The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1910-06-03
NEWELL AFRAID Of
LOSING HIS JOB
FORESTER PINCHOT CURSES IN
VAIN; But WINS BY GUILE.
Effort to Make Goat" of Secretary
Ballinger Failing, Change in Rec
lamatiOn Service VIII Follow Find
ing New Man.

A special to the Portland Oregon
ian goes into the history of one phase
of the Pinchot-Ballinger controversy
and throws some light on F. H.
Newell Of the Reclamation Service.
The special follows:
Immediately following the Spokane
Irrigation congress last August F. H.
Newell, director of the Reclamation
Service, joined the Pinchot-Garfeld
conspiracy to run Secretary Balm
ger, and from that day to this has
been disloyal to his chief. He is
therefore listed among the snakes"
The whole story of Newell's duplic-
ity was not developed until E. T. Per-
kins, of the Chicago Office Of the
Rec 'amation Service, was placed on
the stand near the close of the hear
ings before the Ballinger-Pinc
committee. Perkins then revealed
facts heretofore unknown to the gen
eral public, facts which leave no
doubt about Newells transfer of al
legance from his superior, Secretary
Ballinger, to Bal'inger's bitterest en-
envy, Clifford Pinchot.
When Pinchot, early in the Taft
Administration, made up his mind to
mako an attack upon Ballinger, he
went to Newell and sought his CO.
operation. Newell declined to be-
como party to any such movement
Later on, when it became nOised
about that Ballinger intended to re
lieve Newell and appoint a new di-
rector for the Reclamation Service,
Pinchot made another attempt to en-
list Newell in his cause. But Newell
again refused.
For this refusal he was cursed and
damned to his face, was called a cow
ard for not having the nerve to make
a fight for his position, and was given
to understand that Pinchot was
] through with him. However, Pin
chot told Newell of his purpose to
open fire on Ballinger at the Spo-
kane Irrigation congress, and let 1t
he known that he would use the New
ell incident as an argument in favor
uf Rallinger's removal from office
Newell followed Pinchot to the
/ West and attended the Irrigation
Congress. There the two officials
seemed to forget their unpleasant in
terviews in Newell's Office in Wash
ington, and further efforts were made
by Pinchot to win over the director.
Evidently he had some success in the
West, for it was freely talked by the
Pinchot- Garfield element at the Spo-
kane congress that Ballinger was to
be implicated in big coal land scan
dial, and would be forced to retire
and that when this came about New
ell would be secure in his office
There was no material difference OF
Newells change of mind until late in
the fall, but by that time he evidently
had heard so much of Pinchot's talk
that he had become convinced tha
Ballinger would have to go, and, &C
cording to the evidence, had made VI
his mind to join Pinchot in giving the
Secretary kick.
Considerable light on Newell's at
: titude toward Ballinger was brough
out by Perkins, of the Chicago office
: When it was no sed about that New
ell was to be let out, the director APP
pea'ed to Perkins and to others t
bring influence to bear on Secretar
Ballinger to induce him to make n
change in the Reclamation Servic
head. Newells own letters maxim
tn appeal were introduced in evf
y dence. These letters show that New
ell had appealed to Pinchot to hel
retain him in his position, and tina
Pinchot had personally Como to tn
h President, where he evidently go
i scant comfort.
Fear Felt for Job.
y Soon after Newell became alarme
about his job, and sent out his al
q peals, Pinchot went to West Mentor
q Ohio, to visit ex-Secretary Garfield
q and when there wrote to Perkins a
Chicago asking him to come to Yves
q Mentor for conference. Perking Wen
. and while his testimmony on thi
n point is vague, it is evident from tn
correspondence which he offered
= evidence that tho Pinchot-Gariel