Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-24
HAGUE AS ARBTER| BERATED BYP |NCHOT
Director Smith Tells of.Talk
With Chief Forester.
ACCUSED OF DISLOYALTY
Witness at Inquiry Says Mr.. Bal
linger Was Denounced for Over
turning Garfield Policies.

At the afternoon session of the Bal
linger-Pinchot committee yesterday Dfrec-
tor Smith told of meeting with Mr.
Pinchot In the latters office July o.
1909 during which the chief forester
had charged him with downright dis
loyalty to his former chief, Mr.. Gar
field. He said Mr.. Pinchot accused him
of giving out newspaper interviews re
fiecting on the last administration" on
the subject of water power sites and
other public land matters.
The witness said Mr.. Pinchot seemed
to be much excited and began denouncing
Secretary Ballinger for overturning poll
cies inaugurated by Mr. Garfield. He said
Mr.. Pinchot referred to Ballinger as a
yellow dog" and threatened to lead a
fight against him if Secretary Ballinger
said anything at the Spokane irrigation
congress rejecting on Garfield.
Mr.. Pinchot accused me of toadying
to Mr.. Ballinger and said that if 1 did
not change, my conduct would be fatal
| to me- continued Mr.. Smith He said
| he denied any disloyalty to Mr.. Garfield.
Wrote to Mr.. Garfield.
| Mr.. Smith said he had written letter
| that same night to Mr.. Garfield while
! on the train bound west, relating the
interview. and informing the former Sec
| rotary that he realized that the fight
was on He said he wrote Mr.. Gar
| field that he thought the geological
survey had better keep out of it, He
treasured Mr.. Garfield of his loyalty, he
said. and declared he had been charged
| with being a 'turncoat and rene
| gade'' merely because he enjoyed the
confidence OF Secretary Ballinger. Mr..
Smith said Mr.. Garfield made no reply
to his letter.
The exciting events of the Spokane con-
gress, where the fight on Secretary Bal
linger was inaugurated by the Pinohot
| forces, led by ex-Gov. Pardee, then
| were related by Mr.. Smith.
Letter to Subordinates.
Mr.. Smith excited great interest among
members of the committee by reading
letter he wrote August Is, 1909, to sub
ordinates in his Office here while he was
on his way back from the Spokane con-
vention, describing the fight.
THE whole conservation movement is
now linked up with Mr.. Pinchots views
on the subject wrote Mr.. Smith, 80
that orthodoxy in the cause means agree
ment with Mr.. Pinchot. AS l look at 1t,
any issue is to be raised that can be
against Secretary Ballinger, not because
of that issue, but because Secretary Bal
linger Is to be overthrow because he
opposes Pinchot's way of conserving.
Now there was no criticism of Gar
field at Spokane and yet the fight came
off as planned. The congress was organ
lied, the issues were shaped, the orators
chosen, the newspapers primed-in short.
all guns were loaded. The result was
fective and the Alaskan coal charge went
off earlier than planned. -
Though he Pardee) told me that he
intended nothing personal" said Mr..
Smith in his letter, "he insinuated that
Ballinger was either fool or knave.
and rather intimated the latter as his
favorite hypothesis
Mr. Smith said this occurred Wednes-
day afternoon, and that Ballinger, who
was ready to leave, asked him to stay
behind and refute Pardee's .'misstate
ments' and to stand out in the open
against Pinchot and his associates. He
added that he spoke Thursday morning
after several efforts had been made to
keep MIN off the platform.
THE governor and l avoided person
alities," continued Mr.. Smith, land con-
tented ourselves with showing up each
others falsehoods."
Mr.. Smith passed just before speaking
the word "falsehoods," and the commit
tee appeared greatly amused at his dis
comfiture at having forgotten the term
was used in the letter.
Questioned as to Coal Lands.
Attorney Vertrees questioned Mr..
Smith at great length regarding coal
lands and waterpower sites The wit
ness said that after Mr.. Ballinger be-
came Secretary he took the greatest in
terest in the classification and valuation
of coal lands, and that he obtained
better price for them than had ever
been obtained before. He said Mr.. Bal
linger had supported the geological sur
vey along the lines marked out by Mr..
Garfield. but had gone further in the
case Of coal lands. and had intrusted
to the survey the waterpower sites.
The committee decided yesterday to
add another hearing each week in order
to expedite the inquiry. Sessions will be
held on Thursday, Friday and Saturday
next week and 1t may be necessary to
/ ,old iubt La To paI