The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1910-01-29

Washington. Jan. 2s.-Proceed.ngs
in the BallingerPinchot inquiry.
which, up TO this time. have consisted
largely of reading into the records.
letters. kilograms, etc, heretofore
made public by President Taft. took
on a iivclier aspect today when l.. II.
CLAWS. continuing his testimony
against Secretary Ballinger, told of
various interviews he had had with
the latter when he was in and out of
the government service. Mr.. CLAWS
declared that in one of these inter
views. in October, 1905. Mr.. Ballinger
told him he was having a hard time
trying to collect campaign contribu-
tions. and that two men involved in
the Cunningham claims, who had been
liberal contributors in the past. mad
declined to contribute because they
were angry at not being granted pat
ents for Alaska coal lands.
Representative James of Kentucky.
democratic member of the committee.
pounced upon this testimony and
cross-examined the witness at some
length. CLAWS said that Mr.. Ballin-
ger asked him to hold up on the Alaska
cases until after election. He agreed
to do this because he had his hands
full with another case. One Of the
most interesting developments of the
day was the distribution at both the
morning and afternoon sessions of n
quantity of press matters which pur-
ported to interpret and point out the
significance of the testimony thus far
given. at the inquiry.
The morning matter came in an en-
velope OF the American Conservation
association, of which Clifford Pinchot
recently was chosen president This
afternoons matter bcgan:.
Adverse Light.
The important development of the
morning session today were," and then
went on to recite that the proceedings
had placed Secretary Ballinger in an
adverse light. 1t was said that this
service would continue throughout
the investigation. Thomas R. Shipp.
former secretary of senator Beveridge
of Indiana. who resigned that position
10 become press agent of the bureau
Of forestry under Mr.. Pinchot and who
became an officer of the conservation
association when it was formed, is
dlNtHudht at the
The morning session was devoted 10
an endeavor by the prosecution to
show the haste in which Mr.. Baliin-
ge.. as commissioner of the land Of
flee. had urged the Cunningham Alas
ka claims to clear listing for patent.
Aside from documentary evidence
read. the afternoon session was taken
up almost wholly with CLAWS story of
his Interviews with Mr. Ballinger con-
cerning the Cunningham land case.
The inquiry will be resumed at 10
O'Clock tomorrow morning.
At the opening of the afternoon
session Attorney Brandeis offered the
journal Of Clarence Cunningham. of |
Wallace. Idaho. agent in all the Gun !
ningham claims, which contains the i
entry: Have agreed with Mr.. II. Il. +.
Hepburn. In consideration for his !
services as attorney. to convey one
claim of $50 acres in the coal lands. !
free Of cost. to him. and he agrees To /
do all our legal work in procuring the
titles. etc" !
Hepburn Letter.
In an affidavit made subsequent to
the loss of his journal Cunningham /
made public letter from Senator w. |
r. Hepburn of Idaho. in which the !
senator said:
Il do not desire to participate In I
or he interested in any manner. di- /
rectiy or indirectly. in acquiring pub |
lie lands. Whatever services l may |
perform properly within my duty as a |
public official for yourself or any other /
Constituent / shall cheerfully per-
form. but not for any consideration. i
directly or indirectly. i do not desire .
any interest 10 be carried for me or
on my account with a view of any
present or future profit to myself
Cunningham preceded this letter
with the statement: "As soon as l /
became aware that coal lands could
not be taken in Alaska under the
mineral laws. Mr.. Hepburn informed
me in person that he could not act
under said agreement
An Agreement. /
The journal contained under date Of
1908 an agreement among the Cum
ningham claimants to form a COM
pany,a each claimant to give Cunning
ham one-eighth of his stock in return
for services rendered.
CLAWS told further of his investiga-
tion into the alleged fraud of the
Cunningham group and said when he
approached Cunningham that the lat
Ter declared he had heard complaint
had been made that he represented
the Guggenheims. He denied this and
TO carry out the denials submitted the
journal TO Glayis. who held il as evi-
dence against Cunningham.
About this CLAWS said he met ex-
Governor Miles c. Moore, one of the