The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-03-03
.P|NCHOT IN CLASH
Says Secretary Wilson Gave
Consent to Write Letter.
lHt LATTER Holly DIMES IT.
DepOsed Forester Admits e Letter
Written by Ballinger's Partner
to Lyman Abbott is
Basis of Charges.
THE LATTER Holly DENIES IT

/ ~ hNoAA AaAANA N0ul
mittee.
Mr.. Pinohot asserted that he obtain
Cd Secretary Wilson's permission {,
write TO Senator Dolliver the celebra,
ed letter which brought about Presi
dent Taft's demand for his tPinchot's
resignation.
Secretary Wilson. taking the stand
declared with great emphasis that h,
never did and never would have con
scented to the writing Of such a letter
lie never saw .he letter or heard OF
until read In the senate.
There was a surprising developmen
at the session when Pinchot apnounc
ed 20 the committee that he based hi.
charge that Secretary Ballinger hat
been guilty OF making statements I,
the president that were "absolutel,
false In three essential particulars.
not upon letter from Mr.. Rallinre,
himself but upon letter written b,
J. I. Ronald. former law partner Of
MT Ballinger. 20 Or. LYMAN Abbott.
RonaId's Letter.
Mr.. Ronald. in his letter. said that
without knowledge OF the records he
felt no hesitation in contending in be,
half OF Mr.. Ballinger that Cn Mr.
Jones TIE special asent. never made a
report dealing with the CUNNINGHAM
claims: that 90 the order rcvokine
the clear listing OF the CUNNINGHAM
claims was not based upon a protest
by CLAWS. and that 30 Mr.. Ballinge,
never appeared before a congresslona,
committee in the interest OF an,
Alaska claimants
Mr.. Pinchot said II appeared from
q copy OF Mr.. Ronald's letter which
ne read. that Mr. Ronald based his
statements on a magazine article con
tanning charges against which were
noted tho marginal notes mo" in MIR
Baliinger's handwriting.
Mr.. Pinchot claimed that Jones I'm
tbs testimony before the committee
showed he had reported on the Gun
bingham claims: that Mr. Ball!nger ad
mitte'i In letter 20 the nreeiient that
the clear listing order vas revoked
on the protest Of Claws and that MIR
Ballinger i'm his testimony before \
congressional committee referrel IA a
group of thirty-three claims. which
could have meant only the Cunuins
ham interests
Mr.. Pinchot said a copy OF this let.
ter. with annotations. was forwarded
by Mr.. baliinger TO the president.
Mr.. linchot admitted when cues
toned by tho committee that the three
statements Ia the Ronald letter. which
nc claimed To be false. had previou L.
been Gov rel bv letter Written hv
MI. Eall'n MGR himself to the president.
IN which Nr. Ballinger had stat, I
what tho witness admitted was 4 true
rtaiement ~ the facts Mr. Pincho,
said he did not attempt 20 reconcile
these two facts.
Before this development the Interest
had centerei in the aun1unccmen, bv
Mr.. Pinchot that he would not press
for a decision as TO whether or not
he should be allowed 10 give his yer.
sion OF conversations VITA President
Tan and the INTRODUCTION N evidence
by Mr.. IiHehot OF long letter written
70 him by President Taft I'm Scptem.
Der last
TAFT Oerounced CLAWS.
H. this letter Pre- ,ident Tai, dc
nounced CLAWS as dislngenous. warned
Mr.. Pnchot against making CLAWS
cause his own. declared he was sorry
Mr. Pinchot did not have the sam,
conhde2ce and trust in Mr. Ballinger
as he did. and. lastly. declarsi that
controversies between the dcpar;rue nts
IN Washington must cease.
lie referred In this particular To- an
alleged Interview with Ormsbv Nc
Harg. former assistant secretary OF
commerce and labor. in which Mr.
McHarg was reported to have said
that Theodore Roosevelt must have
thought himself the Lord"
The witness neAt told of his inte-.
Wow with CLAWS at Spoil ane. Wash
on Aug. g. 1909. The meeting was nat
by appointment. and Mr. Pinchot said
ne possibly had me. Glo-'s once b.
fore; he was not sure C. Is laid all
his evidence before him. AR Pin~hot
said, and spoke OF publishing ;hc en-
tire narrative
Il was deeply Impressed by y,bot
CLAWS said and urged him 10 go to
the president ala this b,caysa
thought scandal would arise. as it
since has arisen. and / thought the
president ought to have an opportunity
to protect himself ana his aimi-ls.ro.
ton"
Mr. Pinchot read in evidence the
letter OF Introduction he gave CLAWS
10 the president. In this letter ne said
he had known CLAWS for several
years The witness explained a-ain
that he thought he had met CLAWS
once before; at any rate. he said be
Fad known of him for several years.