q. Column :.