The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1910-09-14
.UNSCRUPULOUS
METHODS Of THE
FIVE MEMBERS
Members Of Ballinger- -Pinchot
Committee Expose Ward
Politics of Minority
SOUGHT POLITICAL ADVANTAGE
BY USE Of ILLEGAL METHOD

Took Advantage of Absence Of Mem.
bers to Pass Judgment on Report
Which Was Never Even Read to the
Committee as Assembled.
Chicago, Sept. 14.-Six Republican
members Of the Ballinger investigat-
ing committee meet here yesterday
and issued statement condemnine
the action of the four Democratic and
one Republican insurgent members
who delivered report at Minneapolis
last Wednesday demanding the re-
tirement from Office Of Secretary Bal.
linger.
| Those present were Senators Mel.
son. Sutherland and Root, and Con-
gressmen Mccall, Olmstead and Den.
by. They declared the action of what
they term the minority" at Mime
apolis to have been according to the
wrost methods Of ward politics"
The evidence IN the Ballinger case
was discussed but in the absence OF
quorum they state no action on the
case itself was possible. 1t was re-
ported that Senator Nelson had au-
thority to act for Senator Flint who
Is a member of the committee. but
who is in Europe. This could not
be confirmed, but in any event no at
tempt was made to use the alleged
proxy. Adjournment was taken sub
ject to call of the chairman, Senator
Nelson. AS the minority declined
to attend today's conference and took
their adjournment at Minneapolis un-
til the next meeting of congress. it is
probable that Senator Nelson will not
call another meeting until the re-
turn of Senator Flint. who as the
, seventh member, would make q
quorum.
| The Statement.
Following is the statement issued:
"The hearings of the committee aft.
er proceedings for months were end
ed in the closing days Of the last ses-
sion of congress. There was no op,
portunity and no attempt upon the
4 part of anybody to have the commit.
tee meet for the purpose Of consulta-
tion upon the evidence or to report its
findings to congress prior to the ad-
journment of the session. Under the
circumstances that course was mani
festly impossible. The committee is
the creature Of a special act of con-
gress which fixed the number Of its
members at twelve. six senators ap'
lpointed by the vice president and sis
representatives elected by the house
The act carefully defined the powers
and jurisdiction of the committee and
contained a mandate that it should
report its findings and conclusions tc
this congress.
"A great mass OF testimony has
been taken making direct and col
lateral record of about seven thous-
and closely written pages. The is'
sues involved were full of moment tc
the cause of pure administration, tc
the conservation of our natural re,
sources, to the interests of the gov
ernment generally. and to the repu.
tations of some Of its present and
former officers. The work, therefore
of deliberation and decision was ot
great importance as we'll as Of great
difficulty. The committee determined
to devote some of the time during the
recess of congress to this work and
decided to meet in Minneapolis on
September 5.
"The day Of meeting found the
membership widely scattered and on
ly seven Of the twelve members
present. Three other members were
detained by brief but peremptory en-
Europe and Senator Root on the sea
returning from arguing a case for
the government before The Hague
tribunal. Upon re-assembling two
days later. eight gentlemen were
present and two more were reported
on the way. The eighth member to
appear happened to be Democrat
and the members of that party found
themselves in temporary control, and
promptly proceeded to turn the cir.
cumstances to what seemed to them
party advantage. In advance Of any
consultation whatever upon the evi-
dence. which never had been weighed
and discussed in committee. they de-
manded the passage Of resolutions OF
the most sweeping character, formal
ly finding Secretary Ballinger guilty
not merely Of charges that had been
made, but Of charges that had only
been implied, and OF things which
never had been charged, but which
persons appearing at the hearing had
alleged against him.
Partisan Politics.
"Other members of the committee
present protested against such pro-
ceedings which would dispose Of the
case in the absence of four of the
twelve members making It possible
for a minority of the committee to
find the committee verdict, and this
too withou any consultation or dis
cussion.
"But the partisan political end to
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