The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-04-30
Attorney For M. Ballinger
Makes Startling Allegations
Against Prosecution"
CALLS PROCEEDINGS
HUGE CONSPIRACY
Says Casting of Contumely on
President and Others of Re
spectacle Ability" Due to
Revenge and Resentment.

WASHINGTON, l.. C.. April so
The heated and direct accusation of
former Secretary OF the Interior Gar
field. clifford Plnchot and others ARE
engaged in political conspiracy to
overthrow President who is dis
tasteful to them" was made to the
congressional investlgat ting committee
to-day by Attorney J. J. Verrees.
counsel for Balliaser=
Direct reference 10 ''sordid souls.
who. bound TO their political parties.
represented miserable spirit that
will tear down and destroy any man
of respectable ability" marked the
attorneys hot protest against the de
spicable conspiracy" To cast contume-
BY upon the President and his adj
-stsers.
Mr.. Nertrees charged that bitter
denunciation" liz the new line of at
tact" started by Attorney l.. n. Bran
deis. counsel for L. II. CLAWS. In a
request made to the committee THAI
the attorney general he asked to pro-
duce all documents and evidence as
To the date on which his summary"
Mr. Brandeis asserts that the report
was made In November and antedated
September II. 1909.
Chairman Nelson announced that
itshad been decided to grant counsel
on both sides an opportunity to argue
the question.
II found internal evidence IN the
summary" MIR. Brandeis explained
which led me to believe that this
/ summary Was mot prepared until some
time In November. because II attempts
Co answer a charge not made by CLAWS
until November Ia
Mir. tertrees angriiy replied 70
BraRdeirs THE endeRsor new is tc lay
hands upon the atforney-general ~
the United States, and ALI because. as
he stands as one of the advisers or
a President who ts distasteful to these
persons. shouted he
Great Conspiracy"
For the first time we have revealed
the great conspiracy which put him
here tshaking his hand at Brandeis)
and IL keeps him here. 1t is not
longer a question of Secretary Of In
terior sallinser, but Is also directed
AZ persons connected with the Presi-
dent and others. II was prompted
by the resentment of him who was
formerly secretary OF the interior. hut
who Was not retained and the revenge
of another who was removed for mis-
conduct and who came here and told
this committee that he felt that his
removal was unjust.
Attorney yertrees did not deny the
charge of antedating the summary"
He even asked. "Supposing II were
true, what bearing the matter could
have on the guilt or innocence of Sec
rotary BaiIinger ."
"Of what Significance ls it," he
shouted. shaking his long foretnger at
Chairman Nelson. what relevance has
X Ia this inquiry"
II think enough time has been spent
on this absurd question" INTERCEPTED
Senator Root. petnlantiy, arising, TAX
ing few steps toward the executive
room. but Senator Purcell refused to
shut OH open hearing on the matter.
Graham and Root I'm Tiff.
SO far as this mysterious con-
spiracy' is concerned, in many cases
frankuess will dispel the mystery"
said Representative Madison. Repre-
sentative Graham started to make
statement.
"Oh. we've had enough of this" in
terrupted Senator Root. leaving hiss
seat
II think" answered Mr. Graham,
shat / win leave that TO the com
IdtuSE IMAM To ANY one Ntein-
ber."
Representative DENLY then moved
that Mr.. Graham be allowed to pro-
coed. MIR. Root smothered his irritn-
tion long enough TO withdraw his
motion.
II want to ask said Mr.. Graham,
whether 1t Is not important that we
know whether the president had be
fore him at the time he prepared his
letter. generating Secretary Bal
Iinger all the data In the case and in
particular this careful review by his
legal adviser
II agree neither with your
premises. nor your conclusions, an
swered Attorney Nertrees eurtly.
That's all" said Chairman Mel
son, and the committee filed out. led
by Root. TO hold secret session.
Secretary Baliinger again took the
witness stand. He was asked when
4 ne first discovered that there was "a
conspiracy against him." and said;
II had a suspicion when ! was
at Spokane in August. 1903, that Gift
ford LSnchot was industriously at
work trying to damage me ard ruin
- ~a<x.