The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1910-06-02
BALLINGER FAILED
To DO HIS DUTY
Attorney Bandeis Says Secretary Of
Interior Looked Out for Spe-
cial Interests.

WASHINGTON, d. Especial
Mr.. Brandeis opened the argument In
the Ballinger-Pinchot inquiry Friday,
ment He declared Mr.. Ballinger's
disregard for the peoples interests in
the great public property under his
Jurisdiction and his unfitness for the
affairs he holds. On the other hand,
ne commended, Mr.. CLAWS. who has
been competent and faithful public
servant, has been dismissed from pub
lie office without hearing or a knOwl-
edge OF the evidence upon which ac-
ton was taken against him.
In opening Mr.. Brandeis said the
whole inquiry centered upon Mr.. Bal
linger. To his acts and his omissions
the evidence had been mainly direct
ed, and these must be the subject OF
severe criticism The direct and ulti-
mate issue requiring decision from
the committee was, rs the Depart
ment of the Interior in safe hands?
'Hs the conduct and the associations
Mr.. Ballinger been such? Are his
scharacter and his conceptions such
that he may be safely continued as q
trustee of our vast public DOMAINE"
That Mr.. Ballinger does not meet
the required tests. Mr.. Brandeis main
tanned, had been conclusively estab-
lished, and If this was true the De
partment of the Interior should be
under other guidance.
Subject TO Criticism
That he was subject TO far severer
criticisms he firmly believed. Mr..
Brandeis continued by giving a chro-
biological resume of the Alaska coal
land situation, and Claws connec-
ton with IT. He laid particular
stress upon the fact that Mr.. Bal
Finger, as Commissioner of the Cen
eral Land Office, was fully acquainted
with it. He pointed out that the
Cunningham claimants are Secretary
Balinger's personal and political
friends, and that they are powerful
and influential.
Was it a coincident." he asked.
that the investigation by Special
Agent Jones in the summer of 1907
was stopped shortly after Secretary
Ballinger went TO Seattle, shortly
after the making of the agreement
between the Morgan-Guggenheim
syndicate and the Cunningham claim
ants?"
Mr.. Brandeis then took up Secre-
tary Ballinger's action in acting as
counsel for the Cunningham claimants
after he ceased to be commissioner.
and reviewed the evidence in that re-
spect showing that Ballinger. after
having handled the claims as COM
missioner, felt no hesitancy in repre-
Senting the claimants as counsel vet
when he became Secretary of the In
terror he felt barred from represent
ing the people because, as he had
the Cunningham claimants He felt
no hesitancy, though. i'm Fastening the
investigation to the end that patents
might be granted. but his former re-
latons prevented him from ordering.
1t CLAWS request. a delay OF the hear
ing, which might result in preserving
the interests of the people
MT CLAWS had concluded with
statement that the forestry service
could verify what he had said. vet"
declared Mr.. Brandeis mo applica-
uoh was ever made TO the forestry
service 70 have il verified.
In conclusion. Mr.. Brands said: This
investigation has been referred to as a
struggle for conservation, a struggle
against the special interest. II is that:
out II is far more. In it's essence IL is
the struggle for Democracy. the strug-
gle OF the small man against overpow-
ering influence of the big; politically
as well AS financially.
The cause OF CLAWS Is the cause OF
the common people, and more especial
~ the cause OF the hundreds of thou
sands of Government officials"